cold Now in regard the Christians are not permitted to keep these Pigeons some of the vulgar sort will turn Mahometans to have that liberty There are above three thousand Pigeon-houses in Ispahan For every man may build a Pigeon-house upon his own Farm which yet is very rarely done all the other Pigeon-houses belong to the King who draws a greater Revenue from the Dung than from the Pigeons which Dung as they prepare it serves to smoak their Melons Poultrey is very plentiful in Persia and the Armenians brought out of Europe the way how to fat Capons the first so fatted they presented to the King who lik'd them so well that he order'd that the richest of the Armenians should be commanded to provide him such a number every year There are no Turkeys in all Asia but the Armenians trafficking to Venice carry'd some from thence which when the King had tasted he lik'd so well that he order'd the Armenians to breed him up such a number and to stock the Kingdom with them But the Armenians seeing the King would impose a new Tribute of Turkeys as well as Capons grew negligent and suffer'd the Chickens to dye as soon as they were hatch'd Thereupon the Persians suspecting the fraud commanded the Armenians to keep the dead Turkeys that they might be Judges how they came by their deaths And it was my wonder to see so many young Turkeys hanging against the Walls of some Houses in Zulpha that occasion'd this Story to be told me All sorts of Water-fowl are as plentiful in Persia as with us Upon the Frontiers of Media and Armenia at a certain season of the year are to be seen a great number of Birds much like to our Owzils Much about the same time the Corn begins to appear but then is the ground cover'd with such infinite swarms of Locusts that the Armenians are forc'd to betake themselves to their Processions and to water the ground with a Water which they fetch a great way off whereinto the Bodies of several martyr'd Christians were thrown Three days these Processions and waterings of the ground continue and after that whether it be that the fore-mention'd Birds do eat the Locusts or only drive them away in two or three days the Country is clear of them As for Birds of prey the Country wants none Falcons Sparrow-haws Lanerets c. of which the King of Persia is very well provided having above eight hundred belonging to his Game Some of these Birds are taught to fly at the wild Boar or wild Ass or wild Goat others at Cranes Herons wild Geese and Partridge The chiefest of which Birds are brought from the Southern Mountains extending from Schiras to the Persian Gulf. The King takes great delight to hunt the Boar and Hart and if it come to pass that the Game out-run the Dogs then they let fly one of their Hawks who presently seizes the head and while she is continually pecking and disturbing the Beast the Dogs are presently at his heels The Hawks are taught to stop like a Horse at full speed else they would never quit their prey which they presently do as soon as ever the Falconer shews them their reward Now their way of ord'ring or making the Hawk is this They take the skin of a Hart head body and legs and stuff it with Straw to the end it may be like the Beast which they intend to represent in the nature of a Quarry When they have set it in the place where they usually train up the Hawk they lay meat upon the head or in the holes of the eyes to the end the Bird may be sure to seize those parts at his down-come Being accustom'd to feed in this manner for some days together they fix the Beast upon a Plank with four Wheels and cause it to be drawn with long Cords by certain men that mend their pace ev'ry day 'till at length it is drawn by a Horse at full speed whereby the Bird is accustom'd by degrees not to forsake her prey After the same manner they counterfeit all other sorts of Quarrys to enter their Hawks as well wild Boars wild Asses as Hares and Foxes Some there are that will order a Crow with the same industry as you would make a Hawk They have have also a certain Beast which they call Once which has a spotted skin like a Tiger but which is nevertheless very gentle and tame this a Horse-man will carry behind him and when he sees a wild Goat he sets down the Once which is so nimble that in three leaps he will be upon the back of the wild Goat though the wild Goat be a very swift Creature The Once immediately strangles him with his sharp teeth But if by accident the wild Goat get from him the Once will stand still in the same place abash'd and troubl'd so that an Infant may take him and kill him without the least resistance made in his own defence The Kings of Persia take great delight in Hunting and in that sport it is that they love to shew themselves magnificent Insomuch that Sha-Sefi desirous to treat all the Ambassadors then at his Court which at that time were the Tartarian Muscovite and Indian carry'd them along with him into the field and having tak'n a great number of Harts Fallow-dear Hinds and wild Boars he caus'd them all to be made ready to be eat'n the same day And while he was feasting an Architect had order to raise a Pyramid of the heads of those Beasts in the middle of Ispahan of which there are some remains to this day When the Architect had rais'd it to a considerable height he came very pleasantly to the King and told him he wanted nothing but one head of some great Beast to finish the Work The King whether in his Wine or to shew the Ambassadors how absolute he was over his Subjects turning briskly toward the Architect Thou say'st well said he nor do I know where to meet with a Head more proper than thy own Thereupon the miserable Architect was forc'd to submit his own Head the King's Command being presently put in execution CHAP. IV. Of the manner of Building in Persia. IN regard there is little Wood or Stone in Persia all the Cities except some Houses are generally built of Earth but of an earthen or rather a kind of Potter's Clay so well wrought that you may cut it like Turf being wrought to a just consistency The Walls are made with lays of Earth according to the proportion intended and between every lay of Earth three Foot high two or three rows of Bricks bak'd in the Sun These Bricks are made in a square Mold three singers thick and seven or eight inches broad and for fear they should cleave with drying in the Sun they lay over them pounded Straw to keep them from chopping in the heat They never lay the second Lay 'till the first be dry nor is the second Lay to be so broad as
to give me my choice that I rather desir'd a young lively Horse rather than an old one Thereupon he sent me one that was so given to bounding and prancing that he threw a young Hollander out of the Saddle but upon my desire to have him chang'd he sent me another which I sold afterwards for four hundred Roupies From Amadabat I return'd to Surat from Surat I travel'd again to Golconda and thence to the Mine to buy Diamonds From whence returning back for Surat I resolv'd for Persia. CHAP. XX. My return from Surat to Ormus BEing upon my return to Surat from the Diamond Mine I understood that the War was proclaim'd between the English and the Hollanders and the latter would send no more Ships into Persia. The English also gave out the same resolutions for indeed they had sent four Ships into Persia which they expected back every hour While I was thus in fear of staying long in a place where I had no business there arriv'd at Surat five great Dutch Ships from Batavia three of which being rather Men of War than Merchant-Men were order'd to be unladen with all speed with an intention to look out for the four English Vessels that were expected out of Persia. The other two were appointed to follow two or three days after being in that time to take in provisions for the whole Fleet. In one of those two Vessels I embark'd and setting sayl the eighth of January we came before Diu the twelfth where we overtook the other three Ships There it was debated at a Council of War what course to steer to meet the English and it was resolv'd that we should steer away for Scindi where we arriv'd the twentieth of the same month and stay'd there till the twenty-eighth and then setting sail with a fair Wind we landed at Gomrom the seventh of March. The End of the First Book TRAVELS IN INDIA The Second Book Containing an Historical and Political Description of the Empire of the Great Mogul CHAP. I. A Relation of the last Wars of Indolstan which gives an insight into the present Estate of the Empire and Court of the Moguls IHave written this History in such manner as I knew things to be transacted during my stay in the Country leaving it to the Reader to make his own reflections as he pleases it being sufficient for me to make a faithful description of the Potent Empire of the Moguls according to the Observations I have taken upon the place This great and vast Empire which contains the greatest part of Indolstan and which extends from the Mountains on this side the River Indus to the Mountains on the other side of Ganges borders Eastward upon the Kingdoms of Aracan Tipra and Asia Toward the West upon