Page:History of India Vol 4.djvu/88

62 Persian, though every one could speak Hindustani; but Jahangir and several of his ministers were also familiar with Turkish, the native tongue of Babar and his descendants, and this was the language in which the emperor conversed with Hawkins. "Both night and day, his delight was very much to talk with mee, both of the Affaires of England and other Countries." The two evidently suited each other well. Hawkins would have felt constrained in the presence of Akbar, but it was impossible to regard his son – at least of an evening – in any other light than as a jovial and somewhat tipsy boon-fellow. Hawkins for his part was a simple honest sailor, a little inclined to bluster, but just the man to take the emperor in the right way, and not at all apt to be shocked at an extra allowance of grog. The result of the harmony between the two was that Hawkins acquired a footing in the court more intimate than was ever afterwards enjoyed by any European, and held it for years in spite of the strenuous opposition of the Jesuits. At one time Jahangir granted everything that the Englishman asked, "swearing by his Father's soule, that if I would remeyne with him, he would grant me articles for our Factorie to my heart's desire, and would never go from his word." He talked of sending an ambassador to England, and tried to induce Hawkins to make India his home, promising to make him a mansabdar, or officer of four hundred horse, with an allowance of £3,200 a year. He even admitted him within the red rails before the throne, where only the greatest nobles stood, and