'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.' [‎122] (441/1024)

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Travels in India.
Part II.
CHAP. VIII.
Of the Preparations againfi the Feafl of the Great Mogul, vchen he
is wheigtid folemnly every year. Of the rkhnejs of his Thrones
and the Magnificence of his Court.
T His great Feaft begins the fifth of November, and lafts five days. They
ufually weigh the King at the time of his Birth ; and if he weighs more
than he did the year before, there is great rejoicing. When he is weigh’d he
feats himfelf upon the richeft of his Thrones j and then all the Grandees of
, the Kingdom come to congratulate and prefent him. The Ladies of the Court
fend him their Prefents alfo, as likewife do the Governours of Provinces, and
others in great Employments. The Prefents confifts of Jewels, Tifliies, Carpetts.
and other Stuffs; befides Camels, Elephants, Horfes, and indeed any thing that
is rare and of value. ’Tis faid he receives that day thirty Millions of Livres.
They begin to prepare for this Feaft the feventh ot September, about two
Months before it begins. The firft thing they do, is to cover the two great
Courts overhead, from the middle of each Court to the Hall, which is open
upon three iides. The Pavilions that cover thefe two void places, are of Pur
ple Velve^ Embroider’d with Gold,and fo weighty, that the Polls which fuftain
them are as big as the Maft of a Ship} fome thirty, fome forty foot high.
There are thirty-eight of thefe Polls to uphold the Tent in the firll Court;
and thofe next the Hall, are plated with Gold as thick as a Ducket. The relt
are plated with Silver of the fame thicknefs. The Cords are of Cotton of divers
colours; fome of them as big as a good Cable.
The firll Court is furrounded with Portico’s and little Chambers, where the
CWA keep Guard For every eight days the Omrahs relieve the Guard ;
and during thofe eight days, the Qmrah who is upon the Guard, has a Difh of
Meat out of the Kings Kitchin. When he fees it coming afar off, he makes
three obeyfances, laying his hand three times upon the Ground, and three times
upon his Head, crying out at the fame time, God preferve the Kings health,
give him long Life and Vi&ory over his Enemies. They take it for a great
Honour to Guard the King \ and when they go upon the Guard, they put on
all their moll fumptuous Apparel; and their Horfes, Camels, and Elephants
are all richly adorn’d. Some of the Camels carry a fmall Piece of Ordnance,
with a man behind to fhoot it off. The meanelt of thefe Omrahs commands
a thoufand Horfe ; but if he be a Prince of the Blood, he commands fix tfiou-
fand.
The Great Mogul has feven Thrones,fome fet all over with Diamonds; others
with Rubies, Emraulds, and Pearls.
The largelt Throne, which is fet up in the Hall of the firft Court, is in fotm
like one of our Field-Beds, fix foot long, and four broad. The Culhion at the
back is round like a Bolller ; the Culhions on the fides are flat.
I counted about a hundred and eight pale Rubies in Collets, about this
Throne, the lealt whereof weigh’d a hundred Carats \ but there are fome that
weigh two hundred Emraulds I counted about a hundred and fixty,that weigh d
fome threefcore, fome thirty Carats.
The under-part, of the Canopy is all embroider’d with Pearls and Diamonds,
with. a Fringe of Pearls round about. Upon the top of the Canopy, which is
made like an Arch with four Panes, Hands a Peacock, with his Tail fprcad,
confifting all of Saphirs, and other proper colour’d Stones} the Body is of bea
ten Gold, enchas’d with feveral Jewels and a great Ruby upon his break, at
which hangs a Pearl, that weighs fifty Carats. On each fideof the Peacor
Hand two Nofe-gays, as high as the Bird, confilling of feveral forts of Flowers,
all of beaten Gold enamel’d. When the King feats himfelf upon the Throne,
there is a tranfparent Jewel, with a Diamond Appendant, of eighty or nme y
Carats, encompafs’d with Rubies and Emraulds, fo hung that it is always i^