Storia do Mogor 353.1.7

353.1.7

There arrived at the court of Dihli a merchant of precious stones; [76] he had made frequent voyages between India and Europe. As the man knew he would be unable to sell his goods as easily as in the time of King Shahjahan, he had recourse to a doctor of his nation who was in the service of Aurangzeb, and fairly well esteemed at the court. He took up his quarters at the physician's house, with a view to obtaining his help in selling the jewels he had brought. The astute trader dealt with the doctor politely and showed him respect. He was aware that he and his wife did not live on very good terms. She was the daughter of Francisco de Souza, a Portuguese, of whom I fancy I spoke in my Third Part (III. 253). The trader told the husband that he had made a mistake by marrying in India, and if he were in France he assured him His Most Christian Majesty would have greatly honoured him, on account of his ability to afford so much information about the Mogul court. The trader only said these things in order to make him happy and be able to negotiate his own affairs.