Page 149 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

AN IMPERIAL DESPOT IN DRESS AND UNDRESS 149

due precautions no doubt against her features being seen
by the handsome Frank who was exchanging salutations
with the Emperor. Not, however, that the ladies of the
palace were at all reluctant to display their charms, for
on an earlier occasion Roe notes that when he was having
audience of Jehangir genuine curiosity prompted some
whom he understood to be the Emperor’s principal wives
to break holes in the reed screen which hung before their
box in order to gaze at him. The holes apparently were
so large that he was able “ to discern the full proportion ”
of the ladies. “ They were,” he states, “ indifferently
white with black hair smooth up (the forehead),” and
if there had been no other light to enable him to distinguish
their features the diamonds they wore would have sufficed
to show them. “ When I looked up,” he adds, “ they
retired, and were so merry that I suppose they laughed
at me.” On the occasion of Jehangir’s progress the ladies,
apart from Noor Mahal, were not immediately in evidence.
They “ were carried like paraketoes ” in cages half a mile
behind their lord and master.
The splendours of the lescar, or imperial camp, are de­
scribed in vivid language by Roe. As if by a magician’s
wand a vast canvas city had been called into being. The
circuit of the whole was little less than twenty English
miles, and within its limits were miles of streets with all
sorts of shops “ distinguished so by rule that every man
knows readily where to seek his wants.” There were
special quarters allotted to “ men of quality,” and every
trader knew exactly how far from the King’s tent he might
pitch, the amount of ground he might utilize and the
special site which he could occupy. No man, however
exalted in rankJ(was permitted to take up ground nearer