Travels in India (Tavernier) 52.6

52.6

To augment his affliction Dara Shah, before reaching the house of Juin Khan, received by a foot messenger the sad intelligence of the death of that one of his wives whom he loved most, and who had accompanied him always during his misfortunes. He learnt that she had died of heat and thirst, not being able to find a drop of water in the country to assuage her thirst. The Prince was so affected by this news that he fell as though he were dead, and when, by the assistance of those who were with him, he came to himself, in the excess of his grief he rent his garments; this is a custom of great antiquity in the East, as David himself rent his at the news of the death of Absalom, his son. This unhappy Prince had always appeared to be unmoved on all the occasions of his evil fortune, but this one grief overwhelmed him, and he refused all the consolation offered by his friends. He clad himself in garments appropriate to his affliction, and in place of a sesse or turban wrapped round his head a piece of coarse cloth. It was in this miserable costume that he entered the house of the traitor Juin Khan, where, having laid himself down on a camp-bed to rest, a new subject of grief appeared on his awakening. Juin Khan on attempting to seize Sepehr Sheko, the second son of DArA ShAh, the young Prince, though but a child, resisted the traitor with courage, and having taken up his bow and arrow laid three men low on the ground.