This day, a gentlewoman attendant upon Noor-mahal was taken in the king’s house in some improper act with an eunuch, when another animal of the same kind, who loved her, slew her paramour.  The poor woman was set up to the arm-pits in the ground, with the earth hard rammed around her, being condemned to remain there three days and two nights in that situation, without sustenance, her head and arms exposed to the violence of the sun.  If she survived, she was then to be pardoned.  The eunuch was condemned to the elephants.  This damsel was found to be worth, in pearls, jewels, and money, sixteen lack of rupees.[201]

[Footnote 201:  In Purchas this sum is rated in words at sixteen hundred thousand, while in Churchill it is only in figures 160,000.—­E.]

On the 22d, I had letters from Burbanpoor in answer to those I had written to Mohabet Khan, who granted my desire of a firmaun in favour of our nation, granting them a house near the governor’s, strictly commanding that no person should molest them by sea or land, neither to exact from them any customs, or to give them trouble on any pretence, with entire liberty to buy, sell, and transport any commodities at their pleasure, without let or hindrance.  I received this in a letter from himself, full of civility and kindness, far exceeding any I had hitherto met with in India, protesting the highest respect, and his earnest wish to give me every content in whatever I might desire.  I caused this firmaun to be immediately sent to Surat, so that Broach is now provided as a good retreat from the prince’s injuries, and the customs given up, by which L1500 a-year will be saved, besides all manner of searches and extortions.  No person doubts the performance of this firmaun, as Mohabet Khan careth not for the prince, and feareth no man, neither needeth he any person’s favour, being much beloved of the king, and reckoned the second man in the empire.  He has all his life been liberal of his purse, and honourable in his word, so that he has the good report of all men.  In regard to the customs on trade, as the king takes none, and the governors convert them to their own profit, he professes to scorn abusing the liberties of the king’s ports.

On the 6th of August I was sent for to the durbar, where I had much talk with the king, who asked me many questions to satisfy his curiosity, and desired me to come to the Guzalcan at night, when I should see my picture so exactly copied, that I should not know the copy from the original.  He asked me what reward I would give the painter who had made the copy so like, to which I answered, I would give fifty rupees, a painter’s reward.  To which the king replied, that his painter was a gentleman, and my proffered reward was too small.  I said, that I gave the picture willingly, esteeming it rare, and had no inclination to make comparisons or wagers; and that, if his majesty’s servant had performed well, and would not accept my gift, his majesty was most fit to reward him.  So, after many merry jests, and brags of the arts in his dominions, his majesty asked me how often I drank in the day, and how much, and what we drank in England.  Mentioning beer, he asked what beer was, how it was made, and whether I could make it here in India.  To all of which serious state questions I answered to his satisfaction.