Persia and the Usbeg Tartars Southward upon the Kingdoms of Golconda and Visapour Northward it runs up as far as the Mountain Caucasus North-Eastward the Kingdom of Bantam whence comes our Musk parts it North-Westward it borders upon the Country of Chegathay or the Usbegs They are call'd Moguls that is white of complexion for the last Conquerors of the Indies were Whites the Natives being all Brown or Olive-colour Aureng-zeg the present Emperor is the eleventh in a direct line of the Descendants from the great Temur-Leng commonly call'd Tamerlane the extent and renown of whose Conquests from China to Poland has exceeded all the actions of the greatest Captains of the former Ages His Successors compleated the Conquest of all India between the two Rivers with the destruction of several Kings So that Aureng-zeb has at this time under his Dominion the Territories of Gouzerat Decan-Dehly Multan Lahor Kashemire Bengala and many other Territories not to mention several Raja's or petty Kings who pay him Tribute and are his Vassals The Succession of the Kings of India is as follows 1. Termur-Leng that is to say the Lame because one of his Legs was shorter than the other lyes buried at Samarchand in the Country of Chegathay or the Usbeg Tartars being the place of his Nativity 2. Miram-Cha the Son of Temurleng 3. Sultan Mahomet the Son of Miram-Cha 4. Sultan Abousaid-Mirza the Son of Mahomet 5. Hameth-Sheck the Son of Sultan Abousaid 6. Sultan Babur that is the Valiant Prince the first Mogul thatwas of greatest power in India He dy'd in the year 1532. 7. Homajon that is the Happy the Son of Sultan Babur dy'd in the year 1552. 8. Abdul Feta Gelal-Eddin Mahomet commonly call'd Akabar that is the Great reign'd fifty four years and dy'd in the year 1605. 9. Sultan Selim otherwise call'd Jehan-guir Patsha that is the Victorious Emperor of the World succeeded Akabar his Father and dy'd 1627. He had four Sons the eldest nam'd Sultan Kosrou the second Sultan Kourom the third Sultan Perviz the fourth Cha-Daniel 10. Sultan Kourom the second of the four succeeded Jehan-guir his Father and was acknowledg'd by all the Nobility at the Castle of Agra by the Name of Cha-Bedin Mahomed but he would be call'd Cha-jehan that is King of the World 11. Aureng-zeb that is the Ornament of the Throne is the present Monarch The following Figure shews you what sorts of pieces the Kings cause to be thrown among the people when they come to the Throne They represent the Arms or Signets of the Kings which I have nam'd The biggest in the middle was Cha-jehan's the tenth King These pieces are most of them Silver there being very few of Gold And as for Aureng-zeb he never coln'd any particular pieces to throw away at his Coronation The Great Mogul is without all question the richest and most potent Monarch of Asia the Territories which he possesses being his own Hereditary Possession and being absolute Master of all the Territories whence he receives his Revenues For in the Territories of this Prince the great Lords are but the Royal Receivers who give an account of the King's Revenues to the Governours of the Provinces and they to the chief Treasurers and Controllers of the Exchequer CHAP. II. Of the Sickness and suppos'd Death of Cha-jehan King of India and the Rebellion of the Princes his Sons THis great King had reign'd above forty years not so much as a King over his Subjects but rather as a Father over his Family and Children Insomuch that during his Reign there was such a strictness in the Civil Government and particularly for the security of the High-ways that there was never any occasion to put any man to death for Robbery In his declining years he fanci'd a young Lady of an extraordinary Beauty that was not above thirteen years of age and because the strength of nature would not permit him to satisfie his passion he took certain provocative's which were so hot that he fell thereupon into a distemper that had almost kill'd him This oblig'd him to shut himself up in his Haram together with his Women for two or three months during which time he appear'd very rarely to the people and that
gave him fifteen days Thereupon the King did go to the Treasury next morning according to Mahomet's desire and found all things in good order having heard before what became of the Scimitar From thence he went to Mahomet's House who made the King a mean Present For it is the custom that he whom the King honours with a Visit must make a Present to his Majesty After the King had receiv'd it he walk'd up and down and view'd the Chambers Halls Parlours and Rooms of State and wonder'd to see them so ill set out with plain Felts and course Carpets whereas in other Lords Houses a man could not set his Foot upon any thing but Cloth of Gold and Silk For the King as they had set the Nazar out expected to have found other things which made him admire at so great a Moderation in so high a degree of Honour Now at the end of a Gallery there was a Door lockt with three great Padlocks Of this the King took no notice whereupon the Meter who is the White Eunuch and chief of his Chamber as he came back shew'd the King the Door that was so strongly Padlock'd which made the King curious to have it open'd withal asking Mahomet what he had got there lock'd up with so much care Oh Sir said he it behoves me to keep that lockt for there is all the Estate I have in the World All that your Majesty has seen in this House is yours but all that is in that Chamber is mine and I dare assure my self your Majesty will be so gracious as never to take it from me Those words inflam'd the King's curiosity so that he commanded the Door to be open'd But he was strangely surpriz'd when he saw nothing more within than Mahomet's Sheep-hook that lay upon two Nails his Scrip wherein he us'd to put his Victuals his Bottle for his Water his Pipe and his Shepherd's Weeds all hanging against the Wall The Nazar beholding the King's astonishment at such a Sight Sir said he when the King Sha-Abas found me in the Mountain keeping Goats then that was all I had and he took nothing from me I beseech your Majesty that you would not deprive me of these things neither but rather if you please let me resume them again and fall to my old Calling The King touch'd at so high a piece of Virtuo caus'd himself to be disapparel'd and gave his Habit to the Nazar which is the greatest Honour that the King of Persia can bestow upon a Subject Thus Mahomet continu'd and dy'd honourably in his Employment This brave Person was the Protector of all the Franks in Persia and if any one had done them wrong upon complaint he did them Justice immediately One day as I was shooting Ducks upon the River of Ispahan near the Nazar's Gardens with two Servants some of the Nazar's people that did not know me set upon me and would have taken away my Gun which I would not let go till I had broke the Stock about the Shoulders of the one and flung the Barrel at the other 's Head Thereupon I took some of the Franks along with me and complain'd to the Nazar He testifi'd his sorrow for what had happen'd and gave us evident Proofs thereof by the blows which he caus'd to be laid upon those that had done me the injury Another time Sha-Sefi being upon his return from Guilan his Tents were set up near Zulfa in Armenia where the King staid to hunt two or three days Now among the rest of the Courtizans that follow'd the Court to divertise the King with Dancing and Mummery there was one who was perfectly handsom to whom the King had already sent Presents which could not be unknown to any Lord i' the Court. But the Nazar's Son for all that being in the heat of Youth got this Courtizan to his Tent and there lay with her which came to his Father's Ears next day The Nazar whether out of his zeal to the Ring or whether it were an effect of his prudence to prevent the King's anger which would have certainly been the death of his Son caus'd him to be drub'd after the manner of the Country and bastinado'd all over till the Nails of his Toes dropt off and that his Body was almost a perfect Gelly Which when the King understood together with the Young Man's Crime he said no more but that the Nazar had done wisely by punishing his Son himself to prevent his Justice But to return to the Road from Kerman to Ispahan The first day that I set out from Kerman at my Stage in the Evening I met with a rich Moullah who seeing I had Wine civilly offer'd me some of his Ice to cool it In retaliation I gave him some of my Bottle He invited me to his House which was well built with a handsom Garden with Water in it He entertain'd me with Spoon-meat according to the mode of the Country and when I took my leave he fill'd my Boracho with very good Wine The following days I saw nothing worthy observation the Country being as I have already describ'd it Yezd lyes in the Road almost in the mid-way between Kerman and Ispahan in 93 Deg. 15 Min. of Longitude and 13 Deg. 45 Min. of Latitude It is a great Town in the middle of the Sands that extend themselves for two Leagues round it so that when you leave Yezd you must take a Guide for upon the