About this time, the New-year’s day, with the usual solem­nities, was celebrated on the Sunday of the thirteenth of the second Djemady of the year 1135; and on the night of the Saturday of the eleventh Redjeb of the same year, a Princess was born to the Emperor from Roshen-abady,* and she was called Djehan-afroz-bannoo-begum. After some days, Haïder-c8ly-qhan having presented himself at court, was received with much goodness by the Emperor who, compassionating his case, appointed him to the Government of Adjmir, his intention being to chastise Radja Adjet-sing’s refractory temper and presump­tion. That General, who was a man of courage, and bore hearty enmity to Adjet-sing, accepted the proposal with pleasure, and soon prepared an army and artillery sufficient to enter the lists with the Gentoo Prince. He marched against him and attacked his troops, but the latter declined the dispute and fled. It was at the end of Shaaban, of the same year, at which time a Sëid, son to Cassem the Cutval, was killed with a stroke of a poniard by one of the S8rh-posh guards, who was himself grievously wounded by the other’s sabre, and the fact happened close to the father’s tribunal. In this same year, being the first of Shevval, on a Sunday, Nizam-el-mulk, who was returned from Decan, paid his respects to the presence; and on a Thursday, being the twenty-fourth of Zilcaadah, about an astronomical hour before day-break, a son was born to the Emperor. In the year 1136 of the Hedjrah, it being nearly in the middle of Moharrem, a comet with a long tail made its appearance in the heavens in the sign of Aquarius, and remained visible for ten or twelve days, after which it disappeared, when at the end of the month the Emperor’s eldest son departed this life.*

This year a number of promotions took place in the principal offices of the court. Camer-eddin-qhan, son of Mahmed-aamin-qhan, whom we have seen in the Vezirship for some little time, nay, for a few days, was appointed second Paymaster-general and Grand com­motion at court. Superintendent of the Gh8sl-qhana or bathing-apartments;* the Lord of Lords, Qhandö8ran, was made first Paymaster-general, with the additional command of the bodyguards called Vala-shahies and Ala-shahies;* Zaafer-qhan was appointed third Paymaster; and Selabet-qhan, fourth. The Stewardship of the household was given to Shir-ef-ken-qhan,* and after him, to his brother, L8tf-ollah-qhan, the Just, Commander of the body­guards called Soltanies, or Imperials. Emir-djemlah the Terhan or exempt, was made Sadr-el-s8d8r or Grand-almoner. The superintendence of the sanctuary, or sacred apartment of the Ladies, together with the care of the privy purse, was committed to Hafyz-qhydmet-car-qhan, an eunuch of Aoreng-zib’s time; but on his demise, both those offices passed to Roz-afz8n-qhan. Radja Gudjer-mull was appointed to the Qhalissa-office or exchequer, which after him, passed to Iradet-mend-qhan, and after him, to Radja Baht-mull. Sheh-saad-ollah was appointed Divan of the musters; and Haïder-c8ly-qhan,* Mir-ateshy or fire-com­mander, and after him, Saad-eddin-qhan, and again Haïder-c8ly-qhan, from whom that office passed to Muzafer-qhan, brother to Qhandö8ran. The superintendency of the guards, called Qhavvas,* was given to Saadet-qhan, with order to take Ahmed-c8ly-qhan for his deputy. Amin-ed-dö8lah was made first Mir-tozec; and Daver-dad-qhan, second; Mubaruz-qhan, Superintendent of the door-keepers, and after him, Agher-qhan; and Mir-hossëin-qhan-coca,* Superintendent of the pikemen of the presence, ancient and new. The office Arz-mukerer was bestowed on Aly-mahmed-qhan-coca, as was the inspection of the canal,* to Faiz-aly-hamed-qhan. B8-aly-qhan-corbeghy was appointed Superintendent of the upholsterer’s office, or Farrash-qhana, as was Munevver-qhan, of the body of Ahedians. The footman-office was bestowed on Yanaïet-qhan-rasygh, son to Qhan-sadyc the Caraolian. The keeping of the purse of Largesses was entrusted to Behroz-qhan, and of the Imperial pocket, to Djavid-qhan, both eunuchs. The jewel-office was bestowed on Djevaher-qhan; and the kitchen-office on Bahtaver-qhan, as was the coffee-office on Vedjibeh-qhan;* and the elephant-office,* to Fazl-aly-qhan. Sëid Cotb-eddin-aly-qhan was preposed to the superintendency of the light artillery, as was Yesen-qhan to the command of the S8rh-poshes and of the C8llars.* Allah-yar-qhan was made Governor of the citadel of Shah-djehan-abad; and Caïm-qhan, son to Zaafer-qhan, Inspector of the Post and Gazette office,* as was the Physician Maasom-aaly-qhan, of the Intelligence-office,* and in this manner every one got possession of some office; but Zaafer-qhan alone, seemed to have engrossed the Emperor’s mind. He, there­fore, availed himself of his credit to make money, being ever ready to undertake every petition in consideration of a commission of so much per cent. to himself. This was also the custom of a new female favourite which the Emperor now produced to the world. A certain girl, famous under the name of Cö8ki, and daughter of* Shah-Djan-mahmed, a fakir, found means to introduce herself so deeply in the Emperor’s good graces, that she was entrusted with the Imperial scrutoire and private signet. This singular favourite was suffered to undersign the Imperial answers to the petitions which she carried within the seraglio; and she availed herself to the full of her credit and influence to make an immense fortune. But what is singular, she was also a woman of much penetration, and fond of reciting verses, and often made some herself extempore. Her boldness was such, that she made no mystery of singing these two distichs of her composition: Cö8ky, a female favourite of the Emper­or’s, rallies at him.

