The Nobles
Were So Bold As To Put In Their Hands To Help Themselves, And So Thick,
That They Had
Soon left me none, if I had not pocketed up a remainder.
Till I had myself been present, I was
Told that he scattered gold on
this occasion, but found it to be only silver, and so thin, that all I
had at first, being thousands of small pieces, had not weighed sixty
rupees, of which I saved to the amount of twenty rupees, yet a good
dishful, which I keep to shew the ostentation of this display of
liberality; for, by my proportion, I think all he cast away could not
exceed the value of an hundred pounds. At night he drinks with his
nobles from rich plate, to which I was invited; but, being told that I
must not refuse to drink, and their liquors being excessively hot and
strong, I durst not stay to endanger my health, being already somewhat
indisposed with a slight dysentery.
On the 9th September the king rode out to take the air on the banks of
the river Darbadath, [Nerbuddah] a distance of five cosses. As he was
to pass my house, I mounted my horse to meet him; and, as it is the
custom for all men whose gates he passes, to make him some present,
which is taken as a good sign, and is called mombareck, or good news;
and as I had nothing to give, neither could go with nothing, nor stay
without offence, I ventured to take with me a fair book, well bound,
filleted, and gilt, being the last edition of Mercator's Maps of the
World, which I presented, saying, That I had nothing worthy the
acceptance of so great a king, but begged to offer him the world, in
which he had so great and rich a share. He accepted it in good part,
laying his hand repeatedly on his breast, saying, that every thing which
came from me was welcome. He asked about the arrival of our ships, which
I said we daily expected. He then said, he had some fat wild-hogs lately
sent him from Goa, and if I would eat any he would send me some at his
return, I made him due reverence, answering, that any thing from his
majesty was to me a feast.
He rode on upon his elephant, and when I offered to accompany him to the
gate, the way being stony, he desired me to return, bidding God keep me.
He asked which was my house, and being told, praised it, as indeed it
was one of the best in the place, though only an old temple and a large
tomb, enclosed by a wall. Repeating his farewell, he said the way was
bad, and desired me to go home, with much shew of courtesy and kindness,
on which I took my leave.
On the 16th I went to repay the visit of Maree Rustam, prince of
Candahar, who sent word at my arrival that he dared not receive any
visit unless he asked leave of the king, or acquainted Etimon Dowlet or
Asaph Khan, which he would do at the next durbar. I made answer, that he
needed not, as I never meant any more to trouble myself about so uncivil
a person. That I knew well this was a mere shift out of ill manners, as
the king would be no more angry for his receiving me at his house than
for coming to mine, and that I cared not for seeing him, and had only
come in pure civility to return his visit. His man desired me to wait
till he had reported what I said to his master, but I would not. At
night I waited upon the king at court, who spoke to me about the book of
maps; but I forbore to speak to him about our debts. But on the 25th,
though very weak, I went again to court to make trial of the king about
our debts. Muckshud, one of our debtors, having pled in excuse for not
paying that he had missed receiving his prigany, and knew not how to
pay unless he sold his house. I delivered the merchants petition to the
king, which he caused to be read aloud by Asaph Khan; all the names of
the debtors, with the sums they owed, and their respective sureties,
being distinctly enumerated. The king then sent for Arad Khan, the chief
officer of his household, and the cutwall, and gave them some orders
which I did not understand. Then reading over the names, and finding
some of them dead, and some strangers, he made enquiry as to their
abilities and qualities, and what goods they had received. Concerning
Rulph,[213] Asaph Khan undertook to speak to the prince on the subject,
and to get that affair concluded when he came.
[Footnote 213: In the edition by Churchill, this person is named Sulph,
but no elucidation is given. - E.]
My interpreter was now called in, and the king, turning to me, said that
our merchants had trusted people according to their own fancies, and to
whom they pleased, not coming to him with an inventory of their goods,
and therefore, if their debtors were insufficient, it was their own
faults, and they had no reason to expect payment of their money from
him. This I supposed to allude to his servant Hergonen, lately dead,
whose goods had been seized to the king's use. He added, however, as
this was the first time, he would now assist me, and cause our money to
be paid: but, if the English should hereafter deliver their goods to his
servants without money, they must stand to the hazard themselves. But if
when they brought their commodities to court, they would bring the
inventory of the whole to him, he would first serve himself, and then
distribute the rest among such as were willing to buy them; and then, if
any failed in payments, he would pay the money himself.
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