least Wind the Sand covers the Highway whereby a man may be apt to fall into Holes which seem to have been either old Cisterns or the Ruines of ancient Buildings Between the Town and the Sands there is a little good Soil which produces excellent Fruits but above all Melons of several sorts the Pulp of some is green of others yellow and vermilion and some there are the meat whereof is as hard as a Renneting There are also very good Grapes and good Wine but the Governour will not permit the Inhabitants to make Wine Some therefore they dry and of the rest they make a kind of Confection to cat with Bread There are also abundance of Figs which are large and well tasted They distil vast quantities of Rose-water and another sort of Water with which they dye their Hands and Nails red which they squeeze out of a certain Root call'd Hina There are three Inns i' th' City and several Bazars or Market-places cover'd and vaulted which are full of Merchants and Workmens Ware-houses They also make at Yezd several Stuffs of Silk intermix'd with Gold and Silver which they call Zerbaste and another sort of Stuff of all pure Silk call'd Daraï like our smooth strip'd Taffata's Other Stuffs they make half Silk half Cotton others all of Cotton like our Fustians They make also Serges of a particular Wool which is so fine and delicate that it looks handsomer and is much better than Silk Though I had nothing to do I staid in Yezd three days because I met with
makes away himself they never carry the Body out of the door of the house but make a hole in the wall where they can most conveniently and carry him to his Grave without any Ceremony The night preceding the Feast of the Holy Cross Men Women and Children go to the Church-yard whither they carry good store of Food not forgetting their Wine Immediately they fall a weeping over the Graves of the dead and after they have spent some time in that doleful Exercise they all fall to eating and drinking thus passing the whole night by turns in blub'ring eating and bubbing As for the poor people they would think themselves undone and the most unfortunate in the world should they want Provision and Wine to go to the Church-yards the night before the Feast of St. George where they go to frolick it rather then to pray for the Dead There may be some few Armenians that embrace Mahometanism for worldly Interest but they are generally the most obstinate persons in the world and most firm to their superstitious Principles CHAP. XIV Examples of the Constancy of the Armenians in maintaining their Religion against the Persecutions of the Mahometans IT is the custom of the Armenians that when any one of them apostatizes and desires to return again to the Church he cannot have Absolution but at the same City or Village where he first abjur'd his Religion Now it happen'd that a young Armenian being sent to Smyrna with a very considerable quantity of Goods and falling to debauchery turn'd Mahometan to the end he might defraud his Father and his Brethren of their Estate according to Haly's Law already mention'd But after he had spent good part of the Goods in Debauchery he return'd to the Three Churches where the Grand Patriarch liv'd to be absolv'd from his Fault but the Patriarch telling him he must go to the Bishop of Smyrna he went accordingly and in some few days after he had undergone the Penance enjoyn'd him he went to the Cadi and with a great Resolution Sir said he you know that some years since I turn'd Mahometan now I come to declare before ye that I have repented and do repent of the foul Crime I committed when I deny'd the Saviour of the World and embrac'd your wicked Law The Cadi who thought it had been at first only some evaporation of Extravagance endeavour'd to reclaim him by fair words and promises but when he heard him persist in his resolution when he heard him curse and blaspheme Mahomet he caus'd him to be carry'd to the Piazza where he was cut to pieces immediately For no persons go with more courage and joy to suffer for their Faith then the Armenians In the year 1651 there happen'd to be a Wedding between a young Turk and a Virgin of the same Nation To this Wedding was invited an Armenian Lady who was a great friend of the Bridegroom's Mother The Armenian had an only Son of about twelve years of age that earnestly desir'd to go along with her at first she refus'd him knowing that after the age of five or six years no Youth is permitted to be in company with the Turkish Women or Maids But the Boy still pressing his Mother and being seconded by an Aunt who to please her Nephew told her she might let him go in Girls Apparel at last the indulgent Mother over-rul'd by the importunity of the Child took him along with her in a female dress Three days the solemnity of the Turkish Weddings last but the very first day an old Gipsy-Turk casting her Eye upon the young Armenian and finding him too sparkish and too nimble for a Girl suspected his Sex and calling his Mother aside told her that by all the gestures and actions of the Child she could be no Girl but a Boy in disguise The Mother not only deny'd the matter but also seem'd highly offended at the old Womans suspition who as much incens'd to have her judgment question'd decoy'd the Child among the Eunuchs of the Family and caus'd him to be search'd and finding her self in the right spred it presently about the house Immediately the people cry'd that the Chambers were defil'd that the Armenian Lady had done it in derision of their Law and seizing Mother Aunt and Youth carry'd them all before the Basha demanding Justice The Basha dismiss'd the Mother and the Aunt but kept the Youth six or sev'n days hoping the rage of the people would be over But in vain he strove to plead for the Child though the Father offer'd them half the weight of him in Gold for the Basha was forc'd to deliver him up into the hands of the marry'd Womans kindred who carry'd the Child to the Market-place of the City where they stript him stark naked and first they flea'd him from his Neck behind down to the Wast and so left him with a Guard upon him all night The Cadi and Moullah's exhorted the Child to turn Mahometan and they would preserve him from further mischief His Mother beg'd him to have pity upon her and himself and to turn Mahometan to save his life But neither tears nor all the tender words that grief and affection could inspire could shake the constancy of the Infant who with a resolute utterance answer'd that he had hitherto suffer'd and still would suffer patiently and that nothing griev'd him but that his Mother should exhort him to deny his Saviour Next day the pitiless Turks came and flea'd all his Breast and his Stomach and so left him all night under a Guard intending to have flea'd him part by part every day But the Basha abhorring their Cruelty came the next day with his Guards and caus'd his Head to be cut off Van is a City peopl'd as well with Armenians as Turks so that it is a usual thing for the Armenian and Turkish Boys to play together One day it unfortunately fell out that the Boys playing one among another and flinging Stones at each other an Armenian Boy hit a young Turk full upon the Temples and strook him dead Presently the other Turkish Boys and the Rabble seiz'd him and carry'd him to the Basha the Father and Mother of the Child slain follow'd with hideous out-crys bawling for justice or that the Boy should turn Mahometan to expiate his fault The Armenian Parents offer'd a large sum of Money to redeem their Child but the adverse party obstinate against all accommodation the Basha was constrain'd to deliver the Child giving sentence that the young Armenian should endure the same death the Turk had suffer'd and no other Immediately the Turks hurry'd the poor Child to the place where he had unfortunately slain his play-fellow and after the Parents of the young Turk had had the two first hits he was presently brain'd by a show'r of Stones from the Rabble Yet as near death as he knew himself to be without any disturbance at all he exhorted his weeping play-fellows to stand firm to the Faith of
