Page 139 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH MISSION TO THE GREAT MOGUL 139

his nation would go elsewhere where they would receive
better entertainment.
It is probable that the Mogul officials were as little
moved by Roc’s threats as he was by theirs. Some of
them were ready to welcome the English trade, but the
predominating party would gladly have seen the backs
of the ambassador and his entourage. Strangely enough
Makarrab Khan was one of those who wished the English
to remain. His desire, it may be surmised, was prompted
more by rivalry with Zulfikar Khan than a feeling of
friendship for Roe. But that, for the time being at all
events, it was sincere he proved by extricating the ambas­
sador from the awkward impasse into which he had been
thrust. He accomplished this by the simple expedient
of telling Jehangir why the Englishman no longer attended
his durbar. The Emperor professed surprise and allowed
it to be understood that he would welcome Roe if he put
in an appearance. The ambassador consequently re­
sumed his attendance at Court as if nothing had happened.
Negotiations were subsequently resumed, with little result
as far as the treaty was concerned, but Roe achieved a
distinct success by securing the redress of the Surat
grievances in the face of the determined opposition of
Prince Khurrum.
Roe’s position at Court was now higher than ever.
Jehangir made much of him, conversed with him freely
on all sorts of subjects, and even deigned to exercise a
rather ready gift of badinage upon him. One day he was
sent for to the durbar to answer a question about a pic­
ture which he had presented to the Emperor with the
declaration that he was confident that no man in India
could equal it.

J