Storia do Mogor 60.5.6

60.5.6

When he saw the spirits, the Englishman was highly delighted; he seized the bottle, putting it to his mouth with the same eagerness that a thirsting stag rushes to a crystal spring. At one go he drank the whole, and then licked his moustaches. The king was amazed and astounded to see the great pleasure that the Englishman had in drinking spirits. Purposely the Englishman made all sorts of gestures to show his satisfaction; then, turning towards the target, he rubbed his eyes, and asked them to take away the sheet and replace it by a pot stuck upon a stick. So said, so done. He discharged the piece and knocked the pot to bits. At this the king and all the courtiers were lost in amazement at such a good shot. It was on account of this fact that Akbar conceded to Europeans the permission to distil spirits for their own consumption, and would not allow anyone to interfere with them. He said that as the European people must have been created at the same time as spirits, and if deprived of them were like fish out of their element, unless they had drink they could not see plain. Thus it is recorded in the chronicles of Akbar, and until this day the Farangis retain the privilege that he granted to them.