It is such an amiable character that she is now remember­ing with sobs and regrets; and it is such a surpassing goodness she is mentioning at times with floods of tears, in which with a voice interrupted by the sobs of deep felt woe she often suppli­cates the most merciful of the most merciful to make him an object of his forgiveness. His kindness was no less conspicuous with the family and descendants of Aga-mirza, who was a son of the learned Doctor, Medjlissi, with whom he had been acquainted, so early as the reign of Shudjah-qhan, at which time Aga-mirza was then in the splendour of his power and influence. He took such care of his deceased friend’s children and consort, the latter of which was a daughter of Naky-c8ly-qhan, that no one would be more careful of his own wife and children. On hear­ing that his friend had died in his boat, on his coming from Dacca, where he had an office of importance, but when he heard that the family was not in good circumstances, he sent for the relict and her two sons, the one Mirza-bakyr, and the other Mirza-abdollah (whom may this my salute reach intire!) and took such care of them as to surprise even those that were acquainted with the goodness of his heart. He appointed eunuchs to inspect their conduct, and masters to teach them the grammer and sciences; and he added to those cares a pension of seven hundred rupees per month, over and above seven hundred more which he allowed the mother; to all which he used to join in both seasons a profusion of precious stuffs, which were always ushered with this expression: These can only fit your maids; but accept them for my sake. Doubtless it is of him that it was said:

Verses:

“Live in such a manner as that whenever you die,

Your virtues should make you live anew in the remembrance of mankind.”

As I, the poor man, was upon the most intimate footing with that nobleman, as well as with his brother, Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, and I had a perfect knowledge of their characters, and ways of life, I can vouch for the foregoing two stories (one of which happened in my own family); and of such stories there may be a thousand; for he had a thousand such acquaintances, on whom he bestowed his care and money in so generous a manner, that he kept it as a secret. But it is no less certain that there was no orphan and no widow in the city, that did not partake in some shape or other of his bounty and munificence; and how far he had carried the benignity of his temper, may be conceived from this particular, that at his death the city of M8rsh8d-abad looked like an immense hall filled with people in mourning; and that an infinity of persons looked upon his death as an irreparable loss for their own families.

