'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎124] (443/1024)

124
Travels in India.
Part II.
c H A P. IX.
Some other Ohfervations upon the Court of the Great Mogul.
A fter Aitreng-neb had fetled himfelf in the Empire, which he ufurp’d fronj
his Father and his Brothers, he impos’d upon himfelfa very fevere penance
eating nothing but Pulfe and Sweet-meats, which has made him very meagre
and lean. All the time the Comet lafted in the year 1665, which appear’d
very great in the iWie/, where I then was, Anreng-z.eb drank nothing but Wa
ter, and eat nothing but Bread made of Millet} which fo impair'd his health,
1 that it had like to have coll him his life. Befides, he always lay upon the
ground, only with a Tigers Skin under him ; lince which time he has never been
perfectly well.
I faw him drink three feveral times, while he fat upon his Throne y to which
purpofe he had brought him a large Cup of Cryftal of the Rock, round and all
of a piece, with a Gold Cover, enrich’d with Diamonds, Rubies, and Emraulds,
the foot thereof being of the fame. But no perfons fee the King eat, only his
Wives and his Eunuchs. And it is but very rarely that he goes to Dine or
Sup with any of his Subjeds. When I waslaft in India^ Giafer-Kan, who was
his Grand Fifier, and his Uncle by marriage of his Wife, invited the King to
fee a new Palace which he was building, who went accordingly, and it was the
greatefb Honour his Majefty could do him ; in retaliation whereof, Giafer-Kan,
and his Wife prefented him with Jewels, Elephants, Camels, Horfes, and other
things, to the value of a Million and fifty thoufand Livres of our Money. For
Giafer-Karis Wife is the molt magnificent and liberal Woman in all India, and
fpends more her felf than all the Kings Wives and Daughters, which makes
her Husband in debt, though he be almoft Lord of all the Empire.
When the King is carried in his Talkki to the one of his Sons
follows him, a Horfeback, and all his Omrahs and officers of his Houlhold come
behind him a foot. Thofe that are Adahumetans flay for him at the top of
the afcent to the Mofquee^ and when he is ready to come out, they march
before him to the Gate of his Palace. Eight Elephants always go before the
King, to every one of which belong two men *, one to lead the Elephant, and
the other, who fits upon his back, carries a Standard fix’d to a Half-Pike. The
other four carry Seats or Thrones upon their backs, the one fquare, the other
round ; one cover’d, the other inclos’d with Glafs of feveral fafhions. When
the King goes abroad, he has ufually five or fix hundred men to attend him
for his Guard, arm’d every one with a kind of an Half-Pike. To the heads of
their Pikes they tye two Squibs crofs-wife, about a foot long, and as big as
/ a mans Arm, which will carry the Half-Pike five hundred paces. The King
is alfo attended by three or four hundred Mufquateers j but they are very
Cowarcjs, and hardly know how to fhoot off their pieces. He has alfo a cer
tain number of Cavalry, which are Soldiers much alike. A hundred Emyeans
might well beat a thoufand Indians ; but they would hardly a'ccuflom them-
felves to live fuch fober lives. For as well the Horfe, as the Infantry will hve
upon Meal kneaded with Water and bfown Sugar ; but in the^ evening, when
they have convenience, they make Ouichery, which is Rice boil’d in Water and
Salt, with a Grain, fo call’d. When they eat it, they flir it with the
ends of their Fingers in melted Butter, which is the ufual food of the Sol
diers and poor people. Befide, the heat would kill our Souldiers, who would
never be able to endure the Sun all the day long, as the Indians do. by tne
way, give me leave to tell you, that the Country people have no^ other cloat -
ing than a piece ofLinnen to hide their fecret parts, being miferable poor ,
for if their Governours know they have any thing about them, they imz 6 !
either as their right, or by force. There are fome Provinces in f •
lye wafte, the Natives being forc’d to fly, by reafon of the cruelty oi
Governours. Under the pretence of being Mahumttans they perfecute tne