Indian Antiquary Vol 36

SR No.: 032528
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 430
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 15 MB

Page 22

18
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
JANUARY, 1907.
" whatever he directs." Upon this the Maulvi returned to Imād-ol-mulk and communicated to hit the Mir şāḥib's intentions.
Imād-ul-mulk said: "I too, am coming to the chief minister, let the Mir şāḥib make " haste, for this is the very hour for seeing that noble." Near sunset the Mir Sahib mounted, and, taking the sealed bag with the petition and the statements and letters about the present and the requests to be made, arrived at the tent of the chief minister. It was a small tent and the Wasir sat in it with a small and light wrapper (pirähan) thrown over his body, brocade drawers, and a white fillet (taqlyah) round his head. At the door was no door-keeper (hājib) or other hindrance. Before him lay a large white bolster (gão-takiyah) in the fashion of Hindūstān. "Imád-ul-mulk was sitting there too, on one side of the Wasir, and had on a full-skirted coat (jāmah) of blue-coloured brocade, and a parti-coloured tarbia (chirah) of figured cloth of the same colour; he sat crouched on his two knoes, on the left side of, but even with, the Wasir.
Before the Mir Sahib had arrived, Imād-ul-mulk had made a representation to the chief minister. When the Mir Şahib entered the tent, he said at once,“ Peace be upon thee" and then brought out an offering of four gold coins and five rupees of Farrukhābād mintage. This gift was accepted. Following this, the Mir, in imitation of the Abdāli nobles, placed his head on the knees of the chief minister, and the minister placed his hand upon the Mir şābib's back, raised up his head, and said: "Let your heart be at rest. In the matters for which you "have come you will obtain all you desire and be given leave to depart." Then the Mir was told to sit down alongside of Imād-ul-mulk. The author was then presented, and I sat down at the side of the Mir Şahib.
The chief minister asked about the state of Ghaxanfar Jang, the Mahrattah armies, and the fort of Farrukhābād. The talk fnished, he sent for one Mirzā Mustafa the Shah's Secretary, (munsht) and read aloud the letter which was addressed to himself. When he had mastered the contents, he said: "I am now going to an audience with the Shāh ; yon sit where you are and “I will state your case. If you should be sent for, you must come ; or, if the petition of "Gbaxanfar Jang only is asked for, you must send it."
At this moment a runner (shatire) arrived in haste from the Shāh's tent, which had been set up a quarter of a kos away, with ar open plain between. The messenger shouted out "Sardara ! Sardārā!" that is, "O Chief." On the sound reaching the ear of the chief minister he at onco put on his attire as a kizzilbäsh, on his head a hat (kalah), and on it a jewelled aigrette, with a plume of feathers. He mounted his . Irāqi horse and hastened to the audience, followed by one man only, who is called a yatim (servant ?) The Mir şāhib and 'Imád-ul-mulk were left sitting at the chief minister's tent.
Imūd-ul-mulk said to the Mr Sahib: "There is a question that I have long been desirous "of putting to you, give me an answer to it. It is a matter of astonishment to me that a man "like you, a man of purpose and valour, should be on the spot; and yet allow Nawāb Ahmad "Khān, in opposition to your advice, to betroth the daughter of Ali Qali Khān, the Six" Fingered, to me and make her over to me."
The Mir Sahib replied: "I had gone away to Lakhnau and I had told the Nawab "Shuja-ud-daulah to place five hundred horsemen under my orders, and I would bring away the "whole family of 'Ali Quli Khan from Farrakhābād to Lakhnan. But the Nawab was inspired " by his mother with fright at Ghazanfar Jang, and he was also in dread of Your Excellency "(i. e., 'Imād-ul-mulk). Thus, he put off a decision from one day to another. Since I " had no special interest in the subject I, too, withdrew from the project."
(To be continued.)