Page 84 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

84 EARLY ENGLISH ADVENTURERS IN THE EAST

fancy. The version of the bazaar gossip given by Finch
in a letter written to Hawkins, whom, with a proper defer­
ence for his new dignity, he addressed as “ my Lord,”
was that he had presented to the Emperor “ a small coffer
with eleven locks within which were such rare stones that
they would (so) lighten the darkest place that it would
need no candle.” Finch expressed himself as sceptical
about the truth of the story, but as to the effect of the
distinction conferred upon Hawkins he was very emphatic.
The news, he stated, had been received “ to the great
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applause of the vulgar sort, but with small content to the
great ones, who bite their lips exceedingly to hear the
great honours done to your Worship, yet are silent, not
daring much.” The Surat officials, though reduced to
i silence, were not the less dangerous on that account. From
the moment of Hawkins’ elevation to power they sought,
by the means which long experience had taught them to
practise with effect, to undermine his position.
Meanwhile, the subject of the intrigues,[in happy ignor­
ance of the machinations of his old enemy, Makarrab
■: Khan, was tasting the full joys of life at the wonderful
Mogul Court. His descriptions of the various ceremonies
at the palace and of the personal doings of the Emperor
are marked by a shrewd insight into character and have
many graphic touches which help us to realize to-day
what the India of the period of the Mogul ascendency
was like.
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Every day at three o’clock Jehangrr sat in durbar in
i! high state. All his nobles who happened to be in Agra
ui at the time were expected to attend these functions, and \

there were present besides a great number of high officials,
" every man standing in his degree, the chiefest being

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