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116
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
MAY, 1912.
Mr. Barnes, who desires his service to bee (presented, with remembrance of some sallary, what (your) Worp. etc. shall think fitting ; and by soe doing (you shall] oblidge him to pray for your [Worps etc.] p[rosperi]ties. [The King is] now jorning towards Pissore, where report says] hee stayes this winter ; after which he [means to returne againe to Cabull, if not to Balluck ; [in the] which place hee intends his residence unt[ill the taki]ng of Buckarrath, the which is 250 or 300 [miles] from
this place." Once again the letter grows unintelligible. Something is being said about the preparations for the Spring campaign, including the construction of a bridge of boats across the Ozus: mention is made of the rebel Prince (Abdu'l-Aziz) being at Bokhara with a strong force : and there appears to be a reference to some drastic executions by which Asklat Khân maintained order in his district. Then the writer concludes with assurances of his willingness to comply with any wishes of the Honble. Company my masters.' The postscript already mentioned is practically illegible.
It will be noticed that Boughton refers to some troublesome bussines' which the Presideat and Council at Surat had asked him to settle, and which was of sufficient importance to warrant his making a special journey to court, if he could get leave from Asalat Khân to do so. Its nature we can only conjecture ; but my own guess would be that it related to the recovery of the cont of some tapestry, belonging to Sir Francis Crane, which had been sold in 1630 to Rao Ratan Singh Hårå, Raja of Bundi. This debt was still outstanding, as the Raja's grandson and successor, Chhatarsál, professed his inability to discharge it. The Surat factors were continually being oressed by the Company to realise the money; and in a letter dated January 25th, 1647 (0.C. 2023) they replied :
"We cannot yet recover any part of it, by reason of the Kings remote distauce, who
hath many monthes spent his time in the conquest of the kingdome of Bullock Balkh], a part of Tartaria, and is at present very intent theron; 60 that nothing can be done in the bnsines untill his return, Raja Chuttersall being emploid in that service. But from him we must never expect payment nor ought but delaies and delusions; as we bave sufficiently experimented by the last express order (sudainly after we had presented the King) given him to satisfy the debt; which he then fairly promised should be done at his return into his country; whither be went not long after, accompanied by two of our house servants, unto whom he promised payment of the mony; who continued with him many daies, enterteined with feir hopes of satisfaction, but urging him more importanately to discharge his engagements, he poesitively affirmed that hee had nothing remaning but his sword and his horse, and that what before he pretended was only to please the King and content us for that time, wherapon, all other means having failed, we resolved to sell his debt to the King, who only can discompt it out of his servico; wberin we moved Assalatt Okaun, who promised us his assistance therin, but (As said) the Kings absence hindreth our further progress in the
busines." There is no mention here of Boughton's help having been sought; but it is quite probable that he was asked to assist, especially as his patron, Asâ lat Khân, was to be the intermediary in the matter.
* Peshawar.
• Bokhara.