His second brother, whose name was Mahmed-sáyd, and whose titles at length were Nassyr-el-mulk-sàyd-ahmed qhan-bahadyr-sö8lut-djung, had a character that held the middle way between his two brothers. He was handsomer than either, supe­rior to both in many respects, their equal in most, and their inferior in few, if any at all. In power, riches, and influence, he was inferior to his elder brother, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan; and in that sense he was likewise inferior to his younger brother, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, to whom the possession of the important Government of Azim-abad naturally gave a great lustre; he was, however, supposed to be richer than him. But on the other hand, he was thought to be somewhat below that standard in prowess and military talents, although undoubtedly superior in those respects to his elder. In the sweetness of his deportment, and also in knowledge and science, he was superior to both; but in firmness of temper, and in acuteness of discernment Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan surpassed both his brothers. Sáyd-ahmed-qhan in his youth had been much addicted to amusements and pleasures, that is, he was fond of the company of fine woman, and delighted in see­ing dancers and actrisses and singers; but this turn of mind having brought upon him the disgrace which befell him in Catec, he so far corrected his way of life that, instead of those dissolute men that had been always in his company, he attached to his person a number of friends distinguished by their birth, their virtue or their knowledge; and instead of passing his life amongst dance-women and actrisses, he only indulged now and then in looking or listening at their performances. About one hour before day-break, and after having performed the usual evacua­tions and ablutions,* he went through his devotions, and then sate in state in the great hall, where he gave a public audience twice a week, to afford an opportunity to every suitor of speak­ing to him. The Friday he abstained from all business; but there were four days in the week, where he spoke of nothing else; and then he divided his time in the following manner: In the morning his friends were admitted and drank coffee with him; after which were admitted his acquaintances and others, some of whom sate only a little, and others withdrew immediately after having made their bow. After this, he sate still two hours more, and then retired to an apartment reputed belonging to the sanctuary, and where none were admitted but old females of the seraglio, and trusty eunuchs. The M8tusuddies and heads of the several offices remained without; but occasionally transmitted by the hands of the eunuchs such of their papers as required his perusal or signature. These he perused in private and in silence, and after having examined the contents, he returned them, signed or rejected, as he thought proper; and meanwhile, his friends, and the principal persons of his Court, amongst which was also this most inconsiderable of mankind, were sitting without, in a hall separated from his closet by a curtain. His Secretaries also attended there, and occasionally sent in their minutes by the hands of an eunuch; and these being returned after some correc­tions, were transcribed fair, sent in again to be sealed by the seal-keeper, then attending, and returned again to be dispatched; the Postmaster always attending with a number of couriers, ready. At about ten o’clock dinner was served up, and it was always accompanied by a number of tables and trays covered with victuals. These were always brought ready, and distributed in the houses of his friends and acquaintances, to some every day, to some twice a week, to some others once a week, and to very few twice in a month. This was a standing rule that required no new direction. Whilst the Superintendent of the kitchen was arranging these tables, and exposing them to his view, the civilians and heads of offices stood up, and after having sent in their respects by the ministry of an eunuch, they withdrew to their homes. After dinner he usually took a nap; and then rising about noon, he went through the usual evacuations and ablutions, made his noon-prayers, and then read some chapter of the word of God. At about three o’clock, he performed his third prayer and then came into the public hall, where he conversed with learned and eminent men, such as Gholam-yahia and the Mufty-zya-ollah, and Mir-vahed, and the Moluvy or Doctor Lal-mahmed, and Shek-hedáiet-ollah, and Sëyd-abdol-hadi. With these he conferred upon some point of science, often upon his own Coran, of which he would read a passage, which was explained and commented by Mollah-gholam-yáhia, to which others added their opinions and observations. He used to say: “That at his age to make new acquisitions in matters of knowledges was almost impossible; that he was satisfied with what little he had of it, and wanted no addition; but that reading and comprehending matters of knowledge seemed to add new life to his existence; and that he was so accustomed to that way of life, that when the conferences did not take place, as usual, he reckoned him­self to have that day suffered a great loss in his treasury, and was uneasy until it was retrieved and made up.” As he was exceedingly kind to me, the last of men, he always insisted on my being present at the conferences, and he was mightily pleased with my observations and illustrations. In voyage or at home, he spoke now and then to others, but seemed particularly to hang on what I, the most inconsiderable of mankind, would say; and he expressed at all times so much esteem for me, that his oldest acquaintances and friends used to wonder by what art and magic this new man had acquired so much ascendant upon him; and how the Prince was at all times so ready to quit the company of others, to go to him. The conferences usually took up two whole hours, after which admission was given to the most con­siderable of his friends, such as Séif-aaly-qhan, brother to Séif-qhan, and son as well as he, of Emir-qhan, Viceroy of Cabul; Roh-eddin-husséin-qhan, another son of Séif-qhan’s, and a young nobleman with whom he had contracted an alliance; Naky-aaly-qhan, my younger brother; and Mir-aaly-yar-qhan son to Séif-qhan’s sister; all illustrious persons to whom he used to join Radja-adjaib-ráy, his Prime Minister, and after his death, his son, Radja Sehudj-ráy. He admitted also the heads of the Paymaster’s office, as well as those of the light artillery. To these were added the Secretary Rày-churamon, Djaafer-c8ly-qhan, Keeper of the Treasury, and Mirza-da8d the Qhansaman or Steward. All these used to sit a full hour, and after exposing what they had to say, they took their leave, and then the Prince quitted the hall, and entered his sanctuary, where with some favourite ladies of his he would take an airing in that fine garden, which he had enclosed; or he mounted with them upon small ponies richly adorned, and rode with them up and down the enclosure. The evening being come, he performed his fourth prayer; and then was attended by some favourite actrisses, dancers and singers of his; else, he remained alone, and was entertained with some curious and diverting story or tale, which lulled him to sleep; and this was at about nine or ten o’clock. This rule of life held regularly the whole year round, without exception. He was naturally a sweet tempered man; and civility was so natural to him, that for full seven years, in which I have been in his service, I never remember to have heard him say a harsh word to any one (whether high or low), or to have seen him guilty of an improper action. He was pleased with mangnificence, and fond of living nobly; and although his revenue was greatly inferior to that of his elder brother, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, who was these many years in office, and whose treasures of course must have been greatly above his standard; yet he was his equal in jewels, silver and gold furniture, as well as in elephants and some other articles appertaining to the highest ranks; and these appeared at his death, when the treasury was found to contain forty-five lacs in silver, and, if I well remember, about one lac of Eshreffies;* nor was the jewel-office found to contain less than those sums in jewels, in gold and silver furniture, and in precious stuffs; he had also a great number of elephants and horses, and other ani­mals in plenty; and all in good condition.