About this time His Majesty entrusted the work of translating the book Ḥaiwat-ul-ḥaiwán to Shaikh Abu-l-Fazl, a book which Naqíb Khán often used to read before the Emperor, and used to in­terest him in its subject-matter. And Shaikh Mubárik* translated it into Persian.

In this year His Majesty gave orders that the Aimahs* of the whole empire should not be let off by the krorís* of each parganna, unless they brought the farmán in which their grants, subsistence allowances, and pensions were described, to the Çadr for inspection and verification. For this reason a large number of worthy people from the extreme east of India as far west as Bakkar [on the Indus] came to Court. If any of them had a powerful protector (P. 205) in one of the Amírs, or near friends of His Majesty, he could manage to get his affair settled; but such as were destitute of such recommendations had to bribe Sayyid 'Abd-ur-rasúl, the Shaikh's head-man, or make presents to his chamberlains, door-keepers, and sweepers, in order to get their blanket out of the mire. Unless, however, they had either strong recommendations, or had recourse to bribery, they were utterly ruined. Many of the Aimahs, without obtaining their object, died from the heat caused by the crowding of the multitudes. Though a report of this came to the ears of His Majesty, no one dared to take these unfortunate people before the Emperor. And when the Shaikh, in all his pride and haughtiness, took his place upon his official seat, and influential Amírs introduced to him in his audience-hall scientific or pious men, the Shaikh used to receive them in his infamous manner, coming forward and paying respect to none. And after much asking, beg­ging and exaggerating he allowed, for example, a teacher of the Hidáyah* and other college books, 100 Bígahs more or less; and though such a man might have been a long time in possession of more extensive lands, the Shaikh took them away. But to men of no renown, to low fellows, even to Hindús, he granted lands for the first time. Thus learning and learned men fell from day to day into lower estimation. Even in the very audience-hall, when after midday prayers he sat down on his throne of pride, and washed his hands and feet, he took care to spirt the water, which he had used, on the head and face and garments of the great Amírs, and courtiers of high degree who were near, and made no exception. And they with a view to helping the poor suppliants bore all this, and con­descended to fawn on him, and flatter and toady him to his heart's content, in he hope of securing at last some compensation for the insult:—