Storia do Mogor 94: The Dutch Ambassador.

94

About the time when Aurangzeb recovered his health there arrived at Dihli an ambassador from the Dutch called Adrian to offer congratulations on the king's accession. This man was of sound judgment, and thoroughly acquainted with the Mogul customs, having been for a long time at the head of the Dutch factory at Surat. Since he knew that those who bring the largest present and the heaviest purse are the most acceptable, the best received, and the soonest attended to, he brought a present for the king. It consisted in a large quantity of very fine scarlet broadcloth, much fine green cloth, some large mirrors, many earthenware dishes, bric-a-brac from China and Japan, and a small throne in appearance like a litter (cherolla), a piece of Japanese work with many pleasing paintings. For the ministers there was a large sum in gold and silver, with different kinds of cloth and other bric-a-brac. As soon as he arrived he began [43] to set forth to the ministers what he desired. Thus in a few days leave was granted to him to be presented to the king, on condition of making obeisance first in the European, and then in the Indian manner.
Thus, on entering the court and reaching the royal presence he did as he had promised. Aurangzeb was interested at seeing the European fashion in dress and their way of bowing. Coming to meet them, Morturacan (Murtaza Khan) took the letter from the hands of the ambassador and presented it to the secretary (i.e., the wazir). The master of the ceremonies, with his gold cane in his hand, took the ambassador's hand, and placed him in a fairly honourable place along with the five persons who accompanied him. This was a favour accorded to them. For it is not usual for more than one man to enter with an ambassador into the royal presence. Then they were invested with a sarapa (set of robes) of brocade.
Next Aurangzeb ordered the present to be brought, and above everything else he prized the throne, and, as it was ornamented, he had it covered with glass to preserve the pictures from the great dust, and until this day he makes use of it. Then he sent to say to the ambassador that he might withdraw, and he would soon receive his leave to depart. But the ambassador knew the vain-gloriousness of the Moguls, who hold it a point of honour to keep ambassadors dancing attendance upon them. They like to have a foreign ambassador always attending at the court audiences. For this reason he sent more gifts to the ministers, and succeeded in obtaining leave to go after four months.
The letter that the ambassador brought for the Mogul stated that the Dutch Company expended in the Mogul realm large sums of gold and silver, besides importing a large quantity of spices, also copper and lead. But they were delighted to incur such expense in the territories of so just a monarch. As a token of gratitude for his justice, the Dutch Company, masters of the seas, offered to his majesty the use of their ships and fleets, and all that they held in India, being many fortresses, lands, and islands. The ambassador on his taking leave received a second sarapa, and in addition he was entrusted with a rich sarapa for delivery to the general of Batavia, a poignard covered with precious stones, and a letter in most friendly terms [44].