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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JULY, 1887.
However, the man was not to be so easily "No, no," he said. "Do you think that I put off. “Bother!" said he. "Believe me, I am going to eat out of this copper pot and you should really like to do a little work. Come now, ont of that earthen pot ? Never. This cannot let me kill a cock, while you prepare a fire to be." cook it for me. I will explain matters to the Thas saying, he seized the muqaddam's pot muqaddam when he returns."
and put the copper one before him instead. In Saying this he walked out into the yard, vain all remonstrance from the muqaddam. where the fowls were kept, and taking one of The latter might as well have held his breath. the finest cocks he could catch, proceeded to Seeing the state of affairs the muqaddam looked kill it.
most significantly towards his wife and said :"Oh, please do not," cried the woman. “My! “For several days a dev' has haunted our husband will be here soon, and will get some house. Once or twice he has appeared about food for you."
this time and put out all the light.” Bat the man was not to be put off. He at "Indeed!" said the visitor. once killed a cock, and handing it to the The woman took the hint and at once exwoman asked her to cook it for him. Seeing tinguished the lamp. When all was in total no way of escape out of the difficulty the darkness the muqaddam put out his hand to woman obeyed, but before the meal was ready take the earthenware pot from his friend, but the muqaddam returned. “Salam, salám," the friend perceived the movement, and placing he said to his friend, and after the few usual the pot in his left hand seized the lamp-stand questions concerning his health and affairs, with the other and began to beat the muqad. rushed to the kitchen and asked his wife what dam most unmercifully. she had done. She told him everything.
"Oh ! oh!" exclaimed the muqaddam. “ Very well," he said. "It is not of much "What are you doing to my husband ?” consequence. We will get the better of this shouted the woman. man yet. Listen! When the cock is ready, "The dev is trying to steal my food!” said mind you give him only a little, but give it in the man. the copper pot.. Give me the rest, but set it "Be careful! Be careful!" he shouted to before me in the earthen pot."
the supposed deo, and each time he struck him As soon as the meal was ready the woman as hard as he could with the lamp-stand. At did so. However, the man was too sharp for last the lamp-stand was broken, and the man them. He noticed the meagre quantity placed ran out of the door, taking good care to carry before him, and the abundance that was set the earthenware pot and its contents with hefore the muqaddam.
him.
MISCELLANEA. AN ACCOUNT OF ASAM AT THE TIME OF ITS | Bengal Asiatic Society in the Bibliotheca Indica.
CONQUEST BY MIR JUMLA IN A.D. 1683. It is this printed text that has been used for the By KAVIRAJ SYAMAL DAS, M.R.A.S., F.R.H.S. present purpose. Court Poet; Udaipur, Méwår..
The author of the 'Alamgir Nama was a person (Translated by Bâbu Râma Prasada, of marked ability and considerable attainments, Translator, Historical Department, Mêwar.) and commanded the attention of the public, as a
This paper is based on the 'Alamgir Nama of writer of great tact and vast experience. He was Muhammad Kazim ibn Muhammad Amin Munshi, in the employment of the Emperor 'Alamgir, who an edition of which, by Maulavis Khadim Hussain once, in his presence, gave expression to his wishes and 'Abdu'l-Hai, under the superintendence of thus :-"An account of my early days has been Colonel W. N. Lees, has been published by the already written in the Badshah Nama; my history
KAmiri, trdm, & copper vessel out of which the By Mulla 'Abdu'l-Hamid Láhauri. [Both the Bidahdi Musalmans eat. The Hindus do not make use of vessels Nama and Alamgir Nama are noticed by Sir H. Elliot made of this metal.
in his History of India, Vol. VII. pp. 38., 174ff. He also A demon, a sprite, a devil.
extracted from them. This conquest of Asam has been [Compare the story of Vidamundan Kodamundan translated by Vangittart in the Asiatic Miscellany, Vol. I. from Madras, ante, Vol. XIV. p. 778.-ED.) Cf. also and in Asiatic Researches Vol. II. There is a divided en passant a Sinhalese Story in the Orientalist, Vol. II. opinion as to the value of Mahammad Kazim as & p. 147.
writer.-ED.)
