Travels in India (Tavernier) 151.3.3

151.3.3

“When M. Constant,” I continued to these gentlemen of the Council, “arrived at Gombroon, and had to go to the dwelling of the Khán, the finest horses in the Company’s stable were brought to him. That which was for the Commander had rich brocaded trappings, but as the bridle was only of silver he appeared to be surprised at it, and asked why there was not a golden bridle on his horse, considering that he was not inferior to the other commanders who had preceded him at Gombroon. They told him that, by order of the Company, the Commander Vanderlin had sent the two golden bridles which were at Gombroon to Batavia, the gold of one of which weighed 600, and of the other 450 ducats, and that it had been ordered that, for the future, no commander should use one of gold on his horse, but must content himself with one of silver. As I saw that this annoyed M. Constant, I told him privately that it would be easy for him to have a golden bridle on his horse without the Company being able to reproach him. That he had only to send to the Khán the present which he had to make him on behalf of the Company on a little more liberal scale than had the other commanders, his predecessors, and he should see that he would soon have a golden bridle. M. Constant believed me, and made a very handsome present to the Khán.