Jesus Christ for which he was going to dye Another time an Armenian Merchant coming from the Indies to Grand Cairo went to the Coffee-house according to custom being a rendesvous of all the Merchants in the Town There falling into discourse by reason of the heat of the weather he took off his Bonnet made after the Armenian fashion of divers Colours and laid it behind him keeping his black Cap only upon his head When the Moullah came about to hasten the people to go away according to the custom which I have already declar'd the Armenian hastily rising up a Turk concealing the Merchant's Bonnet clap'd his own Bonnet upon his head Upon that all the Turkish Merchants that were there came and congratulated the Armenian Merchant telling him how glad they were to see that he had embrac'd the good Law At which words the Armenian surpriz'd takes off the Turbant throws it to the Ground before all the Company and stamp'd it under foot This action of contempt so enrag'd the Turks that they carry'd him before the Basha before whom it was in vain to justifie himself or to affirm that the Turbant was malitiously put upon his head for the Turks swore the contrary and that he took it of his own accord and therefore he must either turn Turk or dye for it Upon his refusal they put him in Prison and in a few days the sentence was brought him from the Mufti and Cadi that he must either turn or be burnt alive The severity of the sentence overpower'd him at first to embrace the Mahumetan Law But four or five years after returning from the Indies to Cairo he came where the Basha was sitting in Council with the Grandees of the Country and getting as near the Mufti as he could and throwing his Turbant in his face There Dog said he Thou wert the cause that I have worn it so long of which I have repented and do repent from the bottom of my heart for I know that neither thou nor thy Law are worth a Straw At the same time the croud laid hold of him and drag'd him to the Piazza where he dy'd in the midst of the flames with an admirable constancy A rich Merchant of Zulpha call'd Cotgia Soultenon was so well belov'd by Sha-Sefi that he often went to Dine at his house But one day it fell out that the King having eat and drank to excess upon his return home fell crop-sick upon which the report ran that the Armenian had poyson'd him Which report coming to his ears fearing least the King should dye and himself be put to cruel Torments he took a dose of Poyson and dy'd Which when the King who was well again the next day understood he was very much troubl'd for his death The same Cotgia Soultenon had a Cafer sent him from Melinda for a Slave who being young and very apprehensive soon learnt the Persian and Turkish Languages and was instructed in the Christian Religion and Christen'd by the name of Huzod or Joseph After his Master's death he turn'd Mahumetan and so continu'd twenty years At the end whereof returning to Zulpha he beg'd pardon of the Church and all the rest of his days so crucify'd himself with Fasting that every one pitty'd him and when the Armenian Bishops told him he had done well he made no other answer but that he was not worthy to live upon the Earth who had deny'd his Saviour only he hop'd that he would have mercy upon him and so continu'd his austere penance 'till he dy'd CHAP. XV. Of the Author's reception at the Court of Persia in his sixth and last Voyage and what he did there during his stay at Ispahan IArriv'd at Ispahan the 20 th of December 1664. So soon as the Nazar was inform'd of my arrival he sent the Kelonter or chief of the Armenians with seven or eight more to congratulate my arrival and to assure me of all the kind Offices he could do me The next day he sent the same Armenians with four Horses and to tell me that the King had a desire to see what I had brought for which purpose the Kelonter had order to furnish me with men Thereupon I took Horse accompany'd by all the Franks that were at Zulpha When I came to Court I was brought into the place where all the great Ambassadors had audience where I found attending the Nazar and Father Raphael superior of the order of the Capuchins ready to deliver me my Box of Jewels which I had left with him in the Covent for more security After I had expos'd my Goods upon a fair Table cover'd with a Carpet of Gold and Silver and that the Nazar had dispos'd every thing in order with his own hand the King enter'd attended only by three Eunuchs for his Guard and two old men whose office it was to pull off his Shooes when he goes into any Room spread with Gold and Silk Carpets and to put them on again when he goes forth The King had nothing on but a single pair of Drawers of Taffata chequer'd red and white which came half way the Leg his feet being bare a short Cassock that came but half way his body with a large Cloak of Cloth of Gold with hanging-sleeves down to the Ground furr'd with Sable Martin The first thing I shew'd was a large Candlestick of Chrystal of the Rock the richest piece of that nature that ever was seen The next was a suit of Tapestry hangings held up by several men as I had appointed The Nazar then caus'd me to advance and do my obeysance to the King who presently knowing my Face again Oh said he to the Nazar This is the Fringui Aga who sold me so many Rarities about six years ago when Mahomet Beg was Athemadoulet After that the Nazar shew'd him all my Rarities as they lay in order Among the rest I besought His Majesty by Frier Raphaël to accept of a great Steel Mirror which when he look'd in he wonder'd to see his Face so big But when Frier Raphael had told him the nature of it he caus'd it to be held to one of his Eunuchs which had a monstrous Hawk Nose the sight whereof held him in laughter and divertisement for above a quarter of an hour After that the King retir'd leaving me alone with the Nazar and Friar Raphel As for my Jewels I put them up my self and had a place assign'd me to Lock them up and keep the Key but for my large pieces of Goldsmiths work the Nazar committed them to the trust of one of the principal Officers of the House The next day early in the morning the Nazar sent for me and Father Raphael and made his Secretary write down the price of every thing according to his demands He had also his own Artists to prize them but that I did not value in regard I knew the price much better then they After he had shew'd the Jewels price and all to the King we were
Prince to death But when they had dissipated her fears and that she understood that they came to set him upon the Throne by the command of his Grandfather she embrac'd the young Prince and return'd him into the hands of the Eunuchs When he was come out of the Haram the two Lords attended by several others saluted him King and acknowledg'd him for their Soveraign At the same time they took off his Clothes and tore them which in Persia is a mark of mourning and according to custom put him on another plain Garment which he wore till midnight Then they disrob'd him again and put him on his Royal Robes and set him upon the Throne where all the Lords came and did him homage and the next day he was acknowledg'd by all the Acclamations of the people For when the Royal Habit is put upon the new King the Drums Trumpets Timbrels Hautboys and other Instruments make a din in a peculiar place of the Meydan appointed for that purpose Which is the Signal to give notice to the people to meet the next morning to acknowledg the new King Sha-Sefi for many years was a Novice in the art of Government But time opening his eyes the first remarkable thing which he did being at Casbin was to cut off the head of Ali-Kouli-Kan that great Captain who had conquer'd the Kingdoms of Lar and Ormus for Sha Abbas and the heads of three of his Sons After that returning to Ispahan he cut off the heads of seven of the principal Lords of his Court and by little and little took the Government into his own hands Of those Lords whom Jani-Kan was the chief For 't is thought that Sha Abbas had left a private order with Mirza Také and the Dowager Sultaness to rid themselves of those Lords so soon as Sha-Sefi should be setl'd in his Throne and that they had plac'd Governors in all places where in the King might confide These Lords having smoak'd the private order of Sha-Abbas and believing that the time of execution drew near prevented the Athemadoulet Mirza Také for meeting one morning before the Palace-door they kill'd the Porter and entring his Bed-Chamber stab'd him before he could rise After this execution they went to the King whom Jani-Kan boldly told that they had slain Mirza Také The King at that time dissembling his anger at so bold an enterprize and an attempt upon the Royal Authority answer'd him that he had done very well and that he had prevented those orders which he intended to have giv'n him The Sultaness his Mother then govern'd the Kingdom together with the Athemadoulet from whom she receiv'd four hundred Ducats in Gold every day for her little pleasures and held a private Council with him in her Haram where he had free admission as being cut close In this Council it was that these two persons overthrew in the night whatever the Lords concluded in the day chang'd the Kings mind and over-rul'd his thoughts as they pleas'd themselves by vertue of that power which they had over him Eight or nine days after as these Lords were sitting in Council with the King an Eunuch enter'd which was the signal for the King to get out of the way and as soon as the King was gone the Chamber was fill'd with Eunuchs that rushing in immediately fell upon Jani-Kan and his Accomplices and cut off their heads Their heads and bodies were immediately expos'd to the view of the people in the Meydan and for that it is not the custom in Persia to take any cognizance of what the King does the most part of the people spurning the heads with their feet cry'd one to another See the heads of those Dogs that have disobey'd the will of the King I told ye that Mirza Také was clean cut which occasions a particular story He was Governour of Guilan in the Reign of Sha Abbas and having abus'd one of