in circuit than twenty English miles, the extent in some directions being three cosses, including the out-skirts.  In the middle, where the streets are orderly and the tents joined, there are all sorts of shops, so regularly disposed, that all persons know where to go for any thing they want.  Every man of quality, and every trade, is regularly appointed how far they are to be from the king’s tents, in what direction, and what ground they shall occupy, which continues ever the same without alteration.  All this may equal almost any town in Europe for size.  But no person must approach on any side within a musket shot of the atoskanha, or royal quarter, which is so strictly observed that no one is ever admitted but by name.  The evening durbar is omitted, the time being spent by the king in hunting or hawking rather, on tanks, by means of boats, in which he takes great delight, his barges being moved along with the leskar on carts.  On these occasions he sits by the sides of the tanks, to view the sport, these tanks being often a mile or two over.  The king is seen every morning at the Jaruco, formerly mentioned; but business or speaking to him at this time is prohibited; all business being conducted at night in the guzalcan, and there the opportunity is often missed, his majesty being so frequently overcome by drowsiness, proceeding from drunkenness.

There was now a whisper about the court of a new affinity between Sultan Cuserou and Asaph Khan, and great hope was entertained of the prince recovering his liberty.  I will find an opportunity to discourse of this hereafter, because the particulars are worthy of being preserved, as the wisdom and goodness of the king were manifest above the malice of others:  And, in this affair, Noormahal made good the observation, that women have always great influence in court factions, and she shewed that they are not incapable of managing business.  This history will discover a noble prince, an excellent wife, a faithful counsellor, a crafty step-mother, an ambitious son, a cunning favourite; all reconciled by a patient king, whose heart was not understood by any of them all.  But this will require a separate place,[209] as not fit to be mingled with matters of ordinary business.  At this time the English complained of being ill used at Surat; but their drunkenness, and riotous behaviour proceeding from that cause, were so notorious, that it was rather wonderful they were not all put to death.

[Footnote 209:  This story does not however appear, the journal of Sir Thomas Roe being left imperfect, both in the Pilgrims and in the Collection of Churchill.—­E.]