AFTER THE WAR                            1.39

turban of the same materials and workmanship; gave
orders for their maintenance, and at an audience, when
the Emperor gave them their conge, which soon took place,
he invested each with another Ser-apah, and made them a
present of six thousand roupies, equal at present to nearly
three thousand crowns :! but this money was unequally
divided, the Mahometan receiving four thousand roupies,
and Murat, because a Christian, only two thousand.

Aureng-Zebe sent by them, as presents to their royal
master, an extremely rich Ser-apah; two large cornets,
or trumpets, of silver gilt; two silver kettle-drums;^ a
poniard studded with rubies; and gold and silver roupies
to the amount of about twenty thousand francs : hoping,
as he kindly expressed it, that this last gift would be
peculiarly acceptable, and considered a rarity ; the King
of Ethiojna not having any coined money in his country.

The Mogol was well aware that not one of these roupies
would be taken out of Hindoustan, and that the ambassa¬
dors would employ them in the purchase of useful com¬
modities. It turned out just as he foresaw. They bought
spices, fine cotton cloths, for shirts for the King and
Queen, and for the King's only legitimate son, who is to
succeed to the throne, alachas or silken stuffs striped,
some with gold and some with silver, for vests and
summer trousers; English broadcloths, scarlet and green,
for a couple of abbs,^ or Arabian vests, for their King;
and lastly, quantities of cloth less fine in their texture
for several ladies of the seraglio and their children.    All

' This agrees with Tavernier's value (2s. 3d.) of the rupee. See also
p. 135, footnote ^, and p. 200, note.

^ Xarands, trumpets with a bend, somewhat of the type of a cornet,
and nakdrahs, drums in shape like the modern kettle-drum, but beaten
resting on the ground by a man who either stands or squats behind them,
according to their size, were part of the insignia of Mogul royalty.

^ Abah, the well-known short coat or vest. English broadcloths were
highly esteemed at the Mogul court, and the early travellers make
frequent mention of them. Also see the chapter (32 of the first book)
in the Ain-i-Akbari, in which details of their price are given.