Travels in India. 47 



gem" one day going out of the Palace,while the King was fitting in the jDiv*n, 

 upon lbme urgent bufinefs that would, admit of no delay, the Captain of the 

 Guards held me by the arm, and told me I mould go no farther ; I contefted and 

 argued the Cafe with him for ibme time, but finding his ufage to be very boifte- 

 rous, 1 lifted up my Cane, and had certainly ftrook him in my paffjon, had not two 

 or three of the Guards that law all the paflages, held my hand. Happily for me 

 at that time,the Nahab, who was then the King's Unckle, came by, and being in- 

 formed of the ground of our quarrel ; orderM the Captain of the Guards to let 

 ine go. After that he made a report to the King how the matter ltood ; and to- 

 vm\ evening the Nahab fent me one of his Servants to tell me, it was his Ma- 

 jelly's pleaiure, that I might come in or go out of the Palace, though he were 

 fitting in the Divan, as I pleas'd my (elf; for which I went the next day, and re- 

 tl] rn'd thanks to the Nahab. 



Toward the middle of the fame Court there is a fmall Channel fome five or 

 fix inches broad, where while the King is fitting upon the Seat of Juftice, they 

 that have bufinefs are to ftand. Further it is not lawful for them to go, till they 

 are call'd ; and Embalfadors themfelves are not exempted from this cuitom. 

 When an Embaffador comes as far as this Channel, the Mafter of the Ceremonies 

 calls out toward the Divan where the King is fitting, 'that fuch an Embaiiador 

 craves Audience of his Majefty. Then one of the Secretaries of State declares 

 it to the King ; who oftentimes makes as if he did not hear : But fome time after 

 lifting up his eyes, he cafts them upon the Embalfador, making him a iign by the 

 lame Secretary, that he may approach. 



from the Hall of the Divan ^ turning to the left, you walk upon, a Terraft, 

 where you difcovcr the River. Over this Terrafs the King pafles into a little 

 Chamber, from whence he goes into his Haram. In this little Chamber it was 

 that I had my firft Audience of his Ma)efry 3 as I (hall relate in another 

 place. 



Upon the left-hand of the Court where the Divan is built, ftarads a little 

 Mofquee neatly built 5 the Cupola whereof is eover'd with Lead perfectly gnilded. 

 Here the King goes to hear Prayers ever)' day, except it be Fridays, when he- is 

 to go to tiie great Mofaee, which is a very fair one and plac'd upon an high 

 Platform, rais'd higher than the Houfcs of the City, and there is a noble afcent to 

 it. That day that the King goes to the Mpfyuee ? they place huge rails of wood 

 round about' the iteps, as well to keep off the Elephants, as out of relpect to the 

 Mofquee. 



The right-fide of the Court is taken up with Portico's, that make a long Gal- 

 lery, rais'd from the ground about half a foot ; and theft are the King's Stables, 

 into which you have many doors to enter. They are alfo full of ftately Horfes, 

 the worlt v hereof itands the King in ihree-thouiuiid Crowns; and there are 

 fome that cult him ten-thoufand. At the door of every one of thefe Stables 

 hangs a kind of Mat made of Bambotc, that cleaves like our Oliers. But where- 

 as we bind e>ur Ofier-twigs with the lame Ofier, they bind their BambQuc's with 

 vvreath'd-Silk, which is delicate work, but very tedious. Thefe Mats are to hin- 

 der the Flits from tormenting the Horfes : there being two Grooms to an Horfe, 

 one of which is ftill employ 'd in fanning the Beaft. there are alfo Mats fipread. 

 before the Portico's, and before the Stable-door; which they fpread or take 

 away as occafion requires. And the Floor of the Gallery is eover'd with lair 

 Carpets, which is taken away in the evening, and the Horfes Litter ftrow'd in 

 the lame place. Which Litter is nothing but the Horfe-dung dri'd in the Sun, and 

 then femee/.'d a little flat. The Horfes that are brought into India either out of 

 Perfia, Arabia, or the Countrey of Vsbcch, change their food : Fur in India they 

 never give them Hay nor Oats. Every Horfe in the morning having for his pro- 

 portion three loaves made of Meal, Wheat, and Butter, as big as one of our fix 

 penny-loaves. Tis an hard matter to bring them to this diet at firft ; it being 

 lbmetimes three or four Months before they can do it. , The Groom »is fore d to 

 hold their tongue in one hand, and to thruft down the bread with the other. 

 When Sugar-Canes or Millet are in feafon, they give them that diet about noon; 

 and in the evening, two hours before Sun-fet, they give them a meaiure of Gar- 

 den-Chiches which the Groom ftiueezes between two ftones, and mixes with wa- 

 ter. 



