% SHAH JAHAN his government inclin'd somewhat to cruelty. " The " somewhat " appears inadequate, when Andersen goes on to describe how, when some dancing girls refused to come and perform at his bidding, this " hasty ' governor instantly had their heads cut off in the pres- ence of a company which included the English and Dutch factors. " Assure yourselves, Gentlemen, " said he, " that if I should not take this course, I should not long be Governour of Amadabat." " There is no King in Europe, " our traveller adds, " hath so noble a Court as the Governour of Guzaratta, nor any that appears in public with greater magnificence. In his palace he is served as a King. He makes his advan- tages of all the Levies and Impositions which are made in his Government, so that in a short time he becomes Master of incredible wealth." Mandelslo describes Agra in his day as the noblest city of Hindustan, and the one in which the Moghul most delighted; but it must be remembered that New Delhi was not then built. He says it was as much as a horseman could do to ride round the city in a day. " Its Streets are fair and spacious, and there are some of them Vaulted, which are above a quarter of a League in length, where the Merchants and Tradesmen have their Shops, distinguished by their Trades and the Mer- chandizes which arc there sold; every Trade and every Merchant having a particular Street and Quarter as- signed him." Thorp were eighty earavansarais for for- eign merchants, " most of them three Stories high, with very noble Lodgings, Store-houses, Vaults, and Stables
