Storia do Mogor 203.4.6

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.