his Pages the young Ladd stole secretly to Ispahan and made his complaint to the King who having heard it immediately sent him to be Governour of Guilan in the place of Mirza Také and order'd him to send him his head by one of the Officers which he dispatch'd along with him The King also in regard the Page was very young appointed him a person able to advise him in his affairs In the mean while Mirza Také missing his Page and making no question but he was gone to make his complaint to the King which would of necessity prove his ruin if not prevented he resolv'd to divert the storm by punishing himself and caus'd that part to be cut clean off that committed the crime At the same time and in that bad condition wherein he then was he caus'd himself to be put into a Litter and taking his Chirurgeon along with him he gets to Ispahan by another way which was not usually travel'd for fear of meeting the Page and causing himself to be carry'd into the Palace in that pitiful and languishing estate desir'd to speak with the King who was surpriz'd at his arrival But the Kan having presented him in a Plate of Gold with the undoubted marks of his repentance besought his Majesties pardon Whereupon the King considering the rigor and extraordinary punishment which he had inflicted upon himself sent him back to his Government and recall'd the Page whom he otherways gratifi'd And this was the man whom Sha Abbas upon his Death-bed order'd that Sha-Sefi should make Athemadoulet as being the fittest for the employment of any person in his Kingdom Sha-Sefi not content to have rid himself of the Lords that had presum'd to invade his Authority was resolv'd to have the head of Ali-merdan-Kan Governour of Candahar of whom he was jealous by reason of his vast riches his Plate being all Gold and his House as magnificently furnish'd as the Kings But the King could not bring about his design for the Kan being press't to come to Court and believing it was only to take away his head to free himself from the danger deliver'd Candahar to the Great Mogul by whom he was kindly entertain'd and highly caress'd Neither was Ali-merdan-Kan's wealth of his own getting but left him by inheritance as being descended from the ancient Kings of Candahar who were originally Tartars Now whatever favours or advancement the Great Mogul bestow'd upon Ali-merdan-Kan the same did the Persian King bestow upon his two Sons whereas all the world believ'd that after such a piece of Treason committed by their Father the King would have ript up their bellies This piece of policy of Sha-Sefi was very advantageous to Sha-Abbas the second when he besieg'd Candahar with fifty thousand men For the greatest part of the Moguls Army being compos'd of Persians they remembring how kindly Sha-Sefi had us'd the two Sons of Ali-merdan-Kan made little resistance against the King of Persia who enter'd Candahar in a small time The Great Mogul troubl'd at the loss ask'd Ali-merdan-Kan by what means he might retake
King caus'd the Baker and the Cook to be apprehended and to be led quite thorough the City with two men going before them who cry'd to the people We are going to put the Baker into a red hot Oven made in the Piazza where he is to be bak'd alive for having utter'd Bread by false weights and the Cook is to be roasted alive for having sold meat by false weights Thus those two men serv'd for an example not only to Ispahan but to all the Kingdom where every one dreaded the severe justice of Sha-Abbas CHAP. III. Of what fell out most memorable in the Reign of Sha-Sefi the first and particularly of the death of Iman-Kouli-Kan and his three Sons I Man-Kouli-Kan was the last Kan of Schiras whose Government extended over the Province of Lar to the Golf of Persia under the Reign of Sha-Abbas these Kans being the most potent in all Persia. Iman-Kouli-Kan was he who in the Reign of Sha-Abbas conquer'd the greatest part of the Kingdom of Lar and the Kingdom of Ormus with all the Coast of the Persian Golf from Cape Jasques to Balsara This Iman-Kouli-Kan was prodigiously rich belov'd and respected by all the world besides he was wonderfully magnificent his expences almost equalling the Kings which occasion'd Sha-Abbas who discours'd with him one day particularly upon that Subject to tell him that he desir'd him to spend every day one Mamoudy less than he that there might be some difference between the expences of a King and a Kan The noble qualities of this Iman-Kouli-Kan had gain'd the affections of the people for he was magnificent and liberal highly recompenc'd brave Soldiers and Students he lov'd Strangers and had a particular care to cherish Arts and Sciences To which purpose he built a fair Colledg at Schiras for the instruction of Youth and several Inns as well in the City as upon the Road for the benefit of Travellers He caus'd Mountains to be cut thorough to shorten the way and join'd others by Bridges of such an adventurous Structure that it is hard to conjecture how such prodigious Arches could be made over such vast Precipices and Torrents Now in regard Iman-Kouli-Kan was strick'n in years he seldom went to Court chusing rather to continue in his Government where he was belov'd and respected by all men But the King being young and the Government of the Kingdom in the hands of the Queen-Mother and the Athemadoulet who were extreamly jealous of the Kan those two persons link'd together in interest for the maintenance of the Kings Authority and their own fretted to see the Kan's Court almost as splendid as the Kings and that nothing of the Revenue of Schiras Lar Ormus or any part of the Persian Golf came to the Kings Coffers as being solely at the disposal of the Kan but that on the contrary the King was oblig'd to send him Money to pay the Army But that which troubled the Queen-Mother most of all was the pretention of the Kan's eldest Son to the Crown whowas also a person of a daring and ambitious courage For the Kings of Persia esteem it a great Honour to bestow upon any Kan or great Lord one of their Wives out of their Royal Haram and Sha-Abbas had given to Iman-Kouli-Kan one of his own proper Wives whom he lov'd extreamly 'T is thought that when she left the Haram she was three months gone with Child by Sha-Abbas for somewhat above six months after she was bedded by the Kan she lay-in of a Son of which the King was the reputed Father and who being born before Sha-Sefi pretended a right before him to the Throne By vertue of this claim contrary to the will of Sha-Abbas in favour of Sha-Sefi this ambitious Lord who only pass'd for the Kan's eldest Son vehemently sollicited his Father to seize upon Sha-Sefi and to make himself King or at least to op'n a way for him to the Throne Now it happen'd that one day being a hunting with the young King near Schiras the impatient young Lord coming to his Father Sir said he see now the opportunity that offers you the Throne for I will go presently and bring you Sha-Sefi's head But the Kan holding his Son by the Arm told him that he would never consent to the death of his King protesting to him rather to dye a thousand deaths adding withall that it was the Kings will to appoint Sha-Sefi to succeed him as being the Son of his Son and consequently his lawful Heir that the young Prince was recommended to his care and in regard he had promis'd and sworn he was so far from falsifying his trust that he would maintain his possession to the last gasp This generous resolution of the Kan broke the young Lords design upon the Kings person However the Sultaness being not ignorant of the train that was laid for the young King and against the repose of the Kingdom thought it her wisest way to prevent the blow and to rid her self of such persons as had conspir'd the death of the King The Kan's two other Sons took part with him they call'd their elder Brother And as for the Kan himself though he were upright in his Loyalty yet his power his wealth his reputation among the Souldiery and the affection that the people bare him concurr'd together not only to render him suspected but guilty The Sultaness and the Athemadoulet took counsel together which way to divert the storm that threaten'd the Kings head to whom they represented that he was not safe in his own person so long as Iman-Kouli-Kan and his three eldest Sons liv'd The King easily believ'd them and resolv'd to be rid both of Father and Sons together but the difficulty was to get 'em to Court wherein opportunity it self assisted them For at that time Amurath the Great Turk at the head of a vast Army was already advanc'd within the Confines of Persia had tak'n Erivan and had ruin'd Tauris Upon the first news of this march the King sends for all the Kans and Governours to attend his person with all the Forces under their command Among the rest the Kan of Schiras receiv'd the same orders who thereupon assembl'd all his Troops both Horse and Foot who were not only the most numerous but the best disciplin'd and stoutest Souldiers of all Persia. As he was upon his march to Casbin with his three Sons the eldest having well consider'd of affairs Sir said he We are making hast to the King to the end our heads may the sooner fall at our feet Perhaps my Son reply'd the Kan thou maist speak the truth but to this day I never was a Rebel against the King I have done whatever he commanded and whatever may happ'n I will obey him till death The Kan arriving at Casbin was by the King welcom'd with great demonstrations of joy Some days after he took a general Muster and then made a great Feast which lasted three days to which all the great Lords and Kans
