[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Travellers (1500–1858)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel) › [Storia do Mogor](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci) › [Storia do Mogor (Irvine)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine) › 65.10 # Storia do Mogor 65.10 Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 65.10 - **Language:** English ### [65.10.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.1) I say this because I was admitted on familiar terms to this house, and I was deep in the confidence of the principal ladies and eunuchs in her service. I have no wish to state all that went on. But I am very surprised at what Monsieur Bernier has written — namely, that the nazir, or chief eunuch, of the princess would not allow any desired person to enter the palace of the princess, and for this reason she caused the nazir to be put to death by poison. On the contrary, the man obeyed her, and sought every mode of gratifying her, seeing the great interest he had not to work against her. ### [65.10.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.2) When Begam Sahib leaves her palace to go to court, she proceeds in great pomp, with much cavalry and infantry and many eunuchs. The last named, who surround her closely, push on one side everyone they find in front of them, shouting out, pushing and assaulting everyone without the least respect of persons. The same is done by all the princesses of the blood-royal when they come out. Thus it is that, perceiving the approach of these princesses, everybody forthwith hastens out of the way. They proceed very slowly, men in front sprinkling water on the roadway to lay the dust. They are placed in a palanquin which has over it a rich cloth or net of gold, sometimes ornamented with precious stones or pieces of looking-glass. The eunuchs surround the palanquin, driving away the flies with peacock-feathers stuck into handles of enamelled gold-work or adorned with precious stones. The men-servants hold sticks of gold or silver in their hands, and call out, 'Out of the way! Out of the way!' Near the palanquin they carry various perfumes. The wife of Ja'far Khan, being the mistress of Shahjahan, moves about with the same dignity. ### [65.10.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.3) If perchance any noble with his retinue is met on the road, he, being anxious to acquire such protectors at court, persons through whose hands pass the most important affairs, withdraws from the road by way of respect and reverence. He dismounts and stands with his hands crossed at a distance of two hundred paces, less or more. There he waits until the lady has come close, when he makes a low bow, showing his expectation of some honour. When these princesses wish to do honour to the noble, they send him several parcels of betel in a gold-brocade bag ornamented with precious stones. If they do not accept the civility, they order him to receive a shower of blows, which makes him run. Among all of these ladies the most esteemed and respected was Begam Sahib, because she obtained from her father whatever she asked. ### [65.10.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.4) This princess, to preserve her memory, gave orders for the construction of a sarae in the square which is between the fortress and the city. This is the most beautiful sarae in Hindustan, with upper chambers adorned with many paintings, and it has a lovely garden, in which are ornamental reservoirs. In this sarae there put up none but great Mogul and Persian merchants. The king went to view the work that had been done for his beloved Begom Saeb (Begam Sahib), and he praised her energy and liberality. Sadulacan (Sa'dullah Khan), who never allowed an occasion to escape without the customary flattery, said : 'Aguer ferdus berrui zimin as, aminas, aminas' (Agar fardaus bar rue zamin ast, Hamm ast, hamm ast) — that is to say, 'If the terrestrial paradise is on earth, it is here, it is here.' ### [65.10.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.5) The first-born son of King Shahjahan was the prince Dara, a man of dignified manners, of a comely countenance, joyous and polite in conversation, ready and gracious of speech, of most extraordinary liberality, kindly and compassionate, but over-confident in his opinion of himself, considering himself competent in all things and having no need of advisers. He despised those who gave him counsel. Thus it was that his dearest friends never ventured to inform him of the most essential things. Still, it was very easy to discover his intentions. He assumed that fortune would invariably favour him, and imagined that everybody loved him. He was very fond of music and dancing, and once fell in love with a public dancing-girl named Ranadel (Ra'na-dil). His love was so violent that when his father refused his consent to a marriage with her, the prince began to pine to death. Seeing this state of things, Shahjahan was obliged to accord permission for the marriage, and she was granted the same dignities as the other princesses. This Ra'na-dil displayed afterwards her love and fidelity to Dara, as may be seen further on (I. 261). ### [65.10.