Storia do Mogor 63: OF JANGUIR (JAHANGIR), FOURTH KING OF HINDUSTAN, NINTH OF THE RACE OF TAIMUR-I-LANG
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 63
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Contents
OF JANGUIR (JAHANGIR), FOURTH KING OF HINDUSTAN, NINTH OF THE RACE OF TAIMUR-I-LANG
63.1.1
It is a truth tested by experience that sons dissipate what their fathers gained in the sweat of their brow; nor do all sons imitate the good qualities of their ancestors. Thus it was in Hindustan, for, after having seen one king who was a great soldier and a great conqueror, such as Akbar was, it had for king his only son, Jahangir, a man with no desire to undertake the labour of further conquest, one who contented himself with enjoying the fruit of his father's labours. This king was fond of feasts, dancing, and music. Just as much as he was a friend of and devoted to these amusements was he inimical to the Mahomedan religion. For this reason he did many [103] things against it, chiefly in not observing the fast customary among the Mahomedans, in drinking wine, in eating pig's flesh, and other such things. In these actions he sought a means of scoffing at the Mahomedans, which I will recount as I proceed.
63.1.2
Once he sent for the Jesuit fathers and asked them what pork tasted like. They replied that it had a special taste and a most extraordinary flavour. He was desirous of eating of this flesh, and visited the house of the said fathers. There he ate pork and drank wine, and acquired such a liking for such food and drink that subsequently he ate it and drank wine publicly many a time. The learned in the Mahomedan law gave him to understand repeatedly that wine and pork were prohibited in the Quran. Enraged at so many warnings, he sent out orders one day to assemble all the learned men. He inquired from them the religions in which it was allowable to drink wine and at the same time eat of pork. They replied that only the Christians had that liberty. He (Jahangir) then said publicly that he meant to become a Christian. To this end he forthwith ordered that tailors be summoned to cut out clothes after the European fashion, and that search should be made for hats. The learned men were in amazement, and taking counsel together, said that the king might eat and drink whatever he liked. I have met persons who were present at the time.
63.1.3
Jahangir, finding these men so easy to deal with, seized every occasion to aggravate them. To this end he ordered the casting of several figures of pigs in solid gold, which he kept in his palaces; and when he awoke from sleep, on seeing these images, he used to say he would rather see the figure of a pig than the face of a Mahomedan. These figures remained until his death, when his son Xaaiahan (Shahjahan), who then became king, ordered them to be buried in front of the royal seat in the fortress of Lahor, where Jahangir usually lived. Many a time I sat there with the governor of the fortress. He used to say to me that if he had the wealth then beneath his body he would be a very rich man. This governor's name was Amanatcan (Amanat Khan), an old man belonging to the times of that king (Jahangir), a great friend of mine and of all Christians ; he delighted to listen to talk about the Gospel. It was in this hall that King Jahangir gave audience ; it was three hundred paces long and two hundred and fifty wide. Among the other things done by Jahangir to annoy the Mahomedans was refusing to fast as they do every year for a whole month. During the daytime they eat and drink nothing ; it is only at night they eat what is then made ready ; during the day they retire [104] and go to sleep. At night they are jovial, taking their meal and conversing with their house fully lighted up. This king (Jahangir) did the exact contrary.
63.1.4
Not a day passed without his giving audience, as he did near the middle of the day for about two hours or more, so as to incommode the people about his court. He ate and drank in front of them all, giving portions to those who seemed to him the most bigoted, with a view to make them break the fast. They ate for fear of an order being given to throw them to the lions. These beasts were kept in his presence, and were used to put to death whomsoever he pleased. Besides this, he had a small tray in which there were some very sharp lancets. When any soldier came into his presence with a courageous look or with his turban cocked, he called him near, and with one of the said lancets pierced his nose. If the soldier showed that it hurt him, he ordered the man to be ejected from the court with cuffs and buffeting, saying that a soldier who was afraid of such a little piece of iron as that would never in war-time endure lance-thrusts and sword-cuts. On the contrary, if the soldier made believe to meet the lancet without fear, he would double the man's pay, and his estimation rose at court. The king would say such men deserved the name of soldiers — they were veritable men of war. It happened that a soldier killed a tiger, and making the skin into a coat, came to court with great pride. On seeing him, Jahangir fired his gun at him, and the bullet went through the man's leg, so that he fell where he stood. The king said : ' If I had not killed that tiger my lion would have got enraged.'
