Storia do Mogor 238.7.8

238.7.8

For this conduct there is an ancient regulation, which they keep secret and with which they amuse themselves. In it are laid down various methods by which kings and princes ought to govern. He imparts these rules to his trusted eunuchs and others, who conduct themselves by them in regard to the court officials. Of this I will give an example which happened in the army of my prince. Atax Can (Atash Khan), captain of a select force, had the charge of keeping order in the camp, more especially round the royal enclosure. One day he came very near to the gate of the seraglio (mahal), which was in the rear of the principal gateway of the court, and wished to enforce new orders that were not usual at that place. Seeing this, the eunuchs, gatekeepers, and Kashmiri women servants assailed him by throwing stones, pestles, mallets, shoes, tent-pegs, pots for porridge, and saucepans, dislodging him and all his soldiers. He made complaint to the prince of the affront he had received, declaring that what he had done followed the regulations of the royal court. To this the prince replied with much softness and quietude, saying that he was not well acquainted with the royal customs, according to which the men of the militia had no concern with the mahal gateway, which was in the charge of the eunuchs.