a Christian. Upon this Jehangir endeavoured first by reasoning and then by threats "to draw the man to the folly of Mohammed." But he remained steadfast in his opinions, even under the pain of a severe chastisement. Seeing that the man was not to be moved, the Mogul commended his constancy, and sent him back to his master with the intimation that he would receive henceforth a pension of one rupee a day from the imperial exchequer,
Some little time after this Jehangir, on returning from a hunting expedition, sent the Armenian a present of a wild hog that formed a part of the spoils of the chase. The duty of removing the gift devolved upon the convert, and as he was conveying it through the streets he was hooted at by a crowd of Mohammedans, who were angry that one who had been numbered amongst the faithful should handle the unclean beast. In mingled terror and shame the man cast his burden into a ditch and went home. Some days later, on an inquiry being made by the imperial donor as to how the Armenian enjoyed the hog, the whole story came out.
Jehangir again had the man up before him. A frown darkened his countenance as he lectured the culprit, in this style—
"By your law there is no difference of meats, and yet you are ashamed of your laws and to flatter Mohammedans forsake them. Now, I say thou art neither good Christian nor good Mohammedan, but a dissembling knave with both. While I found thee sincere I gave thee a pension which I now take from thee, and for thy dissimulation do command thee to have 100 stripes."
The punishment was forthwith administered, and the unfortunate man was dismissed with a comment by the
