Page 141 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

ENGLISH MISSION TO THE GREAT MOGUL 141

self wrapping it up in paper to preserve it from injury in
transit. As lie handed the gift over he observed—
“ You see we arc not so unskilfull as you esteem us.”
On another occasion Jehangir sent an urgent message
summoning Roe to his presence. The ambassador, who
had retired for the night, dressed and repaired to the palace,
to find that Jehangir wished to satisfy his curiosity in
regard to a miniature which the ambassador had incau­
tiously shown to one of the imperial artists. It is not
stated in Roe’s journal who the picture represented, but
the probability is that it was a portrait of the lady to whom
he had been wedded prior to his embarkation. Roe, on
repairing to the palace, found the Emperor “ sitting cross-
legged on a little throne, all clad in diamonds, pearls and
rubies, before him a table of gold on which were about fifty
pieces of gold plate, set all with stones, some very great
and extremely rich, some of less value, but all of them
almost covered with small stones.” About him were his
nobility “ in their best equipage, whom he commanded
to drink froliquely several wines standing by in great
flagons.”
Immediately the ambassador entered Jehangir asked
for the miniature. Roe showed him two pictures, pro­
bably hoping that the one he cherished most might be
overlooked ; but the Emperor pounced upon it and asked
whose portrait it was. Roe replied that it represented a
friend of his who was dead. Would he part with it ?
Jehangir demanded. The ambassador answered diplo­
matically that he valued it more than anything he possessed
because it was the image of one that he loved dearly and
he could never replace it, but that if his Majesty would
pardon him his fancy he would give it him. Jehangir