Storia do Mogor 60.8.1

60.8.1

The king ordered that the said snake should be kept and put in a glass phial ; and he confided to an official the duty of preserving poisons so that they could be produced when he gave the order. This practice has been passed on to all the Mogul kings, it being one of the bad examples that Akbar bequeathed to his descendants. The official has the care of various poisons, and when the king desires to take the life secretly of any grandee, he orders the poison to be applied on the hood and the cuffs of the cabayas (qaba, Persian, 'a long gown ') which are given at his audiences to those present at court ; or to those who are not there he sends a messenger with this kind of robe (serpao = sarapa), and thus, under the cloak of honour, abridges their lives. In this manner Akbar killed many princes, who either, afraid of his power, came voluntarily to offer their submission and pay him tribute, or, overcome in battle and warfare, were forced to submit themselves [97].