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.6) Among other pastimes indulged in by Dara was that of listening to buffoons, who invented many things to amuse him. At times, well dressed and followed by a number of servants, they would attend the prince's court. When they saw anyone come in search of employment as a soldier, they would seat themselves and order him to be called before them. They would ask him what he wanted. Having ascertained the status of the unhappy man, they would praise up their prince by all sorts of talk, and thus induce the victim to present himself before Dara on all-fours. They would assert that by appearing in this fashion he would be given double pay. They found some men so foolish as to do this before the whole court, whereby Dara was much delighted. But the best joke of these buffoons was the following : Making the acquaintance of some other soldiers of equally low intelligence, they began to talk about how they meant to advance these men's interests. In this conversation one of them said he was physician to the prince, and began to ask the soldier what he was suffering from. The soldier turned pale at such a question, and said that he had no disease of any sort. On this the buffoon became still more emphatic, and said he had a very severe complaint, and if he did not come to his aid, he would soon lose his sight. At such an assertion the soldier trembled, supposing that the case was serious. ### [65.10.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.7) Thereupon the buffoon made use of this opening to feign great affection for him, asserting that he meant to cure him in a few moments \[153\] with a certain smoke. Thus he caused the soldier to be taken by his servants to a room, where he was mounted, with sword, shield, and quiver full of arrows, into a large pot to be fumigated. Once inside he was shut in, and they began to apply the smoke, inducing him to stay where he was. Then, thus shut up, they had him carried by two culles (qulīs) into the presence of Dārā during his time of audience. When they took off the cover of the pot, the poor soldier came out of it fully armed, and was quite terrified at finding himself in such a magnificent court, grander than any he had ever seen before. Everybody began to laugh at him, whereat he was ashamed, and began to run. The prince was much amused ; but men of judgment were in consternation at finding a prince who hoped to inherit a kingdom, and already forty years of age, amuse himself with such childishness. ### [65.10.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.8) Dārā was very fond of Europeans. Added to this, as everyone knew, he held to no religion. When with Mahomedans, he praised the tenets of Muḥammad ; when with Jews, the Jewish religion; in the same way, when with Hindus, he praised Hinduism. This is why Aurangzeb styled him Cafar (Kāfir) — that is to say, ' The Infidel.' At the same time he had great delight in talking to the Jesuit fathers on religion, and making them dispute with his learned Mahomedans, or with a Hebrew called Cermad (Sarmad), an atheist much liked by the prince. This man went always naked, except when he appeared in the presence of the prince, when he contented himself with a piece of cloth at his waist. He (Dārā) much delighted in hearing the fathers overcome everyone with their arguments : in my time the fathers who were at the court of the prince Dārā were three. The first was named Father Estanilas Malpica, a Neapolitan; the second, Father Pedro Juzarte, a Portuguese; and the third, Father Henriques Buzeo, a Flamand. The last was much loved by the prince, and every time he went to court he received fifty rupees and two shawls. Of this father, who was much cherished and esteemed by all the nobles, I shall have to speak again (I. 259, II. 117). On some occasions Dara drank with the fathers, for this prince was fond of wine-drinking, but did it discreetly. ### [65.10.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10.9) Dara was also possessed with the craze of putting faith in astrologers, of whom he entertained a considerable number. The chief of them was called Bavani Das (Bhawani Das), who had a great liking and affection for me, because he enjoyed drinking my wine. This man had placed his head in danger by a paper, in which he declared that without the slightest doubt the said prince would become king. I asked him in familiar conversation how he could have had the audacity to sign such a paper, and what excuse he had ready to produce if it did not happen accordingly. The astrologer laughed long and heartily at my question, and said to me that if the said prince should come to be king, he would accord to him the greatest credit; if not, the prince would be sufficiently busied in saving his own life, and not likely to have time to seek that of an astrologer. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.travel.manucci~en-irvine.65.10) · Pramāṇa