The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-08
Elaborate Banquets, Lasting Many
Hours, in Which All the Dishes
Were Solid Gold Set With
Precious Stones

monial in order to turn me into
courtier. I took means to prevent my
being made into a MOhammedan. So
did not go to seek out the said khwajah
Miskin, but kept in the company Of the
Europeans. Some Of these were sur
geons. but the greater ntttnber artillery
men in the Mogul service. an honorable
| employment. For European artillery
| men who took service in that branch
had only to take aim; as for the rest
the fatigue of raising. lowering, load
Ing and fring-this was the business Of
artifices or laborers kept for the pur-
pose. However, when Aurangzeb came
to the throne he, seeing the insolent
behavior and the drunkenness Of such
like men. deprived them Of all their
privileges except that Of distilling
spirits and forced them to do sentry
duty like other soldiers. thus leaving
them with no estimation or reputation
in the army.
For some time dwelt in the house
Of Clodio. and when ! had acquired the
means ] hired separate house. Then
came q man TO me who said that ne
would put me in the way, of gaining
money. l inquired from him what it
was he wanted. He told me he wanted
| nothing beyond permission to distil
spirits under my protection and close to
my house. He would give me ten
rupees every day; thus ! should be put
To no expense; all ! had to do was to
assert that he was my servant. l
agreed to the bargain and out of regard
for me no one said word To him, for
the Europeans in the service Of Dara
had this privilege of distilling spirits
and selling them without hindrance.
Prince Dara amid his squadron APP
peared like crystal tower. respondent
as a sun shining over all the land,
Around him rode many squadrons of
Rajput cavalry whose armor glittered
from afar and their lance heads with
tremulous motion sent forth rays of
light. There were other suuadrons of
cavalry armed with lances. in front of
whom went many ferocious elephants
, clad in shining steel with chains on
\ their trunks. their tusks encrusted with
gold and silver and broad cutlasses af-
| fixed thereto by rings. In advance was
one with a handsome flag and the
| driver, who guided the elephant, was
| armed with armes hlanches (sword and
| shield).
A marvellous thing was II In behold
/ the march, which moved over the heights
| and through the wales like the waves of
/ 4 stormy sea. Thus we held on our
way for four days. until We reached the
bank OF the River Chambal, where was
q village called Dolpur GDholpur) our
| powerful army took up position on this
| ground and entrenChed the crossing.
placing its pieces of artillery To cover
the most exposed points.
! awaited the approach of our army
in order to take my place. But seeing
from afar that It did not stir, ] went
hack close to 1t, where there We're sew
: eral scattered horsemen. There | halted
to look at It, and consider our great
army and it's disposition. ] noticed that
while I had been away to look at tho
army Of Aurangzeb, Dara had arrayed
his forces in the following order: The
artillery was all in one row, and each
! carriage bore two scarlet pennons. This
low OF guns served as Il wall to protect
the muskcteers behind it, To the number
OF $4,000 men. These were supported
by 500 camels with swivel guns Grill
| hoens), to their rear stood the armol
clad elephants, and then the cavalry
$4,000 horscmen. Last OF all was Dara
on his magnificent elephant, followed
by numerous elephants carrying drums
trumpets and all manner of music, form
Ing his retinue.
The first time I was In the city OF
Goa I lived in the street called Santc
Aleixo. opposite some large houses. In
one OF these lived widow called Dona
Christiana; she was rich and led a
quiet life. She wanted To marry me, q
thing I never dreamt of. Seeing that