'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.' [‎43] (76/1024)

> .
Chap. IX. of Monfieur T A VER NIER. 43
Eunuchs, who are always at the King’s Ear, i'uggefted to him many things to the
difadvantage of the Grand Mafterbut whatever they fiid, the Ring gave little
heed to their Tales. At length, one day when the King was looking upoh certain
bkains and ©aggers fet with precious Stones, one of the Eunuchs told him thofe
were trifles, and then defird his Majefty to fend for a Scimeter that the Grand
Sfmor had lent Sha-Jbas, all over let with Diamonds. True it is, that the Grand
Slumr had fent a rich Scimiter to Sha-Ab<u, but Sha- Abas had defac’d it long before
Mahomet's time, and had made a noble Jewel of the Scones th.at adorn’d it. There
upon this Scimitar was fought for in thelreafury, where Mahomet was chief Offi
cer-, but not being to be found, the King was troubl'd, finding it regiftred in the
Book of Prefents. Then certain Eunuchs and Grandees of the Court took their
opportunity to rip up Mahomet's Life ^ they reprefented to the King how many
Inns, Bridges, and Dikes Mahomet had built at his own charge ; what aHoufehe
had rear'd for himfelf, fitting for his Majefty to live in: and aggravated withal,
that he could not do fuch great things as thofe, without purloining notably from
the Publick Stock; for which he fliould do well to call him to an account. As they
were thus difeourfmg, Mahomet edme irlto the Prefehce, to whom the King (not
receiving him as he was wont to do) fpoke fome hard words about the Scimiter
that could not be found : telling him withal, that he would fee if the all reft of the
things in the Treafury were agreeable to the Regifter, dnd then gave him fifteen days
time to give in his Account. Mahomet not at ail mov’d, reply’d to the King, that
if his Majefty pleas’d he might come to the Treafury to morrow: and withal be-
fought him fo to do, though the King a fecond time gave him fifteen days. There
upon the King did go to the Treafury next morning, according to Mahomet's defire,
and found all things in good order ^ having heard before what became of the Sci-
miter. From thence he Went to Mahomet s Houle, who made the King a mean
Prefect: For it is the cuftom, that he whom the King honours with aVifit, muft
make a Prefent to his Majefty. After the King had receiv’d it, he walk’d up and
down, and viewed the Chambers, Halls, Parlours and Pvooms of State*, and
wonder’d to fee them fo ill fet out with plain Felts, and courfe Carpets; whereas
in other Lords Houles a man could not fet his Foot upon any thing but Cloth of
Gold and Silk. For the King, as they had fet the Naz^ar out, expend toh^ve
found other things ; which made him admire at fo great a Moderation info higH
a degree of Honour, Now at the end of a Gallery, there was a Door loekt 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, fhew’d the
King the I)oor that was fo ftrongiy Padlock’d *, which made the King fo curious to
Pave it open’d: withal, asking Mahomet what he had got there lock’d up with fo
much care ? Oh Sir, faid he, it behoves me to keep that loekt, for there is all the
Eftate I have in the World. All that your Majefty has feen in this Houfc is yours,
but all that is in that Chamber is rrtine, and l dare affure my felf, your Majefty
will be fo gaacious as never to take it from me. Thofe words inflam’d the King’s
curioflty fo, that he commanded the Door to be open’d : But he was ftrangely
furpriz’d, when he faw nothing more within than Mahomet's Sheep-hook, that lay
upon two Nails, his Scrip wherein he us’d to put'his ViOuals, his Bottle for his
Water, his Pipe, and his Shepherd’s Weeds, all hanging againft the Wall. The
beholding the King’s aftonilhment at futh a Sight, Sir, faid he, when the
King Sha-AbaAo\ind me in the Mountain keeping Goats, then that was all I had,
and he took nothing from me: I befeechyour Majelty that you would not deprive
me of thefe things neither*, but rather, if you pleale, let me refume them again,
and fall to my old calling. The Ki!^touch’d at fo high a piece of Virtue, caus'd
himfelf to bedifapparel’d, and gave has Habit to the Nanar, which is thegreateft
Honour that theKing of Perfiacm beftow dpon a Subjeft. Thus Mahomet continu'd
and dy*d honourably m his Employment. This brave Perlon was the Proje&or of
all the Frank* in Perfia : and it any one had done them wrong, upon complaint he
did them Juftice immediately. One day as I was {hooting Ducks, r upon the River
of Ifyahan near the Gardens 3 with two Servants, fome of the Nazar's
people that did not know me fet 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 fiung the Barrel at the other’s Head. Thereupon I took form of the Franks
F 2 *