value; after which came the three times nine horses and mules, the latter being very handsome, but the horses had lost their beauty and condition, as, except one or two, they were very unfit for being sent or accepted between princes.  This done, the Persian returned, with many antic tricks, to his place, which was far inferior to mine, as I stood alone, and above all the subjects, though Asaph Khan at first wanted to put me from it, but I maintained it as my right, having been appointed me by the king.  This was only the first act of the play presented by the Persian ambassador, which will not be finished in ten days.

The 22d I went to the prince’s secretary for the promised Surat letter; but his highness had changed his mind, and, loth to let the presents pass without ransacking them, refused to seal the letter.  The secretary pretended they could not be allowed to pass without search, lest the merchants, under that pretence, might defraud the customs.  I was offended, and going away; but the secretary prevailed on me to go with him to the prince, to whom I delivered some feathers, being two plurides and two birds of paradise, which he graciously accepted; and having made known my determination not to have the presents opened, or to be sent up by any others than my own servants, he at last yielded, and commanded his secretary to make out the dispatch in my own way.

At night I went to the durbar to observe the Persian ambassador, whom I found standing in his place, but often removed and set lower, as the great men came in.  The king once spoke to him, on which he played off his monkey tricks, but gave no present; only the king gave command that he should be feasted by the nobles.  Most of the time was spent in seeing saddles and furniture, against the removal of the court, some of which the king presented to his followers, as the court was daily expected to move; the king’s tents having been pitched four days.  I sent that night to the secretary for my firmaun, but was put off with excuses.

The 24th the king removed to Havar Gemal, and called for the Persian ambassador, who at night eat and drank before the king along with the nobles, as I had done on the birth-day.  On this occasion the king gave him 20,000 rupees for his expences, for which he made innumerable tessalims and sizedas, which greatly pleased the king, being base yet profitable idolatry.  As the prince was in attendance on the king, I could not get my business dispatched.

The king returned to the city in the evening of the 25th, having been far gone in wine the night before.  Some person, either by chance or from malice, spoke of the last merry night, when many of the nobles had drank wine, which none may do without leave.  Having forgot his own order, the king demanded to know who gave?  It was answered that it had been given by the buxy, as no one dared to say it was the king, seeing he doubted it.  The custom