Chap. IX. 



of Monfieur Tavernier. 



43 



Eunuchs, who are always at the King's Ear, fuggefted to him many things to the 

 difadvantage of the Graod Mafter , but whatever they faid , the King gave little 

 heed to their Tales. At length , one day when the King was looking ûpon certain 

 Skains and Daggers fet with precious Stones, one of the Eunuchs told him thole 

 were trifles, and then defir'd his Majefty to fend for a Scimitar that the Grand 

 Sianor had fent Sha-Abai , all over let with Diamonds. True it is , that the Grand 

 Signor had fent a rich Scimitar to Sha-Abas ; but Sha-Abas had defac'd it long before 

 Mahomet's time -, and had made a noble Jewel of the Stones that adorn'd it. There- 

 upon this Scimitar was fought for in the Treafury, where Mahomet was chief Offi- 

 cer ; but not being to be found , the King was troubPd , finding it regiftred in the 

 Book of Prefents. Then^ certain Eunuchs and Grandees of the Court took their 

 opportunity to rip up Mahomet's Life \ they reprefented to the King how many 

 Inns, Bridges, and Dikes Mahomet had built at his own charge ; what a Houfe he 

 had rear'd for himfelf , fitting for his Majefty to live in : and aggravated withal, 

 that he could not do fuch great things as thole , without purloining notably from 

 the Publick Stocky for which he fliould do well to call him to an account. As they 

 were thus difcourfing, Mahomet came into the Prefence , to whom the King ( not 

 receiving him as he was wont to do ) fpoke fome hard words about the Scimitar 

 that could not be found: telling him withal , that he would fee if all the reft of the 

 i things in the Treafury were agreeable to the Regifter, and then gave him fifteen days 

 time to give in his Account. Mahomet not at all mov'd , teply'd to the King , that 

 if his Majefty pleas'd he might come to the Treafury to morrow : and withal be- 

 fought him fo to do, though the King a fécond time gave him fifteen days. There- 

 upon the King did go to the Treafury next morning, according to Mahomet's defire, 

 and found all things in good order having heard before what became of the Sci- 

 mitar. From thence he went to Mahomet's Houfe , who made the King a mean 

 Prefent : For it is the cuftom, that he whom the King honours with a Vifit , muft 

 make a Prefent to his Majefty. After the King had receiv'd it, he walk'd up 

 and down, and View'd the Chambers, Halls, Parlours and Rooms of State:, and 

 wonder'd to fee them fo ill fet out with plain Felts, and courfe Carpets', whereas 

 in other Lords Houfes a man could not let his Foot upon any thing but Cloth of 

 Gold and Silk. For the King , as they had fet the Naz.ar out, expe&ed to have 

 found other things -, which made him admire at fo great a Moderation in fo high 

 a degree of Honour. Now at the end of a Gallery there was a Door lockt with 

 three great Padlocks. Of this the King took no notice : whereupon the Meter , 

 who is the White Eunuch, and chief of his Chamber, as he came back, ftiew'd the 

 King the Door that was fo ftrongly Padlock'd -, which made the King curious to 

 have it open'd : withal , asking Mahomet what he had got there lock'd up with fo 

 much care ? Oh Sir , faid he , it behoves me to keep that lockt , for there is all the 

 Eftate I have in the World. All that your Majefty has feen in this Houfe is yours, 

 but all that is in that Chamber is mine, and I dare allure my felf, your Majefty 

 will be fo gracious as never to take it from me. Thofe words inflam'd the King's 

 curiofity fo , that he commanded the Door to be open'd : But he was ftrangely 

 furpriz'd, when hefaw nothing more within than Mahomet's Sheep-hook, that lay 

 upon two Nails, his Scrip wherein he us'd to put his Victuals, his Bottle for his 

 Water, his Pige, and his Shepherd's Weeds , all hanging againft the Wall. The 

 Naz.ar beholding the King's aftonUhment at fuch a Sight, Sir, faid he, when the 

 King Sha-Abas found me in the Mountain keeping Goats , then that was all I had, 

 and he took nothing from me: I befeechyour Majefty thatymj would not deprive 

 me of thefe things neither - , but rather, if you pleafe, let me refume them again, 

 and fall to my old Calling. The King touch'd at fo high a piece of Virtue , caus'd 

 himfelf to be difapparel'd , and gave his Habit to the Nazar, which is the greater! 

 Honour that the King of Per fia can beftow upon a Subject. Thus Mahomet continu'd, 

 and dy'd honourably in his Employment. This brave Perfon was the Proteftor of 

 all the Franks m Perfia: and if any one had done them wrong, upon complaint he 

 did them Juftice immediately. One day as I was fhooting Ducks , upon the River 

 of Ifpahan near the Naz.ar's Gardens, with two Servants, fome of the JSfaz.afs 

 people that did not know me fet upon me, and would have taken away my Gun-, 

 which I would not let go till I had broke the Stock about the Shoulders of the one, 

 and flung the Barrel at the other's Head. Thereupon I took fome of the Franks 



F 2 along 