63.1.5
If there was any youth too lively and too fond of women, he would order him to be shut up with a woman of low caste, dirty, malodorous, and covered all over with filth. Thus he would leave the youth for several days, punishing in this manner the riotousness of youth. He never forgave his physician, a very religious man, who came to court once when the king had already several cups in his head. Jahangir called for a bow and arrow wherewith to slay the physician. The queen, who was behind a screen, humanely ordered them to produce arrows of cane, so that the king might not kill him. Thus, when the physician arrived, he shot at him with the said arrows. In spite of this attack the physician behaved in a very dutiful manner, though the king never desisted from shooting at him. At length the courtiers, by order of the queen, made a sign to him that he should fall to the ground. He fell as one dead, and Jahangir said that he deserved death, having by his pretences taken the life of many a one. All this he did by reason of the displeasure he had against Mahomedans.
63.1.6
Some assert that Jahangir was willing to become a Christian, and this is why he mocked so much at the Mahomedans. Many times he ordered the learned men to dispute with the Jesuit fathers over the Faith in his presence, and the fathers always came out the victors. Once the learned men, not having any other answer to give, replied : ' What can we reply ? Those with any knowledge are aware that our reasons are the stronger ' — that is to say, that the Gospel was falsified. Of the givers of this answer, among the rest was the Qazi. The father retorted instantly with some animation : ' On this very spot I can prove to your majesty and the whole court that the Gospel which I hold in my hand has not been falsified, but is the Truth. If you will order a stack of straw to be brought into your majesty's presence, I, with my book in my hand, will seat myself on the straw, and there shall also be seated with me the Qazi holding his quran. When we have seated ourselves in this manner, let them set the straw alight, and thus will be seen which faith is the true one.'
63.1.7
The Qazi was in great fright at this speech; and knowing that Jahangir was just the man to make the experiment, he dropped his head, the colour left his face, and trembling, he defiled himself, filling the whole court with the odour, but answering never a word. When the smell reached Jahangir, he held his nose, as also did the courtiers. Then he spoke briefly: 'I see that the padre is ready to prove the truth of his faith, but the Qazi is already in a fright, and has made one mistake.' He said to the padre: 'Your name shall be from this day forth "Padri Atax"' (Atash)—that is to say, 'Father Fire.' The name of the padre in question was Joseph da Costa, a Portuguese by race, but after this he was always called Padre Atash. Jahangir, being at his palace within the city of Lahor, which he had built upon a river called the Ravy (Ravi), saw a covered boat pass with its curtains down. When it arrived near the royal seat, he saw that in the boat was a beautiful woman. He fell so violently in love with her that he had no sleep nor rest; but the woman replied firmly to all the solicitations made to her on behalf of the king, that she was the wife of a soldier of position named Xir Afgam (Sher Afgan)—that is to say, 'Tearer of Tigers'—nor would she hear a word from any other man so long as her husband remained alive.
63.1.8
The king, who was deeply in love with her, sent an order to the governor of the city of Patana (Patnah) that as soon as Sher Afgan should arrive there with a letter he must be slain. This was done, but the valorous soldier, although taken unawares, killed five persons in defending himself. Sher Afgan being dead, Jahangir took the woman into his palace. The condition made was that she should be principal queen, and her father be made wazir, with absolute power throughout the empire, her brothers and nearest relations to be grandees at the court. All of these things were conceded by the king ; he made a grand feast which lasted for eight days, and many gifts were conferred on all the men at court. The queen thus obtained, to whom Jahangir gave the title of Nur Jahan — that is to say, ' Dawn of the World ' — governed the kingdom, and did everything that she pleased. She was a woman of great judgment and, of a verity, worthy to be a queen. They struck coin in her name, which had for symbol the twelve signs of the zodiac, and in her time these were current money.
63.2.1
Nur Jahan succeeded in making the king drink less than he had done formerly, and after many entreaties he agreed that he would not drink more than nine cupfuls. Every time he drank it must be offered by her hand. If on any account he should ask for more, he was to be satisfied to allow her to put him off by excuses. Many days had not passed when the king, being engaged in listening to the singing of his musicians, began to drink joyously. In a short time he had come to the end of his nine cupfuls. As the music went on he asked for more, but the queen would not give it, saying that he had already had his nine cupfuls, and she did not mean to give him any more. Jahangir went on asking for just one cup more. When he saw that the queen would not give ear to his words, he fell into a passion, laid hold of the queen and scratched her, she doing the same on her side, grappling with the king, biting and scratching him, and no one dared to separate them. The musicians, hearing the noise going on in the room, began to call out and weep, tearing their garments, and beating with their hands and feet, as if someone were doing them an injury. Thereupon out came the king and queen, who had been struggling together, to find out the reason of all these cries. Seeing that it was a feigned plot of the musicians, they fell a-laughing, and the fight ended. The king was highly delighted with the trick played by the musicians, to whom he gave a handsome reward.
