Storia do Mogor 65.9.4

65.9.4

He says that Shahjahan, learning that this princess had a lover in her palace, forthwith went to seize him. The princess had hidden the man in a stove, and the king caused it to be lighted, and thus secured his death. I leave the reader to judge if a father, who loved so much this princess, would do such an infamous act to his daughter at such a great court, where there were so many ambassadors. Although he might know that his daughter had her hidden diversions, he always dissembled, holding the princess equal to her mother, of whom it might be said she governed the kingdom. One day, owing to his love for her, he had complained to her, saying [149] that his vassals no longer obeyed him with the accustomed promptitude, this being a sign that he was getting near the end of his reign. The daughter, imagining that she would be able to remedy this by lengthening the days of the old man, gave largely in alms and liberated many slaves, male and female. First of all the latter were made to circumambulate her father three times, and then sent out of the harem, as if they carried away with them the royal infirmity outside. She also distributed many elephants and horses. This custom is very common in Hindustan, and this superstition being very widespread, everyone distributes, according to his ability, alms of food and other things.