This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
AGRA UNDER THE MOGHULS
97

belonging to them." He counted seventy great mosques, and estimated the number of public baths "or Hot-Houses" at above eight hundred, their tax bringing in a considerable revenue to the state. Both within and without the city he saw numerous palaces of the rajas and lords, and, chiefest of all, the imperial palace, fortified with a moat and drawbridge. The treasure there jealously guarded was estimated on credible authority at above fifteen hundred millions of crowns, or over £300,000,000. "This wealth," Mandelslo explains, "is more and more augmented every day, not so much out of the ordinary Revenue coming in from the great Kingdoms he hath (in regard that as his Ordinary Expence abates not anything of his Treasure; so is it seldome seen that he increases it, by ought remaining at the year's end of his Revenue) as by the presents which are made him, and the Escheats falling to him at the death of great Lords and Favourites, who make the Moghul Heir to what they had gotten by his favour; insomuch that the Children have no hope to enjoy ought of their Fathers Estates, either Reall or Personall. For the Moghul's Authority is such, and his Power so absolute, that the Estates of all his Subjects are at his disposal. There is no hereditary Dignity in all his country. That of Rasgi or Raja, which he bestows rather upon the accompt of Merit, than Birth, is Personall, as that of Chan in Persia, and is not deriv'd to Posterity, but by the recommendation of Vertue. Not that it is to be inferred hence, that the Moghul does exclude from Charges the Children of such as have done him good service; but he