Page:History of India Vol 5.djvu/391

 AUEANGZIB'S PIETY 333 for that purpose during six, and sometimes nine, hours of the night. Throughout the last ten days of the month, he performs worship in the mosque, and al- though he is unable to proceed on a pilgrimage to Mecca for several reasons, yet the care which he takes to pro- mote facilities for pilgrims to that holy place may be considered equivalent to the pilgrimage. From the dawn of his understanding he has re- frained from all that is forbidden, and on account of his great holiness has adopted nothing but that which is pure and lawful. Though he has collected at the foot of his throne those who inspire ravishment in joyous assemblies of pleasure, in the shape of clever instru- mental performers and of singers who possess melodious voices, and in the commencement of his reign used sometimes to hear them sing and play, and though he himself understands music well, yet for several years past, on account of his great restraint, self-denial, and observance of the tenets of religion, he has entirely ab- stained from such amusements. If any of the singers and musicians becomes ashamed of his calling, he makes an allowance for him or grants him land for his main- tenance. He never puts on the clothes prohibited by religion, nor does he ever use vessels of silver or gold. In his sacred court no improper conversation and no word of backbiting or falsehood is allowed. His courtiers, on whom his light is reflected, are cautioned that if they have to say anything which might injure the char- acter of an absent man, they must express themselves