The Vezir, after so critical and so perilous a day, thought proper to pass that night in the citadel, surrounded by a numerous body of his bravest and trustiest friends, having previously placed at the only gate left open, a guard on which he could depend. Not satisfied with all those precautions, when it became necessary to form a household to the young Emperor, he appointed the whole of it from his household and dependants, down to the eunuchs, chamberlains, menial servants, cooks, and water-carriers. As a further precaution, he placed his own guards everywhere, and filled all the avenues of the palace, and even of the private apartments, with his own dependants. The next day the new Emperor having according to the custom given a public general audience, Adjet-sing and Ratun-chund supplicated that the Hin­doos all over the Empire might be released from the opprobrium of the capitation.* This favour was granted, and orders were at the same time dispatched everywhere for confirming all Governors, Commanders, Viceroys, and Crown-officers, in their respective commands. In the meantime, the famous Yticad-qhan was confined with a deal of contumely, his Djaghir resumed, and his palace, where he had amassed an immense treasure in gold The Palace of Yticad-qhan ransacked. and silver, costly jewels, and exquisite stuffs, was taken possession of. But what is singular, on rummaging for treasure, there was discovered another secret hoard of his, which consisted only of gems and jewels of an amazing value, all presents from Feroh-syur, but which now served only to enhance his disgrace, and the many affronts put upon him. The whole was seized for the Vezir’s use, without his taking the least notice of the outrages and con­tumelies that had been offered to their late owner. At the same time were resumed all the Djaghirs and lands which Feroh-syur had bestowed on his sycophants, and none was spared but that which was enjoyed by the Rani, late consort of that dethroned Prince; and this was rather out of regard to Adjet-sing, her father. The Mansobdars, and officers of the bodyguards, called Vala-shahies, who enjoyed lands and Djaghirs, until they might be paid in ready money, were stripped in the same manner; and as to the common troopers they were given to understand that, if they wanted service, they must repair to the Viceroy’s camp, Great changes and resump­tions. where they would be enlisted at the rate of fifty rupees per month, ready money one with another. Mahmed-aamin-qhan, already second Paymaster, was confirmed in his office, and Zaafer-qhan was substituted to Sëif-ollah-qhan, third Paymaster. Nizam-el-mulk was appointed to the Viceroyalty of Malva, although he was so far from liking the complexion of the times, that he had repeatedly refused that office. Ser-b8lend-qhan, who had been appointed Governor of Cab8l sometime before the Revolution, and on that account had stopped at fifteen cosses from the capital to see what would be the fate of the Empire, was sent for, and he received anew the patent and investiture of that Govern­ment; after which ceremony he was dismissed with honour and distinction. The rich Fodjdary of M8radabad was given to Sëif-eddin-qhan, one of the Vezir’s younger brothers. One Mahmed-reza, a new man, was appointed Supreme Judge and Casuist of the Court, and Emir-qhan-aalemghiry, who had enjoyed the Gov­ernment of Ecber-abad, was made Sadr-el-s8d8r.* Dianet-qhan was made Divan or Superintendent of the Revenue office, as was Radja Baqht-mul, of the Military Chest; but all these, together with every one of the officers of Finance and Administra­tion, were held to be no more than so many Lieutenants of Ratan-chund’s. Himmet-qhan, one of the Vezir’s bosom-friends, was made Comptroller of the Privy Purse, and, moreover, tutor to the young Prince; and over and above all that, several lucra­tive offices were bestowed upon him. As to the offices and Gov­ernments, that proved at a distance from the capital, no change at all was attempted in them, for fear of losing all command over those distant parts. Only the Government of Mandö8 was taken from Merhamet-qhan, that officer of merit, who had slighted the Viceroy, when he passed by his district, and it was given to Qhadjem-c8li-qhan, a T8ranian or Tartar. But Radja Adjet-sing,* who to get rid of the eternal curses and hootings of the populace wanted to be gone to his Government of G8djrat, could not obtain leave, and was requested to remain in the city.