63.2.2
But the queen, after the custom of petted women, showed herself more angry and offended than before. She would neither take his gifts, nor listen to the excuses he made to her. In the end, through a third person, she gave Jahangir to understand that the only way of being pardoned for the affront was to throw himself at her feet. The king, who could not live without Nur Jahan, was willing to carry out her wishes, but he feared to be blamed for such an act, which would give rise to a great deal of talk among his people; therefore he took counsel with an old woman. At once she got him out of his difficulty by advising him that, when the queen was walking in the garden, and the sun was shining on her, he should place himself before her in such a way that the shadow of his body should reach the queen's feet; then he could beseech his loved one as if he were at her feet. The old woman got the queen into the garden by beguilements, and thus the king approached until his shadow was at the feet of the queen. Then he said to her, 'Behold, my soul is at your feet!' and thus peace was made. The queen, to show that her heart was won by so much love, invited the king to a sumptuous banquet, lasting eight days. She ordered all the reservoirs, both in the garden and in the palace, to be filled with rose-water, prohibiting anyone from washing his hands in these reservoirs. It happened that she went to sleep near one of the tanks.
63.2.3
At early dawn she rose, and as she was anxious that no one should foul the water in these tanks, she went at once to see if there had been any defilement. She noticed on the top of the water a film of oil. At this she flew into a passion, suspecting someone had thrown fat into this tank. She was curious to know what it could be that had dirtied the water, so she ordered someone to pass a hand over the oil referred to. Smelling it, she found it had a very sweet smell. Two or three times she smelt it, and each time was aware of the same smell; hence she concluded that the said oil had formed from the rose-water like dew. Very much pleased at having acquired such an excellent perfume ; she quickly rubbed some on her clothes, and went off to embrace the king. He was asleep, but on being roused he was lost in admiration at such a fine perfume, while Nur Jahan recounted to him the story. It was thus that the secret of essence of roses was discovered in Hindustan ; and in those days a hundred rupees were paid for one rupee's weight of the said essence. Nowadays it is to be got for fifteen rupees, owing to the great quantity of roses grown in the empire.
63.2.4
I was anxious to find out the descent of this queen, and I came to know for a certainty that she was the daughter of a Persian who arrived from Persia as a camel-driver in the service of some Armenian merchants. He brought with him his wife, who was enceinte. On the way, near the fortress of Candar (Qandahar), she was delivered of a child, and one of the merchants lent him an ass on which to convey the woman in that state of distress. The child that was born in this miserable plight came to be this most famous queen (Nur Jahan). Through her influence the court of the Great Mogul was filled with great nobles from Persia [108]. This king was very fond of carrying out works for the benefit of the public and the adornment of his kingdom. To this intent he issued orders to have trees planted on the royal highways from one end of the country to the other, commencing at the city of Moltan (Multan), and going as far as the city of Ilavas (Allahabad) — that is, for five hundred and thirteen leagues. At the distance of one league apart are to be seen something like pyramids, and by these the traveller can reckon the distance he has traversed. Near to every such pillar there is a village for the refreshment of those passing by. On these roads are found saraes, reservoirs, gardens, and villages.
63.2.5
The king came out to inspect this work of his, and went from Lahor as far as Agrah. One night, being in his tent drinking his liquor, he heard the jackals call. These are a breed of small wolves which exist also in Persia, and in India there are a great number. The king asked why these animals were not quiet. The courtiers answered that, knowing of the arrival of His Majesty, they craved some protection against the cold. Jahangir there and then ordered that they should be presented with ' serpaos ' (sarāpā, or complete suits) and shawls to wear. The order was carried out. No one failed to approve this regal generosity. The night following, once more the king heard the cry of the jackals. He inquired if his order had been carried out. On receiving an affirmative reply, he wanted to know why they repeated their calls. The courtiers answered that this time they had not come to complain, but to render thanks to His Majesty for the alms given them by him on the preceding night. The king was highly pleased at this answer, for the Moguls are very avid of praise. So much is this the case that flattery, which to European princes would appear mere mockery, would by the Mogul king and grandees be accepted as sincere laudation. Though they are quite aware of their falseness, they are pleased nevertheless to hear such words, and swallow them at their superficial valuation.
