Travels in India (Tavernier) 66.3

66.3

All these letters and replies explain the reason why I delayed nearly six months at Surat. At length there came an express order from the Nawáb to the Governor of the town to allow me to depart, or otherwise he would have to resign his office. The Governor of Surat was so much annoyed at being baffled that when I took leave of him he did not deign to look at me, of which I held him willingly quitted. In consequence of the news which I had received that the Nawáb had parted from Aurangábád, I found him with the army in Deccan, where he had besieged Sholápur, one of the towns of Rájá Sivaji. I sold him what I had intended for him, and during the time that I was with him he gave orders that I should lack nothing, neither for my own mouth nor the feed of my horses. They brought me each day four trays of meat and two of fruit and sweetmeats; these for the most part fell to the share of my servants, because I was seldom permitted to eat in my tent. The Nawáb gave orders that five or six Rájás or idolatrous Princes whom he had in his army should entertain me in their own manner. But their rice and vegetables, which constitute, as I have said, all their dishes, were so full of pepper, ginger, and other spices that it was impossible for me to eat them, and I left the repast with a very good appetite.