262 M. CONSTANT'S PROCEEDINGS book iii
them as with the Khan, who generally considers he has paid liberally when he gives them supper.
'
Next day those who were in charge of these baladines (for •each troupe
had an old woman as guardian and directress, whom the baladines call
their mother x) came to pay their respects to M. Constant,
who showed himself so liberal toward them that no one asked for
anything from the guests—this is very contrary to their usual custom.
Some of those who had slept there, and had passed all the night in
making these women dance, were much surprised, on leaving in the
morning, at not being compelled to put their hands in their pockets,
and took occasion to extol the generosity of the Commander who had so
liberally paid for all. Throughout the night the signals which were on
the terrace of the lodge were fired, and at each health a dozen were
fired to warn the vessels to make a salute.
'
Two hours before sunrise the Khan rose from where he had seated himself
on his arrival, and where they had drunk and eaten, and his officers
bore him away, observing that the wine began to heat him. As soon as he
had left, a part of the company returned to eat and drink and the
others to see the baladines dance, and the debauch lasted till ten
o'clock in the morning. Everyone, when leaving, remarked to another, "
It must be admitted that this new Commander is honourable, and does all
things with a good grace."
'
When M. Constant,' I continued to these gentlemen of the Council, '
arrived at Gombroon, and had to go to the dwelling of the Khan, the
finest horses in the Company's stable were brought to him. That for the
Commander had rich brocaded trappings, but as the bridle was only of
silver he appeared to be surprised, and asked why there was not a
golden bridle on his horse, considering that he was not inferior to the
other Commanders who had preceded him at Gombroon. They told him that,
by order of the Company, the Commander Vanderlin had sent the two
golden bridles from Gombroon to Batavia, the gold of one weighing 600,
and of the other 450 ducats, and that it had been ordered
1 Known in Indian Musalman cities as Saqan, feminine of Saqi, ' a cup-bearer ', or Na'ika, ' conductor'.
