Page 147 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

CHAPTER X
An Imperial Despot in Dress and Undress

Jehangir moves bis Court—The splendours of the imperial camp—
Jehangir and the fakir—The Court established at Mandu—
Roe at Mandu—His ill health—Jehangir intercepts and appro­
priates the presents from England—Roe and the Emperor—
An amusing audience—Jehangir and the English mastiffs—A
curious ceremony—Prince Khurrum returns in triumph from
the war—Roe and the prince—Roe forms an alliance with
Asaf Khan and Noor Mahal—Asaf Khan espouses the English
cause in durbar—Roe’s victory
T OWARDS the close of 1616 there was much stir and
excitement in A j mere. The word had gone round
that the Great Mogul was going on one of those imperial
progresses for which Jehangir, like his illustrious father,
had such a partiality. The picturesque Rajpoot city was
moved to its depths by an edict which meant so much for
every single individual in the population, for when the
Emperor moved he took his capital with him with all the
numerous adjuncts which go to make up the entourage of a
great Oriental court. In Roe’s diary we have an ani­
mated sketch of the doings of that time, more especially as
they affected the central figure in the wonderful pageant.
There is first a picture of Jehangir being prepared by his
attendants for the journey. One man brings on a dish
“ a mighty carp ” set in white stuff into which the Emperor
thrusts his finger and with the material marks his forehead
—“ the ceremony presaging good fortune.” Another
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