As to the dethroned Emperor, his exit being related in two Manner of Feroh-syur’s exit related by contemporaries in two dif­ferent ways. different manners by two different men of distinction and credit, then upon the scene of action, we shall insert them both, resting the truth or the falsehood of either narrative on the respective merits of either author. For it has been reported to me by men of honour and veracity, that the two brothers had never entertained thoughts of attempting Feroh-syur’s life,* or had ever intended to offer him any ill usage, their only view being to make sure of his person, and for that purpose they had put him under the care of a trusty Afghan officer, who was to have him under his care night and day. Nevertheless it happened, that Feroh-syur availed himself so well of a moment of absence, that he stole away unperceived in the dusk of the evening, and going from terrace to terrace, he wanted to jump down, being already at a distance from the place of his confinement, when the Afghan returned. On not finding his prisoner, and knowing that his life was at stake, he looked narrowly everywhere, and spying at a dis­tance some one that was lurking under the shadow of a wall, he ran thither, and finding it was his prisoner, he threw himself upon him, and brought him back. That vile fellow had no sooner seen him in the place of confinement again, than making him sit on the floor, he, with that hardness of heart and that brutality which seem to make the basis of the character of an Afghan, fell a beat­ing and a cuffing him unmercifully. Feroh-syur, unable to bear such vile usage, ran to the wall with all his might, and dashed his head with so much violence against it, that his skull was broke to pieces, and that very moment he departed to the mansions of eternity.

But Hashem-aaly-qhan-qhasi,* the historian, son to Qhadja-mir, the historian, refers Feroh-syur’s death to an express order from the two brothers, betraying at the same time through­out his history the utmost detestation and enmity against them as well as against their family. As, on the other hand, it is possible that I, the poor man, should incur the imputation of some partiality for them, I have thought it best to refer his very text, without taking any liberties with it, save that of correcting some false constructions which had crept in it, either through the writer’s inaccuracy or the copyist’s ignorance. Let, then, the credibility of the following narrative rest entirely with the author. It is as follows:—

“Two months had already elapsed since that unfortunate Prince had been confined in that narrow dark place, where he experienced a variety of hardships, when a red-hot needle was passed over his eyes, a cruel operation, which, however, did not deprive him entirely of the light of the day. Tired of such repeated scenes of barbarity, that ill-fated Prince, in the simplicity of heart, natural to a man in distress, and in that love of command, so capable of putting a man off his gurd, and of set­ting at nought every other principle, betook himself to several expedients for putting an end to his sufferings. At one time he would send to his enemies excuses for his former conduct, promis­ing to let them dispose of the Empire, if they would but place him on the throne as before. At another, that unfortunate man buried alive, would turn towards the Afghan, Abdollah-khan, (for such was his keeper’s name) and would tempt him with an immense sum of money, if he could but carry him as far as the dominions of Radja Djehi-sing-siväi. All this did not fail to be exactly reported to the two brothers, who being endlessly instigated by their adulators, as well as prompted by their own fears, thought it high time to put an end to so dangerous a life. To effect their purpose, they got poison to be mixed at two dif­ferent times in his victuals, and this had no effect, or very little; but the third time, the dose operated, and as they went to see how the unfortunate man’s soul was wrung out of his body, he lost all patience, and after having reproached them in severe terms for their atrocious ingratitude, and that faithlessness of theirs that had so often taken the sacred word of God to witness, and had so often pledged the Holy Writ for their fidelity, he apostropised that sacred volume itself, and wondered how it had not worked a miracle instantly, for the punishment of so much perfidy. He even vented reproaches against the Majesty of Divine justice, which had supinely suffered, as he said, such faithless men to be still alive; and as he continued to exhale his feelings in that reproachful strain, the Vezir, impatient, ordered a leathern thong to be strained round his neck, so as to put an end to his talking. But the unfortunate Prince having laid hold of it with both hands, so as to keep it asunder from his neck, and having struggled hard with both hands and feet, the two barbarians tired with so much resistance, ordered his hands to be parted by dint of blows; and the Prince having suffered for a length of time all the agonies of a lingering death, at last departed this fragile world.

“Beware of stretching so easily thine hands towards that table spread by time,

For every morsel upon it is tainted with deadly poison.