Storia do Mogor 211.4
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 211.4
- Language
- English
211.4.1
Maybe astonishment will be expressed at all the details I give of this court, but just to afford some satisfaction to my readers, I will tell a little story showing how I came to a knowledge of these things. In the palace was a female servant called Dil-jo, who acted as valet-de-chambre to Shah 'Alam. This girl fell ill, and no one could diagnose her complaint, nor its source. She was quite young, but suffered from insomnia, and from time to time frightful things overtook her, even to biting her own body. After some remedies had been administered which did her no good, I was instructed to treat her. I fathomed at once the origin of the disease, and I said to the prince that I could not cure her, but I would instruct them as to a remedy they might give her, by means of which I hoped that her health would be re-established.
211.4.2
Subsequently I stated the remedy, which was nothing more than to counsel them to get her married. That was (I added) what I believed to be the healing medicine for her malady. They believed me, and forthwith married her off to a slave of the prince's household. Two months afterwards they sent for her to the palace, just to see if there was any change in her. They noticed that her colour had returned, that she enjoyed perfect health, and, in fact, she was with child. The other women servants on seeing her longed for their fellow-servant's disease in order to obtain the same remedy. To succeed in this design, they let me know that they would pretend to be ill, and I must be so good as to ordain the same medicine to be given to them as had been given to Dil-jo. I carried out this commission to the best of my power, and thus several were married, according to their wish. These people were subsequently very grateful for the kindness I had done them, and gave me proof of it from time to time. Thus it is through them that I have been informed of many particulars as to what went on in the court of this prince.
211.4.3
Perhaps it will not be found altogether devoid of utility if I impart to my readers several events that happened to me, which are proof of the prince's kindness and of the friendship he bore me. Seeing that I was not married, he inquired from me, through the first princess in his mahal (seraglio), why I did not take a wife. I replied that I found none of my standing that took my fancy. This lady and her husband were both desirous to get me married so as to retain me, and hinder my leaving Hindustan and his court. She said to me that she would send for all the daughters of Christians, whether Europeans or Armenians, and I had only to choose the one I liked best. She would see that I obtained the girl, would give her away in marriage herself, and provide all the expenses necessary on such an occasion, adding a number of other promises. I thanked her, and made her understand how grateful I was for all her favours; but, being a man of family, it was not correct for me to accept a bride such as she proposed for me. To that she replied by a great many things, among others that Mahomedans took anybody without regard to their birth. Although a Christian could never have pretensions to such an honour, yet if I would agree she would have all her maids of honour brought before me, and I had only to select the one I most liked, and she should be given to me as wife, nothing remaining but to carry her away to my dwelling.
211.4.4
Being weary of all this woman's talk, I gave an off-hand answer that I was incapacitated for marriage. But on she went, and, with a number of other remarks, refuted me by saying that my bearing and complexion showed the falsity of what I told her. Finally, after all this discourse, she ordered me to put my hand inside the curtains of the bed to feel her pulse; for this is the way one has to deal with these ladies, as I have said (III. 14, 15). I noted that the arm was thick, muscular, and hairy, and by these signs I knew at once it was a man's arm, and it turned out to be Shah 'Alam himself. Without delay I rose, and said that the arm I had touched was a man's, not a woman's, and it could be none other than that of the King of the World. At these words the prince burst out laughing, and told me I knew how to distinguish the difference between a man and a woman.
211.4.5
If the prince intended in this interview to show his esteem for me, it may be added from the way of it that he also meant to put me to the test. It is also the custom to probe the physicians by such trickeries, in order to be assured of their ability and of their recognition of diseases. Another adventure took place with the princess which led to the same result. She made out she was ill, and caused to be sent to me a vessel full of urine with an inquiry whether I could recognise from it the disease she was suffering from. Seeing that the liquid was green, and seemed to have some drug mixed with it, I set my imagination to work, and answered with a smile that the urine came from a person who had eaten largely of green stuff the preceding night. As soon as I pronounced these words there was a great outburst of laughter behind the curtains of the bed, and they said I was a great doctor. In the end they informed me it was the urine of a cow. Wishing to retain me and gain me over entirely to his interest, the prince thought that women would be a good vehicle to secure his object ; for it is very common for men to be destroyed by this snare. Here is how he set to work. He asked me if I knew there was a European in his palace. I said I did not. Instantly, while we were speaking, there came out of a room a very pretty girl, dressed as a man in European style, with a gold-mounted sword at her side. As soon as she saw me she lifted her hat and saluted me.
211.4.6
I was conscious at once that it was the prince who had put all this in play to amuse himself, and see if he could gain me over. But I feigned the ignoramus, and as if I had not noticed anything, returned the bow and proffered some compliments. Speaking French, I went up to her to kiss her, when at once she turned her back on me and fled. I ran after her as if wishing to embrace her ; but she ran faster than I did. However, I did my utmost to overtake her. Laughing, the prince cried out to me. At his voice I came back with slow steps close to him, much put out at not having succeeded in embracing the young person. When I had come close, he asked me what I had wanted to do. I replied boldly that I wanted to embrace and kiss the would-be young man. He assumed to be astonished at such a piece of audacity, then took to smiling at it ever so long, as did all the princesses. Afterwards he told me that the Farangi I had seen was not a man, but a woman, and if I would have her, he would give her to me, and she could serve to carry my medicines into the mahal. I answered, with a serious air, that she was no use for that, and medicines administered by a woman's hand produced no effect. The prince for a long time joked with the princesses over what I had said. This is the greatest amusement he has. All other Mahomedans also pass the greater part of their time among their women. This is so much the case that through them much important business at court is transacted.
211.4.7
For my part, I have done a great deal thus, principally through the first princess. I have said already (III. 16) that it is the custom in the royal household, when a physician is called within the mahal, for the eunuch to cover his head with a cloth, which hangs down to his waist. They then conduct him to the patient's room, and he is taken out in the same manner. The first time that [41] I was led through the palace I was fitted out in the above fashion, but, by premeditation, I walked as slowly as I could, in spite of the urging of my guides, the eunuchs. The prince, having seen this, ordered them to uncover me, and that in future I was to be allowed to come in and go out without being covered. He said that the minds of Christians were not filthy like those of Mahomedans.