CHAPTER LVI.
EXPEDITION OF H.M. THE SHĀHINSHĀH TO THE PROVINCE OF NARWAR
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELEPHANT-HUNTING.

The Khedive of the world always employed himself in various kinds of hunting and other diversions so that a spectator might sup­pose that nothing but these amusements touched the hem of his heart. H.M. always conducts himself outwardly with reference to the crea­ture, and inwardly with reference to God, and so superintends the order of things external and internal. He always adorns externals as if he were one of the external and superficial, and internals, like the wise esoterics of the true qibla. At this time he devised ele­phant-hunting as his veil, and in Isfandarmaẕ, Divine month, corresponding to Rajab,* he proceeded to Narwar and Karhara.* The attraction of pleasure took him to Dholpūr. As its climate was equable he crossed the Cambal on an elephant, and passed by way of Gwālīār. When he reached the borders of Narwar the huntsmen brought the good news that several herds of elephants were roaming in the forest of Narwar. An order was issued that the camp should halt in that pleasant spot while H.M. entered that forest with a few attendants. He wandered for two days in that endless forest and then came upon a herd of elephants. He made an enclosure accord­ing to the old method, and after catching the wild elephants in it returned to the camp. One of the successes of the hunt was that one day while he was engaged in the chase in the wilds of Narwar his eye fell upon a serpent which was nearly seven Akbarshāhī* yards in length and which had consumed several cītal* (spotted deer-) which are a kind of deer, and was about to destroy more. H.M. ordered the noxious animal to be destroyed so that it received retri­bution for its actions. He stayed there for two days disposing of the world's affairs, and sent Lashkar Khān Mīr Bakhshī to Asaf Khān in Garha in order that he should send to court such of the war-ele­phants and other goods, which had fallen into his hands during the campaign with the Rānī by virtue of the royal good fortune as were fit for presentation. An order was issued that Khwāja Ghīāu-d-dīn* 'Alī of Qazwīn should act for Lashkar Khān during his absence. H.M. devoted himself to hunting, and adorned the hunting-quarters with his presence.