63.2.6
I will recount here some ridiculous instances, and I am telling the truth without the least exaggeration. If a Mogul king or prince sees an elephant or a horse not of very much account, and should say that it is a fine elephant or a powerful horse, then the courtiers begin to praise the elephant, saying that there is not in the world another as large or its equal in strength and staunchness ; that once it fought against five or six other elephants clad in armour while it was unprotected, yet it routed them all ; that, being present in such and such a war, it threw the enemy's army into confusion and disarray ; that its trunk could carry more than would go on the backs of five or six other elephants, and other things like this, which, if I were to state, the reader would think me fooling him. In the case of a horse, they would at once say that it is of such mettle that it would pass through hills of fire. If they discharged a whole battery of artillery at once in front of it, it would not, owing to its high courage and temper, stir more than if it were made of brass; of such cleverness that you need only move the rein a little to get it to carry out the order that the rider had in his head ; and that on the occasion of a battle it could jump at one leap a river as wide as the length of a musket-shot.
63.3.1
I beg the reader to believe that it is impossible to set forth completely the flatteries used by the courtiers ; they exaggerate everything excessively in order to find favour with the great. On the other hand, if a great man, on seeing a handsome elephant of great height and well-proportioned body, or a well-made horse, says something depreciatory as to these animals, those present begin at once to express all the ill that can be said of an animal, calling it wretched, miserable, timid, out of condition, of no use. With all this the great men are delighted, for two reasons : first, to see others adopt their opinions out of mere submissiveness ; secondly, because these flatteries divert their minds from the cares they have.
63.3.2
What I have mentioned about animals may equally be said about men. For to have the repute of valour, it suffices that a noble praise a man ; and to be scouted, even if a valiant soldier, it is enough for a great man to say a little word in dispraise. It is the same thing also about women. A woman may be really foul and fetid, but a great man need only say a word in her favour, and she becomes a Venus descended upon earth ; while a woman may be really lovely, and if a noble for his own ends runs her down, all who are there make her out to be so repulsive that never in the world was seen such a coarse creature. This will be enough to put the reader in possession of the extent to which the Moguls are flatterers, each one working for his own ends in every matter. Although this king was of a kind disposition, seeking methods, as I will tell hereafter, of doing good to all except the Mahomedans, there was, in spite of this, a Rajput prince, master of twenty-five thousand horse, who considered himself aggrieved because the king would not give him what he asked. One day he had the temerity to come with his cavalry to the city of Lahor, beating his drums, a thing that no one may do except the king, and posted his army on the bank of the river at a little distance from the royal palace.
63.3.3
Jahangir was amazed at such temerity, and wanted to take vengeance on him for this affront. But he did not judge it in accordance with his own greatness to send out an army against such a petty prince. He decided to send for a cavalry soldier named Mahobet (Mahabat Khan). One day Jahangir had gone out shooting, and getting separated from the rest of his companions, became tired out and hungry. Mahabat was the only man with him. Making some cakes, he got a light by firing his musket ; he then roasted two of them on a little spit, and sprinkling salt and pepper [no] on them, gave them to the king to eat. This made Jehangir anxious to reward this cavalry soldier ; he therefore sent for him and asked him in secret if he would undertake to kill the Rajput prince. Mahabat replied : ' It is for your majesty to order and me to obey.' To carry out the project he requested that he might have a pearl necklace, a jewel ornament for the breast, and a set of robes of honour (sarapa), and, in addition, as his companion, one of the king's scribes who was his special friend, also his majesty's boat with energetic rowers. All this was agreed to by Jehangir.
63.3.4
Mahabat with the above-named preparations left the city at eight o'clock at night. On drawing near to the Rajput camp, the sentinels challenged and asked who he was. He answered that he was an envoy from the king who came to speak to the rajah. Mahabat instructed his companion to remain with the door-keepers, and when these men should be heavily asleep warn him by coughing at intervals. Mahabat went in and accosted the rajah with a most cheerful face, and, full of confidence, said that he had come from the king to inform him how much his majesty loved him and cherished him to a high degree. To show that these were not mere words or inventions, he had sent as marks of the favour he held him in this string of pearls, this jewel, and this rich set of vestments. He was considered at court to be a brave and valiant captain, worthy of the most honourable employments ; thus the king was anxious to employ him in some extensive enterprise, and to reward him as far as was in his power.
