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MARCE, 1873.]
EMBASSY TO CHINA.
79
After an hour the Emperor came out from the Harein, and a silver-ladder with five steps being placed against the throne, he mounted it and sat down on the golden chair. His stature was of the middle size ; his beard was neither long nor short ; nevertheless about two or three hundred hairs of it were so long that they formed three or four ringlets. On the two sides of the Emperor, to the right and left of the throne, two girls, beautiful like the moon and splendid like the surr, with ambercoloured hair, whose countenances and necks were not veiled, and who had great ear-rings, sat with paper and pen in hand, and watched to write down whatever the Emperor would say, to be presented to him on his return to the Harem, subject to his revision, and afterwards expedited into the chancery to be properly arranged.
In fine, after the Emperor had taken his seat on the throne, the ambassadors were brought forward back to back with the prisoners. First of all the Emperor examined the prisoners and criminals, who 'were seven in number; some had two branches on their neck [to pinch it], others were tied to a long plank through which their heads protruded, every one had a guard who kept hold of the prisoner's hair with his hand, waiting for the order of the Emperor. Some of them the Emperor sent to prison, and others he ordered to be killed, as there is no governor or Darogah in the Khatay dominions who has a right to coudemir a culprit to death. The crime a man commits is written, together with the sentence, on a piece of board and tied round his neck, and he is, according to the religion of the in. fidels, chained and despatched to Khán-Bály gh, not being allowed to stop in any place till he reaches the foot of the throne.
When the business with the culprits was completed, the ambassadors were brought to the throne, and when they were at a distance of fifteen cubits from it, an amir fell on his knees and read & statement about the ambassadors, which had been drawn up in Khatáy characters on & sheet of paper, the contents whereof were :-That they had made a long and distant journey from Shah Rokh and his sons, and had brought various presents for the Emperor, and were desirous to pay homage and to obtain a look of condescension.
After that, Mullána Yusuf Qádzy, who was one of the amirs and courtiers, and presided over one of the twelve Imperial Ministries, came forward with Beveral Moslems, who were linguiste, to the arnbansadors, and told them first to bend down low, and then to touch the ground thrice with their heads. The ambassadors obeyed, and took into both hands the letters from His Majesty Shah Rokh, from the Jenáb Báysanqar, and from the other princes, which they had, according to the advice of the courtiers, wrapped in yellow atlas, as it is the custom of the Khatáys that everything which belongs to the Emperor must be enveloped in yellow silk. Then
the above-mentioned Mullána Yusuf took the letters from them and handed them to the chamberlain, who, in his turn, gave them to the Emperor. Then the following seven of the ambassadors were brought near to the throne, viz., Shády Khájah Kukchah, Sultan Ahmad, Ghayáth-ul-din, A'rghdáq, Ardwán, and Táj-ul-din, all of whom fell on their knees. The Emperor first inquired about the health of the reigning Sultán Shah Rokh, and asked whether Qara Yusuf had sent an ambassador with presents. The reply was :-"Yes, and your Wájys have seen that his letters, as well as his gifts and offerings, have likewise been brought." He further asked : -" Is the price of corn high in your country or low, and the produce abundant ?" The answer was "Corn is extremely plentiful, and provisions are cheap beyond all expectation." He continued :-" Indeed, if the heart of the king be with God the Most High, the Creator will confer great benefits upon him" He added :-"I have a mind to send an ambassador to Qará Yusuf, and to ask from him some fine rece-horses, for I have heard that there are good ones in his country." He also asked whether the road was safe ; and the ambassadors replied "As long as the government of Sultan Shah Rokh exists, people will be able freely to travel." He continned "I am aware that you have come from a long distance ; rise and eat some food." Accordingly they were taken back to the first court-yard, where a table was placed before every man. After they had finished their din their dinner, they returned, according to command, to the Bamkhanah, where they found every apart. inent furnished with a fine bed and cushions of atlas, as well as slippers and an extremely fine morning-gown of silk, a sofas a fire-pan, and beautiful mats spread on the ground; they saw many more apartinents of this kind, and every man obtained one for his use, as well as a pot, a cup, a spoon, sherbet, and raisins. Every person received a daily allowance of ten sirs of mutton, one duck, two fowls, two inann of flour according to the statute measure, one great bowl full of rice, two ladles full of sweetmeats, one vessel with honey, and onions and garlic, as well as of salt and various kinds of vegetables, and lastly, one platterful of confectionery. They had also several beautiful servants.
The next day, which was the 9th Dhulhejjah (Dec. 15th), an equerry inade his appearance in the morning with a number of saddled Lorses, and said to the ambassadors :-"Get up and mount; this day the Emperor gives a banquet." Accordingly they were led away and made to alight on their arrival at the gate of the first palace, and on that occasion thure were about 300,000 persons near it. When the sun had gone up, the three doors were opened, and the ambassadors were taken to the foot of the throne, where they were ordered to make five salutations in the direction of the throne of the] Emperor. After that, they were told to go out, and
