Travels in India. 



£ V e. the twelve Pillars alio that uphold the Canopy, are fet with rows of 

 fair Pearl, round, and of an excellent Water, that weigh from fix to ten Ca- 

 rats apiece. At the diftance of four feet, upon each fide of the Throne, are 

 placM two Parafbls, or Umbrello's, the handles whereof are about eight foot 

 high, cover'd with Diamonds ; the Parafols themfelves are of crimfon Velvet, 

 embroidered and fring'd with Pearls, 



This is the famous Throne which Tamerlane began, m&Cbarjehan finifh'd; 

 which is really, reported to have coft a hundred and fixty Millions, and five 

 hundred- thoufand Li vres of our Money. 



Behind this ftately and magnificent Throne there is another lefs, m the form 

 of a Tub, where the King bathes himfelf ; it is an Oval, feven foot long, and 

 five broad. The outfide whereof mines all over with Diamonds and Pearls ; 

 but there is no Canopy over it. 



Coming into the firlr Court, on the right hand, you fee a particular Tent, 

 where during all the Feaft, the Morice-Danccrs are appointed to make fport, 

 while the King fits upon his Throne. On the left hand is another Tent, appointed 

 for the principal Officers of the Army and Houfhold. 



In the fame Court, while the King fits upon his Throne, are to be feen thirty 

 Horfes, fifteen upon one fide, and fifteen upon the other, Jead by two men. 

 Their Bridles are very fhort, but for the moft part enrich'd with Diamonds,- 

 Rubies, Emraulds, and Pearls, the Bits whereof are of pure Gold. Every Horfc 

 wears between his Ears a rich Plume of Feathers, with a little Cufhion upon 

 his Back, ty'd on with a Surcingle; both being embroider'd with Gold; and 

 about his Neck hung fome fair Jewel , which was either a Diamond , a 

 Ruby, or an Emrauld. The worft of thofe Horfes coft three thoufand, fome 

 five thoufand Crowns ; and fome there were, that were never bought under 

 ten thoufand. The young Prince, who was between feven and eight years old, 

 rode upon a Horfe no higher than a good big Greyhound, but very well 

 fhap'd. 



About an hour after the King has bin fitting upon his Throne,feven' ftout Elephants 

 bred up for War, are brought out. One of thofe Elephants has his Seat fix'd 

 upon his back, if the King fhould have a mind to ride out. The others are 

 cover'd with Cloaths richly embroider'd, with'Chainsof Gold and Silver about 

 their Necks ; and there are four that carry the Kings Standard upon their Crup- 

 pers, faften'd to a Half-Pike, which a man feated on purpofe clofe by, holds 

 upright with his hand. Thefe Elephants are brought within fifty paces of the 

 Throne, and when they come before the King, chey make their obeyfances to 

 him, laying their Trunks to the ground, and then lifting them up above their 

 Heads three times ; every time he makes a great cry, and then turning his 

 back to the King, one of the Leaders turns up the Cloath, that the King may 

 fee he is in good cafe. There belongs alfo to every one a Cord, which is put 

 round his body, to fhew how much he is grown fince the laft year. The nrft 

 of thefe Elephants, which the King moft efteems, is a great furious Creature, 

 that has five hundred Roupies allow'd him every month. He is fed with good 

 Victuals, and a great quantity of Sucre, and they give him Aqua-vita, to drink. 

 When the King rides forth upon his Elephant, the Omrahs follow on Horfeback- 

 And when he rides on Horleback, the Omrahs follow him on foot. 



After the King has feen his Elephants, he rifes up, and goes into his Haram 

 through a little oval door behind the Throne. 



The five other Thrones are fet up in another magnificent Hall in another 

 Court, all" cover'd over with Diamonds, without any colour'd Stone. 



When the King has ftaid about half an hour, he comes out again, attended 

 by three or four Eunuchs, and feats himfelf in the other Hall, upon the middle- 

 tnoft of the five Thrones, where the Omrahs come, as long as the five days of 

 the Feftiva! laft, and make their Prefents to him, 



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*Rj CHAP/ 



