Travels in India (Tavernier) 87.3.7

87.3.7

After I had saluted them, the Kázi asked me whether the money which was in the chamber of the defunct was mine, and how I could prove it. I said I had not any better proof to give him than the letters of exchange which I had given to the Shroff, and that since my departure he had by my orders paid the sum to the defunct; that I had instructed the latter in case the Shroff paid in silver to change it into pagodas, and forward them to me. Upon this reply which I made to them, they sent to call the two Shroffs who had paid my bills, to know if it was true, and as they averred that it was, the Kázi forthwith ordered his lieutenant to go and open the door of the room, and see if the seals were intact on all the bags. He did not leave till he had my assurance that I had found the full sum, and nothing was wanting. I returned with him to make the same declaration to the Kázi and the Sháh Bandar, and to thank them for their trouble, and it ended by my signing a document which they had written in Persian, in which I testified my satisfaction. The lieutenant told me that I must pay the charges of the burial of Boete, and those due to the persons who had placed the seals, as well as those of the officer who had kept guard at the door of the chamber. These all amounted to but 9 rupees, or 4½ écus of our money. One would not have got off so easily in most places in Europe.