Travels in India (Tavernier) 127.2

127.2

But he who had these women in charge, on opening the door of the room at the end of three hours, found the eleven all dead and stretched on the ground, without any indication being apparent that they had hastened their deaths, either by steel, rope, or poison, nor could any one see how they had been able to make away with themselves. It was assuredly the case on this occasion that the evil spirit had played his game. Let us pass to another history. Two of the most powerful Rajas of India, who were brothers, having come to Agra in the year 1642 to pay their respects to Shah Jahan, who then reigned, not having properly acquitted themselves therein, in the opinion of the Grand Master of the King’s house, he one day said to one of the two Rajas, who were together under the gallery of the palace, in the presence of the King, that this was not the sort of demeanour that should be observed towards so great a monarch as the King his master. This Raja regarding himself as a King and a great Prince, and having brought 15,000 or 16,000 horse in his suite with the other Raja, his brother, was offended by the boldness the Grand Master showed in reprimanding him in that fashion, and drawing his dagger slew him on the spot, in the presence of the King, who witnessed the deed from an elevated position, where, as I have elsewhere said, he generally administers justice.