Travels in India (Tavernier) 41.3
Travels in India (Ball) 41.3
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- English
41.3.1
There is no need to repeat here what I have said at the beginning of this volume, and as we returned from Golconda to Surat by the same route as I took from Surat to Golconda, there being no other, — I have nothing to say except that, having left Golconda immediately after the reply which I made to the eunuch, the King, who did not hear of it for two days after our departure, sent four or five horsemen after us with orders to bring us back to court if they found us. We had already made five marches from Golconda, one of them being in the territories of the Great Mogul, when one of these horsemen came to us at sunset, his companions having remained on the frontier of the two kingdoms, rightly believing that as we had passed the boundary we would not be willing to return. This horseman showed us the order to make us return which he had received from the King, his master, who had told him that he would buy our pearls, and that he thought it very strange that we had left without saying anything. As we were no longer in the territory of Golconda the horseman could only urge us to return with him, giving us all possible assurances that we should be satisfied, and M. du Jardin had almost yielded; but I, knowing the atmosphere of the country better, told the horseman frankly that it was impossible, and after he had left I made my companion comprehend my reasons for being unwilling to return to Golconda. Having arrived at Surat, where a few days afterwards M.
41.3.2
du Jardin died of an effusion of bile, as I have related in my account of Persia, I made arrangements to go to Agra to see Shah Jahan, who was then on the throne. But the Nawab Shaista Khan, brother-in-law of the King, and Governor of the Province of Gujarat, of whom I have elsewhere spoken, sent to me from Ahmadabad, where he resided, one of the principal officers of his household, in order to tell me that having heard I had some beautiful jewels to sell he would be much pleased if I went to him, assuring me that he would pay for them as liberally as the King. I received this message during the illness of M. du Jardin, who died on the ninth day; and after we had rendered him our last duties at Surat, I went to Ahmadabad, where I at once transacted some business with the Nawab. As he understood all kinds of jewels perfectly well, we were at once agreed, and there was no difference between us save as to the nature of the payment. He gave me a choice of coins, and only stipulated that I should take golden or silver rupees, but this Prince giving me to understand that he did not wish that so large a sum should be seen leaving his house, suggested that I should take my payment in golden rupees, which would appear less. I agreed to what he advised, and he showed me some very fine gold, namely, old rupees which apparently had not seen the light for a long time.
41.3.3
But as the current price of the golden rupee is only 14 silver rupees, and he wished to pass his for 14½, or at the least for 14¼, this almost ended the transaction, as I made him understand that upon so large a sum I could not consent to lose a quarter upon every golden rupee. Finally, in order to satisfy him, I was obliged to take them at 14⅚ rupees of silver; for this Prince, who was otherwise magnificent and generous, showed himself a stern economist in matters of purchase. During my residence at Ahmadābād he sent me every day, to the house of the Dutch where I lodged, four silver dishes from his table containing pillau and choice meats, and one day when the King sent him ten or twelve men bearing apples, which had been received from Persia by way of Kandahar, he presented me with two dishes of them, which would have been worth at Ahmadābād, on account of their scarcity, 300 or 400 rupees. I gave a part of these fine fruits to the Dutch and to the ladies, and we amused ourselves well during my sojourn there. Moreover, Shāistā Khān gave me a khil'at complete, with sword and khanjar; this was worth more than 1000 rupees; and desiring to make me a further present of a horse, he asked me what kind I wished for. I replied that since he was pleased to give me my choice, I preferred a fresh and lively horse rather than an aged one.
41.3.4
He gave me one from his stud, which I mounted forthwith and took to the house of the Dutch, but not without difficulty, for it only went by jumps, and was so fiery, that on my allowing a young Dutchman to mount it, he, who thought he could ride it better than I, found himself promptly out of the saddle, being unable to manage the horse. Having communicated to Shaista Khan that an older one would be more suitable for me, he ordered his master of the horse to give me one which, although it had belonged to his father, was still fit for service, and had cost formerly more than 3000 écus. As I did not require it for my journeys I sold it for 400 rupees to a Frenchman, whom I was at the same time able to place in the service of this Prince, where he might have saved much money if he had not squandered it in debauchery. From Ahmadabad I returned to Surat, and from Surat I travelled to Golconda, and from thence to the mine to make my purchase of diamonds. On returning to Surat I arranged to go to Persia, but experienced great difficulties, which were followed by a voyage where I was exposed to dangers which I might have foreseen, and which I did little to avoid, never having feared dangers which travellers have to run both on sea and land, when it has been actually necessary for me to proceed forward.