63.3.5
The rajah, puffed up at this news and proud of the present the king had sent him, conversed pleasantly with Mahabat. With delusive words the latter said to the rajah softly that the course he had followed was excellent, for if they did not act like that the Rajputs would never be esteemed. With such talk he kept the rajah up till beyond midnight. The Rajputs who were in his company, heavy with sleep and full of opium, of which they are accustomed to take largely, went out a few at a time, and the rajah was left alone intoxicated with praises and flatteries. Seeing that the rajah was now alone, and his companions at the door coughing at intervals, Mahabat decided that it was time to make the coup he had designed. Thus continuing the conversation, he said : 'The king is so well inclined towards you that he enjoined on me to seek every mode of smoothing away your grievance. He is therefore very desirous of favouring you, nor does he wish that you should be any more offended. As a mark of this desire he gave me these orders, whereby you are made viceroy of the kingdom of Bengal.' Saying this, he drew out a bag of gold brocade, and placing it on his two hands, presented it with great deference [in]. Then suddenly he struck the rajah through the heart and down as far as the bowels with a sharpened knife hidden in the bag. He issued from the hall silently, leaving the unfortunate prince dead, and passing through the door, took with him his companion.
63.3.6
They got into the boat and hastened back to court, where the king was waiting for him impatiently to know what had happened. He was so much on the qui vive that he heard the sound of the oars, and with a shout he cried in a loud voice : 'What news, Mahabat ?' The valiant soldier replied : 'My lord, the rajah is already dead.' At this the king was much contented, and made Mahabat a great man in his court, transgressing the rule bequeathed to him by his father that no one should be promoted to great station all at once. He gave the man the title of Mahobet Can (Mahabat Khan)— that is to say, 'great affection.' In this manner this man became in a short time the greatest general at the court of the King Jahangir. He treated the Rajput princes with great friendliness, and succeeded with great skill in attaching them to his interests.
63.3.7
Although the kings of this world hold it as part of their glory to exalt their courtiers, they are not always rejoiced to see them powerful. Often the loyalty of a grandee is in their eyes treason. Thus happened it to Mahabat Khan. Although faithful to his sovereign and grateful for the benefits conferred, and seeking every mode of showing his fidelity, he was nevertheless an object of envy, not only to the other courtiers, whose nature it is to be envious, but to the wazir, Ascef Can (Asaf Khan), the king's father-in-law, and to the queen, who sought for a way to have him assassinated. To this intent they placed ten thousand armed horsemen on the roads, hoping to get him killed. But on learning of this treachery, he (Mahabat Khan) went to the palace and entered, unheeding the protests of the door-keepers. Reaching the king's presence, he advanced closer than allowed by etiquette. The king was amazed at so much boldness, and dreaded his doing some violence. He asked Mahabat Khan what he wanted. The valiant general replied : ' I desire that your majesty do me the honour of coming to my house, for it is most necessary.' Saying these words, he seized the king's hand, who, observing his determined manner, made no resistance, although in great trepidation. He came out of his palace followed by some soldiers who had entered with Mahabat Khan into the royal presence.
63.3.8
No sooner had they reached the gate of the fortress than Mahabat Khan gave orders for the king to mount his elephant, and behind him was placed one of the Khan's Rajput soldiers, blind of one eye, with a drawn sword in his hand. After they had gone a few yards the king complained that the soldier had a foxy smell, and wanted him removed. Mahabat Khan replied: 'It is very obvious that if your majesty had any general as brave as these soldiers of mine, I should not have ventured to carry you off to my house, as I am doing.'
63.4.1
They passed through the roads where were posted the armed horsemen sent to slay Mahabat Khan; but no one attempted to use force for fear the Rajput might decapitate the king. Thus the king entered into his general's house. The queen and the court expected that Mahabat Khan, having killed Jahangir, would crown himself king, and all the city was in great confusion. But Mahabat Khan had other intentions. Therefore on arrival at the house he made his king take a seat in the best place in his mansion, while he himself stood humbly and respectfully, waiting on him and offering him various fruits and perfumes.