men imagin For formerly great quantities of Velvets Tissues and Taffata's were transported out of Persia into these parts but now we make them better and cheaper in Europe There is also a vast quantity of flat silk transported out of Persia into Turkie Muscovy and Poland which the women use in embroidery for the Colours being lively they embroider their shifts hankerchers vails and other linnen with it The Seal-skins and Goat-skins which are dress't in Persia are transported by the Hollander into India and Japan Great quantities also of both are transported into Muscovy and Poland The Ronas that famous Root of which I have already spoken is transported over all India where there is also a great vent of Persian fruits pickl'd in Vinegar as also of their sweet waters Their Pistaches grow in great abundance about Casbin Almonds from the Territories of Yesd and Kerman Raisins from several parts of the Kingdom especially from Schiras And their purgative Prunes which they call Alonbacara from the Frontiers that border upon Tartary Great store of Quinces candied and boxes of Marmaled made at Balsara are thence transported into India where they are bought up by the Mahometans and Portugueses For the Banians will eat none for fear they should by accident bury a fly in their stomachs Great store of dry'd Fruits are brought out of the Country of the Medes and transported to Tocat to Diarbequir Nineveh and Dagdat Among the rest a sort of small Abricots very pleasing to the taste which being boyl'd in water make a pleasant syrrup and are the only diet for the sick in those parts There are also great store of painted Calicuts made in Persia which being course are only worn and made use of by the poor so that there is very little transported out of the Country but what is carried into Turkie The Persians also make a great deal of money of their Cattel and to begin with their Camels they sell vast numbers of them into Armenia and Natolia But the Governours of the Provinces are very unwilling to part with them which very much abates the trade For the Turks very highly esteem the Persian Camels as being stronger than their own They also sell great store of Horses and Mules but that trade is not so considerable the chiefest part being only sent into India As for their Sheep 't is a wonderful thing to see what prodigious numbers come out of the Province of the Medes and the Higher Armenia and the Forraign Merchants come as far as Tauris and Hamadan to fetch them away They drive them as far as Constantinople and Adrianople and the greatest part of the Mutton which is spent in Natolia and Romania comes out of Persia which very much enriches Persia with ready mony But when Lamb is in season as we travel with the Caravans we meet at every turn with flocks after flocks the least of which consists of a thousand Lambs and in regard there are some of those Lambs that are weary and lag behind we buy them at a very cheap rate the Shepheards that are not able to carry them being glad to be rid of ' em Formerly the Merchant Fewellers brought some Turquoises of the old rock out of Persia but for these 15 years last past there have bin none found The last time I was there I could only meet with three which were but reasonable As for those of the new rock they are of no value because they do not keep their colour but turn green in a little time CHAP. XIII Of the Justice and Policy of the Persians THe Justice of the Persians is very exact and very speedy Suits are determin'd upon the place without any need of Advocates or Proctors Not but that the Officers of Justice are easie to be corrupted but in their unjust exactions which they carry as secretly as possibly they can they are sooner satisfi'd then the Turks and if their injustice be discover'd upon complaint to the King they are punisht without mercy The Kans do Justice in their Provinces as representing the Kings person Besides that the King has a Divan Begui in every City and the Kan places under him a Deroga who is like the Lieutenant Criminal in France He has under him an Aatas who is a kind of Captain of the watch who goes about the streets in the night to hinder disorders and carries all people to Prison that he finds abroad at unseasonable hours if they cannot give a good accompt of themselves There is also a Kelonter that is the chiefest or greatest who seems to resemble the Tribune of the People among the Romans or the Provost of Merchants in France The Kelonter is only responsible to the King who places one in every City and it is his business to defend the People from the injustice and oppressions of the Governours Murther is severely punish'd nor will money save the Criminal When the Murtherer is tak'n they carry him before the Divan Begui who makes quick work For he delivers him to the Parents or kindred of the person slain who carry him to the place of execution and without any compassion torture him to death I remember the Kan of Schiras had a Favourite who falling in love with a young Persian Gentleman would needs endeavour to have the use of his body One day meeting upon the Road together and lying at night under the same Tent the Favourite about midnight came to his bed side and after many sollicitations would have forc'd him But being violently resisted the Favourite for madness to see himself disappointed and liable to be discover'd stabb'd the young Gentleman to the heart and fled to the Mountains The Murther being divulg'd the Mother Widow and Sister of the young man repair'd to the Kan for Justice who willing to save his Minion offer'd them money but they scorning his proffer threaten'd to complain to the King The Kan being thereupon constrain'd to pursue his Favourite at length took him and sent him to Ispahan telling them that he would not judge of the Affair but refer it to the King The Mother Widow and Sister immediately follow'd the Murtherer to Ispahan and demanded Justice of the King with that eagerness that though the King had an inclination to have spar'd the Kan's Favourite for his Masters sake he was forc'd to abandon him and to bid them pay themselves with his blood Immediately he was carri'd to the Meydan where the Widow first stabb'd him to the heart with a Dagger then the Mother took her turn and after the Sister and then holding a Cup to receive his blood drank every one a cup full to quench the thirst of their revenge Nor are they so exact in the punishment of Murther only for they punish disorders in houses of Debauchery with a proportionable strictness of which I will give the Reader two examples A young Hollander coming to Ispahan presently put himself into a Persian habit and going in the evening to a house of
at a great distance too which made them believe he was dead For they are oblig'd by Custom to shew themselves to the people three times in a week or in fifteen days at most Cha-Jehan had six Children four Sons and two Daughters The Name of the eldest was Dara-Cha the second was call'd Sultan Sujah the third Aureng-zeb and the fourth Morad-Bakche The eldest of his two Daughters was call'd Begum-Saheb and the name of the second was Rauchenara Begum Cha-jehan lov'd all his four Sons alike and had made them Governours or Vice-Roys of four of his principal Provinces or Kingdoms Dara-Cha who was the eldest stay'd with his Father in Dehly and had the Government of the Kingdom of Sandi into which he put a Deputy Sultan Sujah had for his share the Government of Bengala Aureng-zeb was Vice-Roy of the Kingdom of Decan and Morad-Bakche of the Kingdom of Guzerat But though Cha-jehan endeavour'd to give equal content to his four Sons their Ambition was not satisfi'd with this division but ruin'd all the good designs which so kind a Father had lay'd to preserve peace among his Children Cha-jehan being thus sick and retir'd into the Womens quarter without shewing himself for many days the report ran that he was dead and that Dara-Cha conceal'd his death to gain time to provide for himself and to secure the Empire True it is that the King believing he should dye commanded Dara-Cha to call together all the Omrahs or Lords and to seat himself upon the Throne which belong'd to him as the eldest of his Brothers He also testifi'd the desire he had to see him quietly setled in the peaceable possession of the Empire And this intention of his was look'd upon as the more just in regard the other three Brothers had been for some time observ'd to have less respect for their Father than Dara-Cha Dara-Cha who honour'd and respected the King with a real tenderness made answer to the King that he desir'd of Heaven nothing more than