Indian Antiquary Vol 36

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 52

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1907.
I chose to promise he would get agreed to, and then would have the order made out in my name. "As the Shāh and I too" (he added), "on account of Mir Manūņ, are inclined in "heart towards you, we have made some delay in impressing the seal on the rescript for "Intizām-ud-danlah."
I replied that absolutely I could not think of taking or attempting the Wastr-ship in & State where there was no army and no treasure. Nor had I any power of laying hands opon a lakh of rupees. True kindness and condescension would, in my case, consist at this juncture in excusing me from such an undertaking. Under no conditions could I accept the office.
The chief minister once more went to the Shāh and made a representation of the case. Then and there the rescript for the office of Waxlr was completed in the name of Intigām-uddaulah; and it was sent off to bim at Shāhjahānābād by the hands of a nasaqchi. Intizām-addaulah reeled with excitement, and ordered the kettle-drums to be beaten in honour of his appointment as Wasir.
Two days afterwards the Shāh entered Sbābjahānābād. Five hundred horsemen were set apart to look after me and bring me with them. That same day, that on which the Shah entered Dihli, he gave an order that the daughter of Ali Quli Khan should be marched away from Shāhjahānäbūd and taken to Balkh. Accordingly, that very day their march began and their camp was pitched at the town of Bädli.
At the time of afternoon prayer tha Shāh said to me: “This might the marriage cere"monies of Mir Manūņ's daughter will be celebrated in my presence. Go away now, and when "one watch of the night has passed, be ready for this business in accordance with your own "customs, and appear then in my audience-hall." At the same moment he sent notioe to the widow of Mir Manūņ.
When one watch of the night had gone by, I appeared at the appointed place. Then, with his own auspicious band, the Shāh applied henna to my palms, and caused the ritual of marriage to be carried out in his own presence. He said: "From this time I have taken you as "my son ; in every way let your heart be at rest." He conferred on me a gift of 5,000 rupees and two shawls he had worn himself. For this I made him my acknowledgments. Then I sent to the Begam 6,000 rupees on account of the Unveiling of the Bride. The Shāh said: "To-night remain where you are, you are a bridegroom." Then he was pleasud to honour his own sleeping apartment.
The same day there came to the Shāh a petition from Rajah Suraj Mall Jät, to this effect. “This faithful one is a slave and servant of your government, I entertain no ideas but those "of submission and obedience. My hope from your mercy and grace is, that should an order " of the Shäh secure the honour of issuing, I will place grass in my mouth and an axe upon my "neck, and attend to kiss the Threshold, whereby my head will be raised from among my peers " as high as the Seventh Heaven."
The order of the Shāh was: "Let it be written - Why delay for the issue of an order, if "he is a true subject of the Empire, let him appear and attend our audienco." Considering the offer of Suraj Mall to be bond fide, the Shāh went off to his sleeping quarters and retired to rest.
When one watch of the night was left before daybreak, the Shah arose and entered his oratory, and until the time came to say the morning prayers busied himself in reading portions of the Scripture (wagāt) and recitation (aurād), and perasal of the Qurán. After