Storia do Mogor 69: AURANGZEB TAKES MEASURES AGAINST WINE.
Storia do Mogor (Irvine) 69
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AURANGZEB TAKES MEASURES AGAINST WINE.
69.1
Among the other disorders, Aurangzeb observed that in Hindustan, chiefly in Dihli, there was great licence among Mahomedans and Hindus in the consumption of wine, although most repugnant to this king, who declared himself a strict follower of the Quran. This licence began in the time of Jahangir, although Akbar was the first to give leave to the Christians to prepare and drink wine; but in his time the Mahomedans did not drink. The evil example of Jahangir established this custom among the Mahomedans. In the days of Shahjahan they drank with full liberty, just as if drinking water, encouraged by Dara's example. Nor did Shahjahan, although not a drinker himself, care to remedy this disorder, but left everyone to live as he pleased, contenting himself with passing his days among women, as I have already said. It was so common to drink spirits when Aurangzeb ascended the throne, that one day he said in a passion that in all Hindustan no more than two men could be found who did not drink, namely, himself and 'Abd-ul-wahhab, the chief qazi appointed by him, as already said at the end of Part I. (I. 277). But with respect to 'Abd-ul-wahhab he was in error, for I myself sent him every day a bottle of spirits (vino), which he drank in secret, so that the king could not find it out.
69.2
Aurangzeb wished to repress this disorder, and therefore ordered that all Christians, excepting physicians and surgeons, should leave the city and remove to near the park of artillery, which was beyond the suburbs at one league's distance from the city. There they had leave to prepare and drink spirits on condition they did not sell them. After the issue of this order he directed the kotwal (chief of police) to search out Mahomedans and Hindus who sold spirits, every one of whom was to lose one hand and one foot. Without fail the kotwal went out to search for the vendors, although himself one of the consumers. One day I saw him carry out such a sentence on six Mahomedans and six Hindus; after the punishment he ordered them to be trailed to a dung-heap, leaving them there to die discreetly. This penal order was in force for a time, so that no vendors were to be found ; for whenever the kotwal suspected that spirits were made in any house, he sent his soldiers to plunder everything in it. The regulations were strict at first, but little by little they were relaxed ; and during the period of strictness the nobles, who found it hard to live without spirits, distilled in their houses, there being few who do not drink secretly.
69.3
I have said that the Christians had leave to prepare spirits for their own consumption, but were prohibited selling them. On this account sentinels were kept over them to watch that they did not sell. In spite of this, the gain being great, they did not refrain, by resorting to a thousand expedients, from selling them on the sly, although when the offence was discovered the kotwal used to send and plunder the house, the still being hung round the offender's neck, and then he was taken through the streets chained, and buffeted on his way to the kotwal's house. On arrival there half dead he was locked up in prison, and only released after many months with a fine and a beating. But such was the Christians' insolence and absence of shame that they did not desist. They were of many nations, mostly thieves and criminals ; and without slandering anyone, I can say with truth that the Christians who served in the artillery of the Moguls retained of Christianity nothing but the mere name, were worse than the Mahomedans and Hindus, were devoid of the fear of God, had ten or twelve wives, were constantly drunk, had no occupation but gambling, and were eager to cheat whomsoever they could. For these reasons the Farangis (Franks) have not in the Mogul country the estimation they formerly had ; many from greed of a small pay abandon their faith and turn Mahomedans, as if it imported little for the salvation of one's soul whether one is a Christian or a Mahomedan.