Travels in India (Tavernier) 41.3.2

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.