Page 85 - Early English Adventurers in the Middle East_Neat

HOW THE ENGLISH WENT TO INDIA 85

within a red rail placed three steps above the level of the
ordinary assemblage. In the midst of the audience cham­
ber, immediately in front of the Emperor, was “ one of his
sheriffs, together with his Master Hangman, who is accom­
panied with forty hangmen, wearing on their heads a certain
quilted cap, with an hatchet on their shoulders, and others
with all sorts of whips, being there ready to do what the
King commandeth.” At this assemblage the Emperor was
accustomed to administer justice after the manner of his
father, but without the great Akbar’s acumen or his mag­
nanimity and tolerance.
When the official work was done he retired to his “ pri­
vate place of prayer.” His devotions ended, he had his
principal meal, which consisted of four or five sorts of
roasted meat washed down with a draught of “ strong
drink.” Thereafter he repaired to his private room,
“ where none can come but such as himself nominateth.”
Hawkins, however, was regularly commanded to the im­
perial drinking den, and he gives a singular account of
the routine observed at the nightly function.
The quantity of the Emperor’s drink was regulated
by his physicians, but the allowance was always ample,
and to add to its effect Jehangir was accustomed to follow
up the drinking of the last cup by consuming a quantity of
opium. After this, “ being in the height of his drink, he
layeth him down to sleep, every man departing to his own
home.” Later in the evening when the Emperor had
slept off the first effects of the alcohol and the drug his
supper was brought in, and the final picture we have of
the mighty monarch is of his being fed like a child prior to
retiring for what remained of the night.
A singular idiosyncrasy which distinguished Jehangir