63.4.2
The king showed great desire for wine, and wanted the queen. But Mahabat Khan said wine-drinking was not good, and as for the queen, she would come, but for the present he should take repose. The night passed without his getting any wine. Everyone expected that Mahabat Khan would declare himself king, but when the morning came this loyal subject had a long talk with the king. He demonstrated to him that, to deliver himself from death and save his own life, he was forced to make use of this means and attempt more than he designed. He had made use of his majesty's person as a refuge from the hands of traitors. He complained much about his mode of government, telling him that it was indecorous to let a woman govern the empire. He gave him other reproofs, and declared himself a loyal vassal; after saying this he drew his sword, presented it to the king, and, placing himself on his knees, said that if the king held him culpable in any degree, or was himself to the slightest extent offended, he could order his head to be cut off with the very sword which had been dedicated to the defence of his royal person.
63.4.3
Jahangir, finding him so submissive, took him to his arms and said he need not be afraid, no one should harm him; he gave his word and swore on the Quran to hold him ever as his most loyal servant. He would therefore defend him against everybody, and declared himself much obliged for the good advice he had received. As further confirmation of his love, Jahangir ordered the queen to come to his place of detention. Mahabat Khan prepared a magnificent banquet, which lasted for three days. The queen presented him with many gifts, swearing to hold him always in favour and acknowledge him for the most loyal vassal in the whole kingdom. The king increased the rank of Mahabat Khan, and until this day this family still exists at the Mogul Court in considerable dignity. I had a great friendship with the son of this Mahabat Khan, who also had the same title. He was a general much esteemed by the king, Shahjahan, but further on I will say something more about him (I., 212) [115].
63.4.4
Jahangir was by nature very generous and grandiose; the least sum he ever ordered to be given to anyone was one hundred thousand rupees; nor was it seldom that he made this present; he did so many times, just as if it were of no account, while it is a large amount. The king ordered one hundred thousand rupees to be laid on the ground so that he might see what height it had. This was done. The wazir believed that on seeing its bulk he would be more chary of ordering the giving of so much coin. It was the contrary that happened, for he said he had thought one hundred thousand rupees would take up more space; and thus, from this time, when he made a gift, he ordered the double to be given of what he had given before. The wazir repented of having thought he could thereby check the king's extravagance.
63.4.5
It happened that a French trader called Monsieur Bravet brought from Europe some bric-a-brac, which, although curious, was of little money value, hoping to sell it to the king. Jahangir, who was well inclined to Europeans, directed that the whole of the things should be bought, and whatever the sum the owner asked should be paid to him. This was done accordingly, and they paid him thirty thousand rupees, which are equal to fifteen thousand patacas. Afterwards all the things were laid before the king, who was much delighted with such a set of curiosities. Among the other trinkets was a very tiny padlock, which Jahangir took in his hands, and admiring it, said such a padlock was not the work of human hands, but of angels. He added that no one but the King of Hindustan could pay the price of it, and after many exaggerated words he directed them to give the merchant thirty thousand rupees more, for the padlock alone was worth the whole of the money. To get presents or rewards from this king it sufficed to say some witty thing, whereupon he would give elephants and a number of rupees.
63.4.6
While Jahangir was a liberal giver, neither was he reluctant to allow any and every one to approach his person. It seemed as if this king was born to be a contrast to the pride of his father, who never spoke to anyone but the grandees. On the contrary, this king often walked about alone and in disguise. It happened one evening that he went into a tavern, where he found a man singing and already merry from the wine he had drunk. The king was pleased at seeing so much mirth, and seating himself near the man, made himself his friend and drank along with him. After several drinks the king asked his new friend what he was called. He answered that his name was Alexandre (Alexander or Sikandar), the weaver, and gave him directions as to where he lived. After complimentary speeches on one side and the other [114] the king demanded food and more wine. The weaver, in gratitude to such an excellent comrade, invited him to come next day to his house, as he wished to regale him. Thus they took leave of each other with many civilities.
63.4.7
The following day the king rode out on his elephant to find the rendezvous. He ordered them to pass through the street where the weaver lived. At the time the royal cavalcade and the elephants were passing Sikandar was busy attending to his preparations for the day's work, with a hammer in his hand, knocking into the ground the pegs to which his ropes were to be fastened. The messengers asked him where Sikandar the weaver lived; the king had come in search of him to dine with him. Recognising that, without a doubt, the man who had eaten with him the day before must be the king, he fell into perplexity. He pretended that he had not heard. The king had now come close, while the messengers insisted on his answering and telling them where Sikandar lived. Without lifting his eyes, and as if he did not know what they wanted, he exclaimed in a loud voice: 'Anyone relying on a drunken man deserves a severe blow with this hammer.' The king laughed heartily at this response, and ordered them to give him a reward, which was so great that he ceased to work as a weaver.
