t22 "travels in India. Part II 



CHAP. VJII. 



Of the Preparations againft the Feaft of the Great Mogul, when he 



is weighed [olemnly every year. Of the richnefs of his Thrones 

 and the Magnificence of his Court. 



THis great Feaft begins the fourth of November t and lafts five days. They 

 ufually weigh the King at the time of his Birth j and if he weighs jnore 

 than he did the year before, there is great rejoicing. When he is weigh'd he 

 feats himfelf upon the richeft of his Thrones ; and then all the Grandees of 

 the Kingdom come to congratulate and prefent him. The Ladies of the Court 

 fend him their Prefents alfo, as likewife do the Governours of Provinces, and 

 others in great Employments. The Prefents confift of Jewels, Tiffues, .Carpetts 

 and other Stuffs ; befides Camels, Elephants, Horfes, and indeed any thing that 

 is rare and of value. Tis faid he receives that day thirty Millions of Livres. 



They begin to prepare for this Feaft the feventh of September, about two 

 Months before it begins. The firft thing they do, is to cover the two great 

 Courts overhead, from the middle of each Court to the Hall, which is open 

 upon three fides. The Pavilions that cover thefe two void places, are of Pur- 

 ple Velvet, Embroider'd with Gold, and fo weighty, that the Polls which fuftain 

 them are as big as the Mail of a Ship ; fome thirty, fome forty foot high. 

 There are thirty-eight of thefe Pofts to uphold the' Tent in the firft Court j 

 and thofe next the Hall, are plated with Gold as thick as a Ducket. The reft 

 are plated with Silver of the lame thicknefs. The Cords are of Cotton of divers 

 Colours ; fome of them as big as a good Cable. 



The firft Court is furrounded with Portico's and little Chambers, where the 

 Omrahs keep Guard. For every eight days the Omrahs relieve the Guard,- 

 an4 during thofe eight days, the Omrab who is upon the Guard, has a Difh of 

 Meat out of the Kings Kitchin. When he fees it coming afar off, he makes 

 three obeyfances, laying his hand three times upon the Ground, and three times 

 upon his Head, crying out at the fame time, God preferve the Kings health, 

 give him long Life and Victory over his Enemies. They take it for a great 

 Honour to Guard the King; and when they go upon the Guard, they put on 

 all their moll fumptuous Apparel ; and their Horfes , Camels , and Elephants 

 are all richly adorn 'd. Some of the Camels carry a fmall Piece of Ordinance, 

 with a man behind to fhoot it off. The meanelt of thefe Omrahs commands 

 a thoufand Horfe 5 but if he be a Prince of the Blood, he commands fix thou- 

 fand. 



* The Great Mogul has feven Thrones, fome fet all over with Diamonds 5 others 

 with Rubies, Emraulds, and Pearls. 



The largeft Throne, which is fet up in the Hall of the firft Court, is in form 

 like one of our Field-Beds, fix foot long, and four broad. The Cufhion at the 

 back is round like a Bolfter j the Culhions on the fides are flat. 



I counted about a hundred and eight pale Rubies in Collets , about this 

 Throne, the leaft whereof weigh'd a hundred Carats ; but there are fome that 

 weigh two hundred. Emraulds I counted about a hundred and fixty, that weigh'd 

 fome threefcore, fome thirty Carats. 



The under-part of the Canopy is all embroider'd with Pearls and Diamonds, 

 with a Fringe of Pearls round about. Upon the top of the Canopy, which is 

 made like an Arch with four Panes, ftarids a Peacock, with his Tail fpread, 

 conflfting all of Saphirs, and other proper colour'd Stones j the Body is of bea- 

 ten Gold, enchasM with feveral Jewels? and a great Ruby upon his breaft, at 

 which hangs a Pearl, that weighs fifty Carats. On each fide of the Peacock 

 ftand two Nofe-gays, as high as the Bird, confining of feveral forts of Flowers, 

 all of beaten Gold cnamefd. When the King feats himfelf upon the Throne, 

 there is a tranfparent Jewel, with a Diamond Appendant, of eighty or ninety 

 Carats, encompafs'd with Rubies and Emraulds, fo hung that it is always in his 



Eye. 



