Page:Early English adventurers in the East (1917).djvu/88

84 fancy. The version of the bazaar gossip given by Finch in a letter written to Hawkins, whom, with a proper deference 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 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 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 ignorance 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.

Every day at three o'clock Jehangir sat in durbar in high state. All his nobles who happened to be in Agra 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