The No8-r8z fell this year on the twenty-seventh of Sefer. Infamous custom of the Emperors of Hindostan. A few days after arrived at Court, Ghoolam-mahi-eddin-qhan, who had been dispatched to confiscate the estate of the late Zekeriah-qhan, in compliance with an infamous custom which has taken place in the Babrian branch of the family of Temoor*. The deceased Viceroy’s son put in his hands some of the most apparent effects, with a sum of money, as the whole of the estate; nor was anything more brought to the presence. Nevertheless the Commissary was rewarded for this expedition with a fringed paleky, and an augmentation of a thousand horses to his grade. A strange affair happened about this time.

Behroz-qhan, one of the eunuchs of the presence, after per­forming his Friday devotions in the mosque, repaired to the house of a slave of his, who had been many days dead, with intention to carry away the deceased’s wife, in order to make a present of her person to his own saint and director, who had chanced to see her and to fall in love with her charms. The widow refused, and declared that she had no inclination to marry a second time. This declaration having produced many intreaties and much altercation, the pimping eunuch, who was resolved to gratify that infamous director of his at any rate, attempted to carry the woman away by force. At this moment her father made his appearance, and interposed, by intreaties and persuasions; but the eunuch, proud of his station, and presuming on his power and influence, commenced talking so high, that the father, unable to bear his insolence and ill language, and thinking like­wise that his honour was concerned in protecting his daughter from so vile an attempt, struck the invader with his poniard, and laid him sprawling on the ground. He struck likewise the eunuch’s adopted son, who had followed his father within the inner apart­ments; but he was himself instantly dispatched by the attendants of that infamous wretch. The eunuch, being stretched at full length in his paleky, was carried to his lodgings, where in a little time he expired. He was buried in the dormitory of Qhoadja Cootoob-eddin.

“I should be glad to know whither those travellers intend to go,

Who have for a guide a man, that has himself lost his way, and is going astray.”

This strange accident was followed by one full as strange. Hafyz-vadjich-qhan, an eunuch, Superintendent of the Imperial Kitchen, being at his prayers at day-break, fell suddenly into a swoon, and expired within an hour. It was on the second of Djemady. His office was given to his adopted son. At the end of the month, the Emperor, having set out to take an airing in the seats about the Capital, was pleased to entrust Mahmed-issack-qhan with the guard of the Imperial person, an office become vacant by Behroz-qhan’s death; and that nobleman after making his bow in acknowledgment of the favour, was installed in his office by being presented with a belt. After which the Emperor, on the fifth of Redjeb, returned to his blessed man­sion, where an important event soon came to take place.

