Travels in India (Tavernier) 39.5.2

39.5.2

On the 3d [September] we went to see the Nawáb, who had caused his tents to be pitched on the summit of the mountains, in the quarter bordering the road cut in the rock. He received us well, asking us if we were comfortably housed, and if we had been given the food which he had ordered for ourselves and horses. Subsequently he inquired the cause which had brought us thither, and we replied that we had brought some goods sufficiently choice for the King, but that we had not wished to go to his majesty before showing them to him — well knowing that the King bought nothing of high price without his advice, and that, in any case, we considered such deference to be due to him. The Nawáb assured us that our compliment had not displeased him, and after he had caused betle to be presented to us we took our leave and returned to the town. We found all the gunners awaiting us, and we all assembled at Maille’s house for supper, where the Nawab sent us two bottles of wine — one Spanish, the other of Shiraz — which is rare in this country. As for brandy, they have no lack of it, for they make it of rice and also of sugar, of which there is an abundance in all these parts of India.