An account of the Marriage of Hydur Alí’s youngest son, Kureem Sáhib, with the daughter of Hukeem Khan, Meeana, the Governor of Sanore; and the Betrothal of the Nawaub’s own daughter,* the rose of the Garden of Purity and Chastity, to the Son and Successor of Hukeem Khan, in the capital, Puttun, 1192, Hijri.— A. D. 1778.

AT a former time, the Nawaub selected and obtained in marriage the bright star of the constella­tion of Chastity, the daughter of Mehdi Beg, a Jamadár, who commanded two hundred horse at Arkat. The circumstances of the case were these, that after this officer’s death, his two sons Hussaini Beg and Moraud Beg, with their sister, leaving Arkat to obtain service, had arrived in Mysore, where the Nawaub sought and married* their sister. This lady had a son, who was named Kureem Sáhib, and also a daughter; but, after giving birth to the latter, she died of a mortal disease, and departed to Paradise. A Bayadere, or dancing girl, named Zohreh,* a favourite of the Nawaub’s, brought up the son and daughter with great care and tender­ness, until they reached years of discretion; and the Nawaub himself regarded this son with increase of favour. At this time, therefore, the mind of the Nawaub being at rest from the prosecution of his measures* for the prosperity of the Khodadad state, he began to think of the marriage of his son, and make arrangements for its celebration. Hukeem Khan, the Afghan Chief of Shanoor, was not well affected to the Nawaub, and had frequently deviated from the path of confidence and friendship, but the political views of the Nawaub required that the enmity and hatred, which had subsisted between them, on both sides, should be replaced by relation­ship and marriage, and that thereby comfort and assurance should be given to the mind of the Khan. He, therefore, despatched Vakeels, with letters of congratulation on the projected marriage, inform­ing him that he abandoned his claim for tribute from his possessions. At the same time, to pro­duce an effect, there followed in the rear of these embassadors, a strong body of troops, under pre­tence of foraging, but well supplied with stores, and ready for action. When these able embassa­dors arrived at Shanoor, they visited Hukeem Khan and presented their letters, and also delivered a verbal message to him, to the effect that, for the possession of dominion enjoyed but a few days, and which at most could last but a short period, it was best that the dust of enmity and strife should be allayed by a sprinkling of the pure water of peace and good will, and that the carpet of opposition and distrust should be rolled up and removed, and the foundations of intimacy and friendship raised and strengthened by the ties of family connexion; and that, acting together, they might wage war with greater effect on the infidels, and, that as a result of their union, the whole, body of the Mussulman people, and the high and low of all tribes, might repose hap­pily on the couch* of comfort and safety, and con­tinually offer up prayers for the lasting prosperity of their government. The well weighed words of the embassadors made a strong impression on the heart of the noble Khan, and, like the gentle rain, washed away the dust of doubt and enmity from his mind; so that at length he lent the ear of acceptance, and cast the eyes of thankfulness, on the wise and salutary message of the Nawaub, and the contract of agreement and friendship was arranged and settled, on the following terms,— That Hukeem Khan’s daughter should be united to the Prince* in marriage, and that the sister of the Prince, the emblem of chastity, should be united to the eldest son of the Khan. It is to be observed here, that the attainment of this great object arose from the following causes; the Nawaub, from his high rank and station, the abundance of his means, his prosperity and excess of wealth, had no peer or equal among the newly risen chiefs of power and rank; the proud and haughty chiefs of dif­ferent parts, whom the sultans and governors of former times, with great armies and mighty prepa­rations, had vainly spent years in labouring to sub­due, he, on the contrary, in a very short time, by his personal bravery and conquering sword, had completely overthrown and destroyed; and to that degree did he exert himself, in the subjection of the proud and insubordinate, that, in the towns or dis­tricts of Mysore, the name of rebel or rebellion no longer existed; and whenever, he heard of a strong­hold in the possession of a rebel or an enemy, he, either by the force of policy, or by strength and courage, cast down the walls, and destroyed it. His victorious standards, also, to which ever quarter they might be directed, never lowered their heads until they threw the ensigns of their enemies, reversed, into the dust of disgrace and contempt. Instances of this, are to be found in the ruin of the power of Morar Rao, the Náík of Chitul Droog, and the Afghan of Kirpa; and the weight of these examples threw terror into Hukeem Khan’s soul, but, most of all, the advance of the detachment of troops, follow­ing the embassadors, gave him the greatest uneasi­ness. But, if it had not been so, the pride and inso­lence of the Afghan race are too well known, to need further mention. In short, the fortunate Khan accepted the offer of the Nawaub with thank­fulness, and despatched by the Vakeels* letters, couched in the style and language of congratu­lation and friendship, with presents and honorary dresses; and next occupied himself in preparing the feast and ornamental arrangements of the bridal day. The Nawaub having therefore his mind at ease, now invited the consenting Khan, with his family and servants, to his capital, Seringaputtun; and, having completed the forms of felicitation to his worthy and honourable son, and done the honours of the royal feast and banquet, the two pro­pitious stars were placed in real conjunction at the fortunate hour; and in the same form, and with the same ceremonies, the sister of the bridegroom was married to Abool Khire Khan, otherwise Khira Mean, the son of Hukeem Khan. After the leisure consequent on the celebration of these marriages, the distinguished Khan, leaving his daughter and son and a body of troops with the Nawaub, returned to Shanoor, and the Nawaub remained at his capital.