Indian Antiquary Vol 07

Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 34

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
(JANUARY, 1878.
the Kavori and still not seeing the king became princes merely zamindars, and aimed at the excessively enraged. Messengers, however, came subjugation of all the south of India. Ferishtah and appeased them, saying that the Raja, being states that Aurangzib's general made a long exceedingly ill, would meet them in a palanquin journey to Trichinapalli and Tanjor, and rejust within the fort gate. Meanwhile orders had | ceived tribute from the zamindårs of those cabeen given to the guard only to allow the pitals. This was doubtless done with all Muelephant and slipper, with the Nawabs and hammadan haughtiness, and if the long distance principal men, inside the gate, but not the rest | emboldened a native prince to offer a successful of the troops. So the chief men in charge of check, pride might not have tolerated so humithe slipper entered, and still not seeing the king liating an admission by Ferishtah, who gives no. grew more enraged, but the others said, "Our details, whilst the narrative of the native hisking is too sick to enter a palanquin ; come with torian is very minute and circumstantial, and us to the palace, gates." Accordingly they wears much appearance of truth. came to the gates of the palace, but the king Another adventure of this gay and debonnaire did not appear. Then, filled with fury at the king is thus told. One evening he mounted a disrespect implied, they took the slipper from the very fleet horse, and going out by the eastern howdah and carried it into the hall of audience, gate of the town turned his horse's head where they found Sri Raja Ranga Krishna ar- towards Tanjor, some thirty miles distant, rayed in royal robes, seated on his throne, and and rode there at speed unattended, though surrounded by his nobles and retainers. Seeing he was not on good terms with the Tanjor that he did not make the least motion of respect king. Arriving after dark he mingled with towards the slipper or themselves, the Padi- the people returning into the city and entered shah's Nawabs and men, highly incensed, pushed within the gate. Proceeding up the bâzâr roughly forward, and coming near offered to street he went to a shopkeeper and said, "I am give the slipper into the hands of the king. He just arrived, my attendants and money are angrily bid them place it on the floor, but with coming after, meantime advance me one pagoda out heeding they again tried to put it into his (3} rupees) on the deposit of this ring, and get hands. Thereupon the king called loudly and me needful supplies." Then, having had his angrily for men with whips, saying, "We will horse tethered and fed, he entered & Bråhsee whether the Padishah's people will put the maņ choultry and partook of fruits and milk. slipper down or not." Then they became Subsequently, in the first watch of the night, he alarmed and threw it down, and the king put- disguised himself as a sepoy, entered the palace ting one of his feet in it said to them, "Has on foot in the dark, and sat down in the hall of your Pâdishâh lost his senses? When sending the throne near the king, and listened to all the foot-furniture for us, why sends he not two slip affairs under discussion. He then surveyed the pers instead of one ? Get ye back and bring whole of the palace, and wrote on the door of the another slipper." On their answering fiercely, private apartments, "To-day we, Raja Krishthe king had them beaten and driven out. na of Trichinà palli, came here, and having When they got outside they began to draw up heard all the news of the palace left it and their troops threateningly, but the king sending went away." Then quitting the palace he reout a great force fell on them and cut them ap. turned to his quarters. Early in the morning When the matter came to the Padishah's ears, he called the shopkeeper and, said, "As our on thinking it over he came to the conclusion people and money have not come, we will send that in those distant countries, if such messages you your pagoda ; you will then return the were sent, the daring of one would be imitated ring." Then mounting his horse he set off at by others; and so, after the high bearing of full speed in high glee, and soon reached Raja Ranga Krishņa, he ceased sending his slip- Trichinâpalli and entered his palace. Forthper round to the different rulers.
with sending for the ambassador of Tanjor he The editor of the Manuscripts hardly knows said, “We have been to your king's town, what to muke of this singular affair, and in- entered the palace, surveyed the whole of it, ana clines to think that, if true at all, it refers to the written our name on such a door. We also left pride of Aurangzib, who styled all native our ring with a shopkeeper ; write now to your