63.4.8
A similar case occurred with a drunkard who, meeting the king on his elephant, began afar off to shout out, asking whether he wanted to sell his elephant. Jahangir gave an order that the drunkard be detained and brought the next day into his presence. When the man was produced, he was asked if he wanted to buy the elephant. The reply was that 'the purchaser was outside; he was nothing more than the broker.' The king was pleased with the answer, and rewarded him with an elephant. It was not only this once that the king showed himself capable of making light of regal pomp, for many times he did similar things, in scorn of the pride and imperturbability of the great nobles. Sometimes he passed through the city upon his elephant, followed by many elephants, on which meat was being cooked, or wine and drinking-cups, bread, a supply of pickles, and small boxes of fruit, were carried. Others bore musicians, instruments, and drums, making a great noise. Jahangir sat eating and drinking.
63.4.9
One day he came with this array into the royal square, where there was a crowd of mendicants called 'Bequed' (Be-qaid, 'emancipated'). When they beheld the king, they cried with loud voices: 'Oh! you eat by yourself and drink without sharing with us.' On hearing this, the king descended from his elephant and sat himself down in the midst of them, eating and drinking, accompanied by music and mirth. The faqirs, who had already been drinking, began to give every one of them his criticism on the manner in which he ought to govern. Having listened patiently until they had finished talking, he fell a-weeping, and sent them on their way.
63.5.1
Weeping came easily to Jahangir, for without any reason at all he would burst into tears. It was enough for the queen to deny him a drink of wine to drive him to tears, and to dry them you had only to present him a glass well filled with liquor. Anything and everything made him cry, just as any sort of gift sufficed to pacify him. Although of such a soft disposition, he was still very watchful that real justice should be done; and if he was loved by the people, he was feared by his officials. These were compelled to walk in the right way, since, if they went wrong in any matter of justice or in any important business, he ordered them to be thrown to the lions, which were always present in his hall of audience. It happened one day that he was on the banks of the river and saw a pot carried down by the stream. He ordered that this pot should be produced before him. It was found to contain a dead body cut into pieces. Orders were given for the officers of justice to discover the culprit, with the warning that if they did not find him, all of their heads would be cut off. Among the other expedients they resorted to, one was to order every potter to deliver one pot, and by examining the marks on these, they hoped to trace the vendor of the pot in question. It is customary in the Mogul country for every potter to put his own special mark on his pots. It was thus that they caught the culprit.
63.5.2
Another time, returning from the chase, he saw the officers of justice carrying away a Rajput to be hung. The king asked what offence he had been guilty of. They replied that he had forced a Mahomedan woman, then present and demanding his execution. The king called the woman before him and asked her if the Rajput's body was hairless, like he was in the face. 'Yes,' answered the woman. She supposed that as it is the fashion of the Rajputs to shave their beards, they must also be accustomed to remove the hair from all the rest of their body. The king ordered an examination. It turned out that the woman had raised a false complaint; whereupon he ordered that the woman should die and the Rajput be released. He also fined the officials for their negligence. Among the other fancies that he had was a particular affection for the Jesuit fathers. He gave them a house and a church in Lahor. In that reign Europeans had much freedom in regard to hearing about Christianity; and the said fathers instructed the king's sons, one of whom, by reason of some affront received from the fathers, after he had become king, sent an order to burn the church and carry off the bell at Agrah, as I shall state hereafter (I., 137). It is now time to speak of his sons.
63.5.3
Jahangir [116] had no son by his beloved queen Nur Jahan, but there were two by other mothers. The heir-apparent was Sultan Bolaqui (Bulaqi), and the name of the other son was Sultan Corram (Khurram). Bulaqi had two sons, of whom I will speak farther on (I., 120); Sultan Khurram, besides two sons, Dara (Dara) and Xaxuja (Shah Shuja'), had a pregnant wife with the most extravagant fancies and complaints. Jahangir gave the order that when this princess was delivered he should be informed in whatever place he might happen to be, and if asleep they were to awake him. The princess brought forth a male child, and at once they went to report to the king, who at that moment happened to be relieving himself. Jahangir said that if that prince survived to be king, he was destined to conquer the whole of Hindustan. Nor in this did he deceive himself, as we shall see hereafter, this child being that same Orangzeb (Aurangzeb) who now reigns.
