Later Mughals v1.c8.s6.1

v1.c8.s6.1

The next five months from July to December, until the Emperor marched from Dihli towards Agra, were given up to dissipation. As the proverb says ‘Mad already, he has now taken to eating hemp.’ [M. U. ii. 93.] Dihli for a time fell under the dominion of the Lord of Misrule. Grand illuminations took place three times in every month. In consequence of the extensive illuminations, so much oil was used that it rose to be half a sir weight to the Rupee; then, all the oil being expended, they had recourse to clarified butter until it, too, ceased to be procurable. Grain also grew very dear; not more than seven or eight sirs weight being procurable for a Rupee. One day some porters came from the other side of the Jamuna with head loads of grain. Lal Kunwar, who was looking out of the latticed window in the Saman Burj (or bastion) of the palace, sent for one of these men and asked him ‘What have you given for this grain?’ He replied ‘Five or six Rupees.’ She exclaimed, ‘Praise be to God! things are still so cheap! Please the Lord Most High, I will bring the rate to five or six sirs for that amount of money.’ From this may be judged what ideas prevailed in other State affairs. Another day Jahandar Shah and Lal Kunwar were on the roof of the palace, watching what was going on upon the river. A boat full of men crossed over. The favourite said ‘I have never seen a boat-load of men go down.’ A hint was enough. Boatmen were ordered out with a boat-load of passengers, and the favourite's wish to see the wretched drowning people struggling in the water was at once gratified.*