the preservation of his Majesties life and that so long as Heaven should continue that preservation he should take it to be a greater honour to continue himself a Subject than to ascend the Throne And indeed he was never absent from his Father that he might be the better able to serve him in his sickness and because he would be present upon all occasions he lay by his Fathers Bed-side upon a Tapestry spread upon the ground During the false report of the death of Cha-jehan his three other Sons immediately rebell'd every one laying claim to their Fathers Crown Morat-Bakche the youngest who had the Government of Guzerat sent away Forces immediately to besiege Surat the most considerable Port and most frequented of any other all over India The City made no resistance for the Walls are very weak and broken down in several places But they defended the Cittadel where the Treasure was very stoutly though the young Ambitious Prince did all he could to make himself Master of it Chabas-Kan one of his Eunuchs who was General of his Army an industrious and active person and who carri'd on the Siege with all the experience of an old Captain when he saw he could not carry the Castle by main force caus'd it to be undermin'd in two places by the assistance of an European Engineer which took effect so that upon the twenty-ninth of December 1659 he threw down a good part of the Walls and fill'd up the Moat which very much terrifi'd the besieg'd But they presently recover'd their courage and though they were but a small number they defended themselves for above forty days to the great dammage and slaughter of Morat-Bakche's Army Chabas-Kan provok'd at such a vigorous resistance sought for all the Wives and Children Parents and Kindred of the Canoneers that were within the Castle to place them at the head of his men when they made their approaches He also sent one of the Brothers of the Governor of the place to offer him advantageous conditions But the Governor being a very loyal person and uncertain of the Kings death rejected all his offers The Eunuch perceiving the Resolution of the Governour threaten'd the besieged to kill all their Wives and Children Parents and Kindred if they did not surrender the place the next day But neither did any of those considerations prevail till at length the breach being made wider and the number of defendants decreasing the Governor surrender'd upon honourable conditions which were punctually perform'd by Chabas-Kan who seiz'd upon all the Treasure and carried it to Amadabat where Morat-Bakche was busily employ'd in squeezing the people to get Money The news of the taking Surat being brought to this Prince he presently provided himself a Throne and sitting upon it on the day which was appointed for the Ceremony he caus'd himself to be declared King not only of Guzerat but of all the Dominions of Cha-jehan his Father At the same time he also coin'd Money and sent new Governors into all the Cities But his tottering Throne not being well fix'd fell soon to the Ground and the youngest of all the Brothers for having usurp'd a Scepter that no ways appertain'd to him was confin'd to a severe imprisonment Prince Dara-Cha fain would have reliev'd Surat but it was impossible For besides that he was busied in the assistance of his Father the King his second Brother Sultan-Sujah more powerful than Morat-Bakche found him far more work to do He was already advanc'd into the Kingdom of Lahor having absolutely reduc'd the Kingdom of Bengala All that Dara-Cha could do was to send Soliman Checour his eldest Son with an Army against Sultan Sujah The young Prince having defeated his Uncle and driven him back into Bengala the Frontiers whereof he secur'd with good Garrisons return'd to Dara-Cha his Father In the mean time Morat-Bakche acknowledg'd for King in the Kingdom of Guzerat bends all his Force and Counsels to make himself Emperor of the Indies to destroy his Brothers and to fix his Throne either in Agra or Jehanabat Whiles these things pass'd Aureng-zeb as ambitious but more crafty than his Brothers lets them alone to kindle the first Fires and conceals his own designs which afterwards appear'd so much to the damage of the rest At first he feign'd to lay no claim to the Empire but liv'd a private life like a Dervich or Religious Hermit And the better to act his part he declar'd to his younger Brother Morat-Bakche whom he saw to be so ambitious how willing he should be to assist him in his designs telling him that because he merited the Empire by his Valour he would aid him with his Money and his Forces to overthrow Dara-Cha who only stood in his way The young Prince blinded with the hopes of his good Fortune easily believ'd Aureng-zeb And so joining Forces together he advances towards Agra to make himself Master of that City Dara-Cha marches to meet them but the Battel was as imprudently manag'd
to Asouf-Kan his Generalissimo and prime Minister of State who was Protector of the Empire He commanded also all the Officers of the Army to acknowledg him for King as being the lawful Heir declaring Sultan Komrom a Rebel and incapable of the Succession Moreover he made Asouf-Kan to swear in particular that he would never suffer Boulaki to be put to death which way soever affairs went which Asouf-Kan sware upon his Thigh and as religiously observ'd as to the Article of not putting him to death but not as to that of helping him to the Crown which he design'd for Cha-jehan who had married his eldest Daughter the Mother of four Princes and two Princesses The news of the Kings death being known at Court caus'd a general lamentation And presently all the Grandees of the Kingdom set themselves to execute the Kings Will and Testament acknowledging Sultan Boulaki for Emperor who was very young That Prince had two Cousin-Germans who were both of them by the Kings consent turn'd Christians and made publick profession thereof Those two young Princes being very apprehensive perceiv'd that Asouf-Kan Father-in-Law to Cha-jehan and Father of Cha-Est-Kan had no good intentions toward the young King and gave him notice of it which cost them their lives and the King the loss of his Dominions For the young King having no more with than was agreeable to his age openly declar'd to Asouf-Kan what his Cousins had reveal'd to him in private and ask'd the General whether it were true that he had a design to set up his Uncle against him or no. Asuof-Kan immediately accus'd the Reporters of salsity and impudence and protested his fidelity to his King and vow'd to spend the last drop of his blood to preserve him in the possession of the Empire However seeing his Conspiracy discover'd he resolv'd to prevent the punishment to which end having got the two Princes into his possession he put them both to death But before that in regard of his power in the Army and in the Empire he had already brought over to Cha-jehans party the greatest part of the Commanders and Lords of the Court and the better to play his game and deceive the young King he rais'd a report that Cha-jehan was dead and because he had desir'd to be buried near his Father Gehan-guir the body was to be brought to Agra This Stratagem being cunningly manag'd Asouf-Kan himself gave advice of the feign'd death to the King telling the King withall that it would be but a common civility for him to go and meet the Corps when it came within a League or two of the City being an Honour due to a Prince of the Blood of the Moguls All this while Cha-jehan kept himself incognito till coming within sight of the Army that lay about Agra he caus'd himself to be put into a Coffin wherein there was only a hole left for him to breath at This Coffin being carri'd under a moving Tent all the principal Officers who were of the plot with Asouf-Kan came to perform the usual Ceremonies of State to the body of the deceas'd Prince while the young King was upon the way to meet the body But then Asouf-Kan finding it seasonable to execute his design caus'd the Coffin to be open'd and Cha-jehan rising up and shewing himself to the eyes of all the Army was saluted Emperor by all the Generals and other principal Officers who had their Cue ready so that the name of Cha-jehan running in a moment from one mans mouth to another the Acclamation became publick and the Empire was setled upon him The young King hearing the news by the way was so surpriz'd that he thought of nothing but how to save himself by flight being upon a sudden forsaken by all his followers And Cha-jehan not believing it any way necessary to pursue him suffer'd him to wander a long time in India like a Fakir At length he retir'd into Persia where he was magnificently receiv'd by Cha-Sefi who allow'd him a pension fit for so great a Prince which he still enjoys Cha-jehan having thus usurp'd the Crown the better to secure himself and to stifle all Factions that might arise during the life of the lawful Prince whom he had so unjustly despoiled of his right by degrees put to death all those that had shew'n any kindness to his Nephew So that the first part of his Reign was noted for many acts of cruelty