“The Sceptre of command has now passed from the Imperial Cocks to the Hens,

And there is between them a contest for superiority and power.

Possibly we may see the foolish fellow’s bucler dance in a fit of intoxication,

And women exchange their musical drum for his flaming sabre.*

The Emperor who was a youth of little resolution and enter­prise, thought only of passing his time in pleasures and delices; so that whenever any emergency did happen that required vigour and firmness, he passed it over with condescension, and satisfied with enjoying the company of Umdet-el-mulk-emir-qhan,* and of some other young lords, of a lively temper, and of a turn of mind inclined to good fellowship and raillery, he did not give to the affairs of the Empire that attention which their importance required. Hence that respect and awe which the Imperial name used to impose, commenced wearing away little by little from the hearts of men in power and office, one might say from almost every man. Every one was fancying himself of importance, and sitting at home on his own carpet, he entertained thoughts of shaking off constraint, and of assuming independence. On the other hand, Nizam-el-mulk wanted to assimilate the Emperor to his own gravity and manners, and to submit him entirely to his counsels; in short, to wean him from the company of those lively youths in whose society he so much delighted, and especially to resume from Cö8ki’s hands and from the Lords of her party that influence which she enjoyed; but such a proposal could not prove of easy digestion, either to the Emperor or to his favourites. Nor were Nizam-el-mulk’s turn of mind or manners relished at all by them; so far from that, they were an object of their scorn and contempt, and his person, as soon as out of sight, never failed of becoming the constant topic of the most pointed rail­lery.* Nizam-el-mulk, informed of all this, conceived a dis­gust against the court, and an indignation against the courtiers; and having resolved to rid himself of them by repairing to his Governments of G8djerat and Decan, where he bore an absolute sway, he pretended sickness, abstained from going to court, and Nizam-el-mulk much discontented. remained at home, being already intent upon revenging himself by exciting troubles and raising mischievous commotions which he knew would render his presence necessary. He intended to resign the Vezirship; but being a man of much prudence and consideration, he was inclined to temporise, and often proved dilatory. Meanwhile, this resolution of his having been guessed at by the Emperor and the Grandees that were of his mind, it was agreed to humour that Minister, by accepting his resignation, and letting him live as far from court as he wished, provided he lived satisfied and contented. So that the Vezir himself informed of this inclination of theirs, thought it was so much gain to him­self; and both parties yielding something of their pretensions, messages and notes were interchanged, an appearance of union and sincerity took place, and on the second of Sefur, in the year 1136, Nizam-el-mulk came again to court, paid his respects, was honoured with the office of Vekil-m8tlac, or absolute Lieutenant-General of the Emperor, decorated with the new title of Asef-dja,* and complimented with every demonstration of favour and regard. The Viceroy, after this compromise, asked leave to go a hunting; but instead of that, he marched towards the Decan, an extensive empire, where he reigned like a monarch to all intents and purposes. Being there in his centre, he bent his thoughts on chastising an indolent Emperor, and curbing a set of thoughtless profligate courtiers. It was already the seventh month since his departure, when the Emperor, without touching in appearance to the two high offices which the Viceroy enjoyed, bestowed the title of Djumlet-el-mulk on Camer-eddin-qhan, i.e., that of Supreme over the kingdoms of the Empire; and that nobleman, in receiving the investiture of that high office, promised to humour Nizam-el-mulk in everything in his power.