Storia do Mogor 69.1

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.