that blemish'd his reputation No less unfortunate was the end of his Reign For as he had unjustly depriv'd the lawful Heir of the Empire which belong'd to him he was himself while he yet liv'd depriv'd of his Crown by Aureng-zeb his own Son who kept him Prisoner in the Fortress of Agra For after Dara-Cha had lost the Battel against his two Brothers Aureng-zeb and Morat-Bakche in the Plain of Samonguir and was treacherously abandoned by the principal Officers of the Army he retir'd into the Kingdom of Lahor with all the Treasure which the confusion of his affairs would suffer him to get together In the King to resist the violence of his victorious Sons shut himself up in the Castle of Agra to the end he might not be surpriz'd but have time and leisure to observe how far the insolence of his children would transport them As for Aurengzeb who had Morat Bakche safe enough he enters Agra feigning to believe a report that Cha-jehan was dead that he might have liberty to get into the Fortress where he said one of the Omra's would make it out The more he reported the death of Cha-jehan the more did the King endeavour to let the people know he was alive But finding both Power and Fortune had taken Aureng-zeb's party and being also in great necessity for want of water he sent Fazel-Kan grand Master of his Houshold to assure his Son that he was alive and withal to tell him that it was the King's command that he should retire to his Vice-Roy-ship in Decan without putting him to any more vexation and that upon his obedience he would forgive whatever had past Aurengzeb firm in his resolution return'd for answer to Fazel-Kan that he was certain that the King his Father was dead and that upon that account he had only taken Arms to secure the Crown to himself which he thought he deserv'd as well as the rest of his Brothers That if his Father were living he had too great a respect for him to undertake the least enterprize that should displease him and therefore that he might be certain he was not dead he desir'd to see him and to kiss his feet and having so done he would retire to his Government and punctually obey his Commands Fazel-Kan return'd this answer to the King who declar'd that he should be glad to see his Son and sent back Fazel-Kan to tell him he should be welcome But Aureng-zeb more cunning than Cha-jehan assur'd Fazel-Kan that he would not set his foot in the Castle till the Garrison
his Marriage to dispossess him of his Throne and to leave it to his own Son The Pagan King easily believ'd what they said Nor were these supitions ill-grounded for Sultan Sujah having good store of Gold and Jewels easily corrupted several Mahumetans that liv'd in the Kingdom of Arakan and with those and about two-hunder'd men more that had follow'd him after the rout of his Army he undertook a most bold enterprize which was yet a mark rather of despair than courage He appointed a day to those of his party to force the Palace and after they had put all the Royal Family to the Sword to proclaim him King of Arakan But this Plot being discover'd the day it should have been executed Sultan Sujah and Sultan Bangue his Son had no other way to save themselves but by flight into the Kingdom of Pegu. But their way lying over Mountains almost impassable and through thick Forrests full of Tigers and Lions and being also closely pursu'd their flight avail'd them little or nothing Sultan Bangue however being behind to keep the Pursuers in play while his Father and his Family gain'd ground stoutly defended himself against the first Assailants but at length being overpower'd by number he was taken together with his two little Brothers his Mother and his Sisters who were all put in Prison where they were very ill-us'd But some time after the King having a desire to marry the eldest Sister of Sultan Bangue they had a little more liberty allow'd them However they enjoy'd it not long for the young Prince being of a turbulent and ambitious spirit plotted new treasons against the King which being discover'd the King immediately caus'd the whole Family to be put to death not sparing the young Princess his Wife though she were big with Child As for Sultan Sujah who was formost among those that fled it is most generally thought that either he was slain by the Souldiers who were sent to apprehend him or that he was torn in pieces by the Tigers and Lions of which those Forrests are full CHAP. VII Of the beginning of Aureng-zeb's Reign and the Death of Cha-jehan his Father SOme days before he ascended the Throne he sent to his Father to send him some of his Jewels to the end he might appear before his people with the same magnificence as his Predecessors had done Cha-jehan taking this request of his Sons for an affront put upon him in Prison fell into such a rage that he continu'd mad for some days and had like to have dy'd upon it In the excess of his vexation he call'd several times for a Morter and a Pestle threatning to beat all his Jewels to powder before his Son should have them But Begum-Saheb his eldest Daughter never forsook him throwing her self at his feet and by vertue of that criminal power which she had over him as being both his Daughter and his Wife kept him from using that extremity more out of a design to preserve the Jewels for her self than for her Brother to whom she had always been a mortal enemy For this reason when Aureng-zeb ascended the Throne he had no more than one Jewel upon his Bonnet This Bonnet cannot be call'd a Crown and by consequence neither can the Ceremony be call'd a Coronation At the time that Aureng-zeb took possession of the Throne he would not eat any wheaten-bread nor meat nor fish but fed upon barly-bread herbs and sweet-meats which was a kind of Penance that he impos'd upon himself for so many crimes When Aureng-zeb was settl'd in the Empire several Embassadors came to Jehanabat to congratulate him on the behalf of the Kings their Masters as from the King of the Usbeck Tartars the Sheriff of Mecca the Prince of Balsara and the Kings of Arabia Felix and Ethiopia The Hollanders also sent Menheir Adrican chief of their Factory in Surat who was kindly receiv'd and first dispatch'd For 't is a piece of State to keep the Embassadors a good while at Court before they have Audience All these Embassadors presented Aureng-zeb with the rarities of their Countrey who to get himself a good name in Asia sent them away very well satisfi'd Some months before the death of Cha-jehan Aureng-zeb sent an Embassador into Persia who was magnificently receiv'd For a month together he was nothing but feasted and caress'd with all manner of divertisements The day that he was to make his Present from the Great Mogul the King of Persia sate upon his Throne in a most magnificent habit and having receiv'd the Embassador's Present he presently divided it in contempt among the Officers of his House only keeping for himself a Diamond that weigh'd sixty Carats Some few days after he call'd for the Embassador and after some discourse he ask'd him if he were of the Sect of the Turks To which the Embassador returning an answer and leting some words fall against Haly the King ask'd him what his name was He reply'd that Cha-jehan had given him the Name of Baubec-kan that is Lord of a free heart and had honour'd him with one of the chief employments at Court Then th' art a Villain reply'd the King of Persia with an angry countenance to desert thy Sovereign in his necessity having receiv'd so many favours from him and to serve a Tyrant that keeps his Father in Prison and has massacr'd all his Brothers How dares he pursu'd the King take upon him the arrogant Title of Alem-guir Aureng-sha or King of all the World who never conquer'd any thing but possesses all he has by treachery and parricide Hast thou been one of those that counsell'd him to shed so much blood to be the Executioner of his Brothers and to keep his Father in Prison Thou art not worthy to wear a Beard and with that immediately caus'd it to be shav'd off which is the greatest indignity that can be put upon a man in that Countrey Shortly after he commanded the Embassador to return home sending along with him for a Present to Aureng-zeb an hunder'd and fifty beautiful Horses with a great quantity of Gold and Silver-Carpets Cloath of Gold rich Shashes and other Stuffs to a vast value When Baubec-kan was come back to Agra where the King then was Aureng-zeb incens'd at the affront which the Sophi of Persia had giv'n him in the person of his Embassador he took the Horses and sent some of them into the great Piazza others to the corners of the Streets causing it to be proclaim'd that the followers of Haly could not ride those Horses without being Nigss that is to say unclean as coming from a King that did not obey the true Law After that he caus'd the Horses to be kill'd and all the rest of the Present to be burnt uttering many reproachful words against the King of Persia with whom he was mortally offended At length Cha-jehan happ'ning to dye toward the end of the year 1666. Aureng-zeb found himself rid of an object that every hour reproach'd