We have already mentioned, more than once, the high degree of favour and authority to which Umdet-ul-mulk-Emir-qhan had risen by degrees. He had indeed such talents for business, and such fitness for command, that he was reputed superior in those respects to all the Lords of the Court, as well as to all his cotemporaries. On his own part, he had so high an opinion of his influence, that he made but little account of all the other Ministers. It happened just at this time that the Vezir being in liquor, and taking the fresh air upon the top of his Palace, staggered and fell down upon the ground, where he broke some of his bones, and otherwise received so much hurt, that he kept his bed for eight months together; and although he recovered his health, he continued to be so much bruised and hurt, that he seldom came to Court, being unable to stand before the Emperor. And, on the other hand, as he had but a slender opinion of the capacity of his sons, and did not think any of them worthy of being entrusted with the management of affairs, he requested Emir-qhan to transact business in his stead with the Rise and dis­grace of Emir-qhan. Emperor, and then retired to his house to enjoy some rest; for he came to Court very seldom, and sometimes but once a month, at which time, after having stood a few moments in the Imperial presence, he was always dismissed, or took his leave of himself. As to Abool-mansoor-qhan, he was personally attached to Emir-qhan, to whom he thought himself indebted for his fortune; and thus this Nobleman’s influence and authority, having no one to contend with, became boundless and infinite. But he was naturally gay and lively; and being accustomed for some time to talk familiarly to the Emperor, he began to lay aside that tone of deference and air of respect, which ought never to be departed from in the presence of Kings and Sovereigns. For now being sole master of the Court, with not one rival to envy, and not one competitor to contend with, he forgot himself so far, as to take unusual liberties with the Emperor, thinking that his advice ought always to preponderate, and that his requests ought always to be complied with. But the Emperor had another favourite, Mahmed-issac-qhan, whom he raised so high, together with his brother, that they seemed so many Princes; although Emir-qhan would make no account of them, as it was to him that their father owed their elevation. The Emperor, sensible of this, was desirous of strengthening Issac-qhan’s interest; and it was with that view he concluded a match between Sudjah-ed-döwlah-Djelaeddin-haïder-qhan, son to Abool-mansoor-qhan, on one side, and Issac-qhan’s sister on the other; and to engage Emir-qhan’s good will to the match, he declared himself the author of it, and appointed that Nobleman to act as his Deputy, and as Agent from the Lady, in making the necessary preparatives for the nuptials. Abool-mansoor-qhan, extremely pleased with the match, and desirous likewise of complimenting the Imperial pleasure, exerted himself in rendering the nuptials as pompous and as magnificent as possible. Amongst other articles which he sent, as usual, to the bride, as part of her future necessaries, people took notice of no less than a thousand and some hundreds of Vessels,* for water, all of silver, not one of which could weigh less than a Hundred Rupees. After the celebration of the nuptials, Emir-qhan thought proper to take his leave, and to repair to the Castle of Selim-gur, where the Princes of the Royal blood lived confined. To these he paid a visit; and by such a conduct he rendered himself suspected, and became obnoxious to many, especially to his jealous enemies. The Emperor himself conceived a disgust at such a step. His heart insensibly altered, and he came at last to hate the man whom he had once loved so much; but thinking it improper to shew his resentment, he went on with dissembling and with dis­guising his sentiments, until a crisis was occasioned by Emir-qhan himself. One day, as he was actually speaking to the Emperor of some matters of State, he brought forward some representations likely to take up much time. The Emperor, tired, told him these words: “Umdet-ul-mulk-bahadyr*, leave that for some other day.” Emir-qhan answered, that “he had no more than a few words to say, and requested to be heard, as the subject was urging.” The Emperor repeated what he had said. The Minister insisted, and both the request and excuse were repeated three several times, and three times did Emir-qhan repeat his importunity, and be guilty of the same fault.— Unfortunately for him, there happened to be present an eunuch of the presence, whose character was as impatient and peevish, and as unaccountable and perverse, as any of that choleric tribe; and as he was an old slave of the Emperor’s father and grand­father, and had now, as Superintendent of Imperial Seraglio, the disposal of several gates of the Palace, (an office of high trust), he was much in favour with that Monarch. Rooz-afzoon-qhan, (for such was his name) impatient to see the Minister’s impor­tunity, chanced to say, (but not so low, however, as not to be overheard by Emir-qhan) “I suppose this to be such a high flavored story as admits of no delay, and must at any rate be repeated to-night to all the old women of the neighbourhood.” The Minister, shocked, could not help saying, “that it little became slaves to take such liberties, whilst Grandees of the Empire, and Ministers of State, were talking of matters of importance to their masters.” The eunuch, without being discomposed by this reprimand, sharply replied, “that if they were slaves, they were so to none but the Emperor, and by no means to any others.” On this, Emir-qhan, addressing the Emperor, said, “if this man continues in the superintendence of the Palace, your slave cannot come to Court any more.” The Emperor, after having said some obliging things to the Minister, to appease his rising resentments, added: “Do not be uneasy, Umdet-ul-mulk-bahadyr; your interest is greater than his; and it shall be done as you wish.” The Minister, after a pause, replied, “if your Majesty really wishes to oblige the slave of your Imperial Throne, let the superintendence be bestowed upon me; and I shall appoint a proper person to execute that office, on my part.” The Emperor agreed. The Minister getting up immediately to acknowledge the favour, made a profound bow, and departed. Being arrived at his home, he sent for Agah-qhan, an old eunuch of his own, who was Superintendent of his Hall of Audience, and he promised to pro­mote him to-morrow morning, to a high office in the Imperial Palace. But matters, meanwhile, were taking a different turn in the Palace. On the Minister’s departure, the Emperor com­plained of his importunity, and added, “that he had been this longwhile tired of Emir-qhan, and found it difficult to live with him; but now that he wants to get the disposal of most of the gates of the Palace,” added he, “I suppose I shall be no better than his prisoner.” The eunuch answered, that if such was His Majesty’s pleasure, it was an easy matter to provide for it. “Do then,” replied the Emperor, “and make haste, for once he shall have taken possession of the superintendence, it will be then too late.” The eunuch, having got his cue, went out ruminating how he could find a man that would dispatch the Minister. He spoke of it to one of his confidents, who answered that he knew a very fit man for the business, and that it was his own brother, who had been lately in Emir-qhan’s service, and having parted with him on the very worse terms, had said more than once in the agonies of his resentment, that he would some day or other take his life. The desperado being asked whether he would undertake to perform the work, answered in the affirma­tive, and was carried by his brother to the eunuch, who, on putting the question to him, was earnestly requested not to provide any other man for such a business, as he was determined to be revenged of the Minister. The eunuch seeing him resolute and eager got him inlisted amongst the guards, and placed him in the inner apartments, where he informed him that, as soon as Emir-qhan should get beyond the door of the private hall of audience, he must fall upon him directly. The wretch being shewn his post, went in, and placed himself in his ambuscade. The next day, being the twentieth of Zilhidje in the same year, Emir-qhan came to Court at day-break, although it was no Court-day, and brought with him the eunuch he wanted to entrust with the superinten­dence. He alighted from the paleky, and as soon as he had dis­engaged himself from the crowd of his numerous attendants, and from the still more numerous throng of suitors, he advanced towards the hall, when the abominable murderer, without giving him time to advance above three steps within the door, rushed from behind, and gave him such a stroke in the breast with his Emir-qhan murdered. poniard, that the unfortunate innocent Séyd fell sprawling on the ground, and expired instantly. The guards took up his body, and stretching it in his paleky, sent it home, followed by a crowd of men who were going by order to take an account of his effects and to confiscate his property.