Storia do Mogor 203.4
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 203.4
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203.4.1
It is upon that day that the persons of the blood royal are weighed, according to ancient custom, in different ways — that is to say, first against seven kinds of metal, such as gold, silver, copper, iron, et cetera ; the second, against seven kinds of cloth — cloth of gold, cloth of silver, velvet, et cetera; and the third against seven kinds of grain — that is, wheat, rice, barley, et cetera. All this is done to discover the difference between one year and another. All the things weighed out are given to the poor, and what everyone has weighed is recorded in a book in memory of the occasion. The king makes great gains on that day, for everybody in the palace, and all the nobles of the court, are obliged to make him large presents. The day is called Nauroz — that is to say, ' New Day.' On his part, also, the king scatters his favours to his subjects by placing and displacing governors and officers, by giving jewels, elephants, and horses, and sets of robes (sarāpās). When he is in camp the festival is not celebrated with the same magnificence, and the thrones are not used, since they are never brought outside the fortress of Dihlī.
203.4.2
Another festival is also celebrated, which they call Hid Corban ('Id-i-qurbān) — that is to say, ' the Festival of Sacrifice '; it comes at the end of their Lent. On that day, at nine o'clock, the king comes forth from his palace with great display and majesty, and visits the great mosque, where the chief qāzī awaits him, standing on a platform with seven steps. Behind him is a slave with a drawn sword in his hand, held upright. After the first ceremonies the qāzī is required to announce in a loud voice the names of all the Mogul kings, beginning with Taimūr-i-lang, [and] the years of their reign. All this he must utter with much force and eloquence. On coming to that of the then reigning king he must make a panegyric of him, with which he never fails to mix much flattering praise. He gives him the title of propagator and conservator of the Mahomedan faith. Finally, he applauds all his doings, exalting also to the best of his power his valour and equity. In giving out this discourse the qāzī needs to be very careful, and display much presence of mind, for if he made any mistake and omitted something, the executioner stands ready at his back to remove his head.
203.4.3
This harangue having been finished, the qāzī is rewarded with seven sets of robes, given him by the king. On leaving the mosque, they find standing at the bottom of the steps a camel ready for the sacrifice. The king, having mounted his horse, gives the camel a lance-thrust in the neck ; or if he does not do it himself, he orders one of his children to do it. Usually when Shāh 'Ālam was at court it was [13] he who performed that ceremony, or sacrifice, as they style it. After that the slaves stretch it (the camel) on the ground, and divide its flesh among themselves, as if it were a saint's relics. As I have already given a list of many names of the mahal women, I consider it is not without use to give those of the principal eunuchs of the royal household, serving inside and outside that mansion, or rather prison, for the ladies. Among these principal eunuchs there is always one set above the rest who directs and looks after everything that goes on in the mahal. The man holding this office is highly esteemed by the king. He has a large allowance, has charge of the treasury, is master of the wardrobe, decides on the details and the pattern of the sarapas (robes) to be prepared; in short, it is he who has charge of all the mahal expenditure of the clothes, the linen, and the precious stones, of the jewellery, of everything that goes into or comes out of the palace. Each of these eunuchs has a separate title given him by the king.
203.4.4
Nader Nadir The Excellent Danial Danyal Of Good Family Danech Danish The Learned Doulat Daulat Riches Matlub Matlab Intention Issof Yusuf Goodness Yacut Ya'qut Ruby Almas Almas Diamond Semerad Zumurrud Emerald Nilem Nilam Sapphire Marjan Marjan Coral Macbul Maqbul Graceful Meva Jan Mewa-i-jan Fruit of Life Inayat 'Inayat Favour Nee nam Neknam Good Name Feros Firuz Valour Imaet Himmat Courage Fata Fath Victory Faem Fahim Learned Mahalat [? Mahabat] Mahabat (?) Of Good Family Sahadet Sa'adat The Efficient Salamat Salamat Health Ayat Haiyat Life Daem Da.im For Ever Elal Hilal New Moon Balat Balat Loud-voiced Anvar Anwar Limited Abnus Abnus Ebony Maharem Mabram A Confidante Amit Amrit The Precious Coja Sara Khwajah Sara The News-writer of the Seraglio Holfat Ulfat Friendship Macul Ma'qul Prudent Sadec Sadiq Confident Maclhad Maslahat Imagination Assalat Asalat Noble Amanat Amanat A Deposit Atbar I'tibar Faithful All the eunuchs whose names are given above have the title of nazir — that is to say, guardian or superintendent. The kings, princes, queens, and princesses, place great confidence in these people, and each queen, princess, or other lady of quality has a nazir in charge of her property, lands, and income. All the officials, servants, and slaves are bound to account to the nazir for all they do, and for whatever they have in their hands.
203.4.5
This nazir generally has under him other eunuchs, young and old, of which some have access to the mahal, either to carry billets or do other messages, as the service of the person employing them requires. There are others who are posted at the doors to see who comes in and out of the mahal. They search everything with great care to stop the entry of bhang, wine, ophion (opium), nutmegs (noix muscades), or other drugs which could intoxicate, for all women in mahals love much such beverages. Nor do they permit the entry into the place of radishes, cucumbers, or similar vegetables that I cannot name. When any women come to pay a visit or otherwise, if they are not known they are searched, no respect being paid either to the position or rank of the person. What forces the eunuchs to such strict measures is the continual fear in which they exist that some young man in disguise might enter in female dress. When masons or carpenters, or other workmen are wanted to carry out any job, their names are registered at each gate they pass through ; the descriptive marks on their faces, and so forth, are taken down. A paper showing all this is delivered to other eunuchs, who are required to conduct them out in the same way, and to take care that they are the same persons with the same physiognomy and the same personal marks. All this is for fear of anyone remaining inside, or any change being made.
203.4.6
There are also at the doors women, ordinarily natives of Kashmir, who are employed to carry away and to bring back anything that may be necessary ; these women do not veil themselves to anybody. The chief doors of the mahal are closed at sunset, and the principal door of all is guarded by good sentinels posted for the purpose, and a seal is attached. Torches are kept burning all night. Each of the ladies has a clock, and a scribe who is obliged to report to the nazir all that comes in or goes out, and everything that happens. When a physician enters, he is conducted by the eunuchs with his head and body covered as far down as the waist, and he is taken out again in the same way. All the nobles exercise the same exact supervision of their women that the king does. The reason is that Mahomedans are most extraordinarily distrustful upon this chapter ; and what deserves mention is that some do not even trust their own brothers, and do not permit their women to appear before them, being jealous of them. Thus the women, being shut up with this closeness and constantly watched, and having neither liberty nor occupation, think of nothing but adorning themselves, and their minds dwell on nothing but malice and lewdness. Confession of this was made to me once by one of these ladies herself.
203.4.7
It was the wife of Asad Khan, the wazir ; her name was Naval Bae, and she told me that her only thoughts were to imagine something by which she could please her husband and hinder his going near other women. From this I can assert that they are all the same. If they have any other thought, it is to regale themselves with quantities of delicious stews ; to adorn themselves magnificently, either with clothes or jewellery, pearls, et cetera ; to perfume their bodies with odours and essences of every kind. To this must be added that they have permission to enjoy the pleasure of the comedy and the dance, to listen to tales and stories of love, to recline upon beds of flowers, to walk about in gardens, to listen to the murmur of the running waters, to hear singing, and other similar pastimes.