Storia do Mogor 99: Of Eunuchs.

99

Before setting out, since I'tibar Khan has given me occasion to speak of the race of eunuchs, I will give here a short account of that sort of brute. It may be that everyone does not know what is meant by a eunuch, and may imagine they are like the eunuchs of Europe who are employed as singers . . . [57]. If they are rich, they do not fail to have in their houses chosen women, with whom they have converse. If they cannot do this, owing to deficient income, they go in search of them in all directions, seeing that no doors are shut to them, nor do women hide from them.
Among the other qualities of this sort of animal, one is their extreme covetousness in collecting gold, silver, diamonds, and pearls, and they are immeasurably avaricious. They are afraid to spend money even when it is necessary ; fond of receiving, niggard in giving. Still, they are anxious to appear well dressed, and when they are astride a fine horse, they are as elated as if they were the greatest men in the world. Well may they hold themselves in such estimation, for they are the favourites of princesses, who are very liberal to them, in order to win them, and from time to time get permission to enjoy that of which I cannot speak. They are useful for the introduction secretly of men into the harem, and through them a husband's favour may be obtained. For the houses of the great are ordinarily under the direction of these persons.
Another of their qualities is to be friendly to women and inimical to men, which may be from envy, knowing what they have been deprived of. The tongue and the hands of these baboons act together, being most licentious in examining everything, both goods and women, coming into the palace ; they are foul in speech, and fond of silly stories. Among all the Mahomedans they are ordinarily the strictest observers of the faith, although I knew some who did not fail to drink their little drop, and were fond of wine. These men are the spies for everything that goes on in secret, whereby they are always listening among the kings, princes, queens, and princesses. Fida'e Khan, of whom I have spoken (1. 140), aware of the character of these monsters, did not allow such to be employed in his house, although he retained two young men [58] who acted as pages; he was indifferent to the fact that this sort of people are kept in the houses of princes and great men. This suffices for a brief notice of what the eunuchs are.