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About The Book – Those are kings whom God appoints, but as they know not His secret purposes, men decline to acknowledge those who unjustly seize some kingdom. God alone raises men to the throne to be either a scourge or a solace to their subjects. Thus, although the holy men of Mecca declined to accept the gifts sent by Aurangzeb, because Shahjahan, his father, was still alive. I shall not, in this my book. Delay speaking of him as king until the death of Shahjahan, but from the commencement feel obliged to concede his being such, for as an undisputed monarch he ruled over Hindustan ; Finding himself now arrived at the goal of all his hopes, his father in prison, his brothers dead, Aurangzeb ordained a nine days` festival, during which he received congratulations and valuable gifts from the great men of the kingdom. He continued his accustomed sacrifice of pimento, which he began when prince in the Dakhin. This was conducted in the following way:Hindu ideas about God, The Hindu paradise and hell, Hindu ideas of the soul, The Hindu ideas of this world, Hindu belief about the planets, Hindu views about Man, Manners, customs, and government among the Hindus, Mode of government among Hindus, Marriage customs of Hindus, Brahman weddings, Merchants’ and shopkeepers’ weddings, Sudra marriage ceremonies, Funeral ceremonies, Hindu opinions about Europeans and Mahomedans, About elephants, Governuor W. Gyfford of Madras, Story of shipwrecked sailors in the China seas, Story of a Portuguese and his wife, Events in San Thome, Wonderful crystal at Patnah, Manucci’s deputation from Goa to Shah ‘Alam, Hindustan, Mahomedan birth and marriage customs, Goa, anecdote of A. De Azveda, Negapatam, story of a Portuguese, Fruits of India, Letter from priests in China Palm trees, Magic and sorcery, Sorcerers employed to trace stolen property, Condition of empire in 1700, Accident to Aurangzeb (1701), False witnesses plentiful in the empire an instance, Intercession by Mullas for victory, Hindu prince admitted to Brahman caste by passing through a golden cow, San Thome taken by Gulkandah, The French at San thome, Aurangzeb’s campaign against Khelnah, Discussion of the Jesuit contentions, Tranquebar, the Danes attacked by Tanjor king, Da’ud Khan’s visit to Madras, Ja’far Khan’s lavishness, his greengrocer’s bill, The Inquisition at Goa, Da’ud Khan’s cruelty, A pilgrim ship taken near Surat, Shah ‘Alam at Kabul, story of Purdil Khan.
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