63.5.4
Sultan Khurram, who was the second son, perceiving that his father Jahangir favoured the sons of Sultan Bulaqi, and intended their exaltation, went into rebellion. He took up arms against his father, but was defeated several times. After his last defeat he passed near to Ugolin (Hugli), in the territory of Bengalla (Bengal), a village that the king Jahangir had given to the Portuguese in order that they might frequent the said port. Some Portuguese sallied forth and seized two beloved female slaves of the princess Taigemahal (Taj Mahal, a corruption of Mumtaz-mahal, 'chosen one of the harem'). This lady sent word to them that it would be better for them to help a prince then seeking refuge in flight than to attempt to rob him. Therefore she urgently prayed them to send her the two slave girls. But the Portuguese paid no heed to her request, an act which cost them dear, as I shall explain hereafter (I., 120, 121).
63.5.5
Meanwhile Sultan Corram (Khurram), pursued by the forces of his father, finally took refuge in the territories of the King of Vizapur (Bijapur). He lived in a town called Juner, distant thirty leagues from the city of Bassaim (Bassein), which belongs to the Portuguese. The King of Bijapur ordered that one of his own houses should be given to the prince to dwell in, with a garden full of vine-trees, where I have been myself. Thus was Jahangir delivered from the attacks of one son, who left behind him nevertheless this bad example to a new generation of revolt against his father. He had learnt it from Jahangir, who rebelled against his father, Akbar. Jahangir followed his father's example, and gave orders for his tomb to be erected opposite the royal palace at the city of Lahor. In preparing this mausoleum he went to great expense, building a dome adorned with many precious stones. These were removed by orders of King Aurangzeb, only allowing stones of small value to remain, such as agate, amethyst, turquoise, and such-like [117]. These stones were cut into the shapes of various flowers. Some years before the death of Jahangir it happened that the secretary (wazir) presented to him a Persian, exaggerating greatly about him, and saying that he was known to everyone in Persia, and even to the king himself, who ate salt in his house. As the king heard this about him he made him a great noble, and gave him the title of Cassam Can (Qasim Khan).
63.5.6
Persians are famed for favouring their own nation in the Mogul Empire, and the larger number of the nobles are Persians. But in addition to this, the wazir was indebted in some small way to this vendor of salt, and desired to favour him on this occasion, so that he might share his (the wazir's) own good fortune. Others told the king that this so-called Qasim Khan had been a seller of salt in Persia, and Jahangir asked the wazir why he had uttered such encomiums of a man who sold salt. The wazir replied : 'I let your majesty fully understand that he sold salt in Persia, for I said that even the king ate the salt of his house, for he held a farm of all the salt in that kingdom.' For this reason Jahangir styled him Cassam Can Namaquin (Qasim Khan Namakin, from namak, 'salt') — that is to say, 'distributor of salt,' and his title of nobility was left with him. I dwelt seven years in his house in the city of Lahor. It had been given me by the governor to live in, he (Qasim Khan) being then dead. It was one of Jahangir's laws that the crown was heir to the wealth and houses of his servants when they died, also to those of his vassals who had no sons.
63.5.7
Favours often serve for the downfall of those who receive them, seeing that they do not know how to control themselves afterwards. Thus it was with the English who dwelt in Hindustan. Relying on the kindness that Jahangir always showed to Europeans, when they had a difference at the port of Surat with the governor, in order to take their satisfaction they laid an embargo on the ships that the king and the wazir destined for Mecca, and also on those of many merchants, obstructing them in their voyages. Jahangir observed what was going on, and forwarded an order to adjust the dispute without incensing the English. At various times many different complaints about them were laid before the king, until, displeased at hearing so many complaints, he ordered the English to be seized. As they resisted the execution of the royal orders, he sentenced them all to be beheaded. Hence was brought about the death of those who were in the territories of Agrah and Surat. This event happened in the year one thousand six hundred and twenty-two, two years before his death [118], which came about as follows:
63.5.8
This king was, as can be seen by the above account, somewhat over-jovial. In the hot season he went away for recreation to Kashmir, and returning in the cold weather, he came to live in the city of Lahor. He happened to fall ill while coming from that country, and before he could reach Lahor he died of disease, after having reigned twenty-two years seven months and eleven days. His corpse was carried to the mausoleum of which I have spoken (I., 116).