§ 33. The Rise of the Nizam's father.

When Ghazi-ud-din Khan Bahadur Firuz Jang, whose original name was Mir Shihab-ud-din, first came to India from Vilayet, his father Abid Khan, through the media­tion of Sarbuland Khan the Paymaster, introduced him to the Emperor at Delhi in the course of his Majesty's ride on a pilgrimage to the saint Qutb [Shah's tomb], and got for him the rank of a Commander of Three Hundred Horse. Afterwards when the Emperor went to Ajmir, none of the scouts consented [to go out] to bring news about Prince Muhammad Akbar who had gone over to the Rajputs. Mir Shihab-ud-din said, “This slave is willing.” The Emperor gave him a robe of honour and a promotion of two hundred, and so sent him. On the 14th day the news of his return reached the sentinels round the imperial army, and he too sent a letter saying “This slave has arrived with true news. Please quickly issue an order for my admission into the camp that I may tell it.” On the petition the Emperor wrote, (Verse)

“Whosoever drinks, like the ruby, the blood of the liver and grows patient.
Becomes the ornament of the top of the crown of Fortune.
The kotwal must give him a pass to enter the camp.”

Text.–Ir. MS. 10b, MS. N. 31b and 32a.

Notes.–Mir Shihab-ud-din, surnamed Ghazi-ud-din Khan Firuz Jang, was the son of Abid Khan, Sadar of Aurangzib's reign, and the father of the 1st Nizam-ul-mulk (Mir Qamr-ud-din, Chin Qalich Khan, Asaf Jah). Shihabuddin came from his home in Samarqand to seek his fortune at the Court of Delhi in October, 1669. The incident of the present anecdote is also narrated in the Masir-i-Alamgiri, p. 185, Khafi Khan, ii. 267, and in his life in the Masir-ul-umara, ii. 832 et seq. It took place some time before Akbar's rebellion. Vilayet means any country across the N.W. frontier of India, especially Central Asia. Prince Akbar rebelled against his father in January, 1681. (Hist. of Aurangzib, iii. ch. 36.)