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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[JUNE, 1908.
46
So Arjan Gaur set out to capture Amar Singh and said: -- My dear uncle, all the doors are shut, but I will make a hole for you by which you can escape."
Amar Singh said:"Your line is notorious for treachery. You are my sister's son, leave my presence and send some one else to me."
Arjan Gaur said: "Uncle, surely Mother Ganges is between you and me. I would not deal treacherously with you." 27
The Râja said: "Go you from my presence! You will assuredly act treacherously."
Arjan Gaur again said: I deceive you."
"Uncle, Almighty God is surely between you and me if
When he had thus taken God's name, the Raja went with him, and Arjan made a hole, and told him to go out by it. When the Raja had thrust both his hands into the hole, and nearly half his body had passed through it, Arjan smote him in the back with his sword and cut him in two. But a little life still remained to him, and sitting in the hole, he held himself together, and uttered the following words: "Thou hast proved treacherous according to the tradition of thy family. Well, take this dagger of mine."
When Arjan had spread out his skirt, the Raja threw his dagger so that it ent his forehead and nose. The Râja soon expired and Arjan then cut off his head and took it to the King, who asked how he had obtained it. Arjan related the whole story and described what had passed between him and the Raja. The King said to him: "Since thou hast treacherously slain so brave a youth, get thee from my presence."
And he bade his wasir to banish him, after blackening his face. Thus was he driven away, and Ram Singh, Raja Amar Singh's nephew, took charge of his body and carried it to Amargagh.
3. A Legend of Aurangzeb, King of Dehli.
THERE was a King of Dehli, named Shah Jahan, who had four sons, namely, the Crown Prince Dârâ Shikôl, the dhotáin28 Murad, Sultan Shuja, and Aurangzêb. Shah Jahân had two ministers, one of whom was Ali Mardân Khân by name, the other Nawab Wazir Khan, who built the mosque in Lahore.
One day, when a royal darbdr was being held, the King asked: "Which of the four princes is fit for the royal throne ?"
In accordance with the King's orders Nawab Wazir Khân visited, each of the four princes to prove him. First he went to the Crown Prince Dârâ Shikôh, who received him with respect, bade him be seated, and gave him a reward of Rs. 15,000 with a horse. The Wazir took the reward, thinking to himself that the prince was totally unfit, since he first seated him with all honour and then gave him a reward. Should an enemy happen to invade the kingdom, he might give him his daughter. In the same way he went to the second prince, who also gave him a reward; and to the third who acted in the same way. But, when the Wazir went to Aurangzeb Shah, he found a sentinel standing at his gate, who stopped him, saying that it was a royal darbár, which no one could enter without the King's order. The Wazir asked to
37 That is, I assure you in the name of Mother Ganges that I will not deal treacherously with you.
28 A curious instance of a purely Hinda title applied to a Mughal prince. For the term itself, tee ante, Vol. XXXIV, p 272.
