Shimshir-qhan and Serder-qhan, one day before the intended one, came with their people and paid their obeysance to the Governor by whom they were dismissed, each with a Biry of Paan* according to custom. The second day, which was the day appointed, the Governor, early in the morning, went and seated himself in the Chehel-s8t8n,* a building for which he had a predilection, it being founded and built by himself. He had with him Mahmed-asker-qhan, one of his favourites, who had been so useful in the negotiation with the Afghans; he had also, Mir-morteza; and Mir-beder-el-dehy, together with M8rlydur the head-spy, and Ramzani, the keeper of his arm-office, a man who had been originally a butcher. There was also one Sytaram, Comptroller of the light train of artillery, and agent to Qhadum-hassen-qhan. All these were seated; and numbers of mace-bearers and menial servants and footmen, were standing, with the Gov­ernor’s slave-boys. All these stood facing their master, as usual, and were there only likewise to augment the pomp of the solemnity. There were some others; and such were Mir-abdollah of the Royal race of the Seffies, who was one of the principal per­sons of Azim-abad, and enjoyed a small portion of land heredi­tary in his family by way of Altumgha; and Shah-Bendeghy, one of the principal Religious of the city, who resided in Djaafer-qhan’s garden, and had in his dwelling an impression of the holy foot*. There were two or three persons more of that dis­tinction, and two or three more that had come to pay their respects; for instance Mahtab-ráy, a Cahtry’s* son, who had been bred by Mahmed-asker-qhan, and was now attending his benefactor. He was sitting behind the Governor, and close to him, but unarmed like all the others; nor had any one of them a sabre in his hand, although it is so customary; and some had not even a poniard, although it is always worn as a part of a full dress; and this was the case with Mahmed-asker-qhan, Mir-m8rteza, Mir-beder-el-dehy; and M8rlydur; nor had one of them even a cattary in their girdles.* Only Ramzani held in its scab­bard according to custom, his master’s long sword;* and he was standing behind him. Radja Ram-naráin with some M8tusud­dies or Penmen, belonging to the Accomptant-office, was in a room apart, about the Moonshy-qhana or Secretary’s office. At forty or fifty yards from the Chehel-s8t8n, towards the east, in face of the Governor’s, but at a distance from him, stood Ynàiet-bhày-djan, who had been in times of yore steward to my father of glorious memory, and held actually the like office in the Governor’s household. And now the Afghans drawing near, Backshy-bö8liah came in first, with about a thousand men, who had their muskets loaded and primed, and their matches lighted. He with his people made a profound bow from a great distance, according to custom, and then bidding them range themselves on one side close to the wall, he with a few men of note in his corps, advanced nearer, but still at a distance, and made his second bow; after which he approached in a respectful manner, and pre­sented his Nuzur and theirs. After him came that wretched M8rad-shir-qhan with five hundred Afghans armed and accoutred at all points, as well as covered with thick quilted coats. They all bowed from afar, and ranged themselves on the other side of the yard, fronting the former troops; whilst M8rad-shir-qhan moving forwards with a few of the most distinguished men of his corps, made his bow, and presented his Nuzur and theirs in the most respectful manner; after which he stood over against the Governor, and mentioned the names of those whose Nuzurs had been just received. Whilst he was speaking, the Governor-General asked where was Shimshir-qhan; and he was answered both by the speaker, and by some harcarrahs and messengers, that he was coming, as they had seen him mounted; and that he would be here in a little while. At this moment Shimshir-qhan himself was arrived at the C8tval’s Chab8trah or tribunal, where getting into his Paleky, he was surrounded by his Afghans, who could not be less than three or four thousand men, and had all dismounted, marching on foot with a slow, composed pace, but all armed and ready at all points. Their numbers were such, that the main street, as far as the castle gate, and eastern city gate, was filled with these miscreants. Shimshir-qhan’s arrival being announced, M8rad-shir-qhan dismissed this people out of the Chehel-s8t8n, to make room for others. On hearing these words they approached the Governor in crowds, and were receiving each their Biry of dismission,* until it came to be one Abdol-reshid-qhan’s turn to receive it. As it had been agreed amongst them, that this man should give the first blow, his hand happened to tremble, and his Biry of Paan fell to the ground. The Governor smiled at the accident, and mildly said, I suppose this Paan was not in your destiny; but here is another. Upon which he stopped to The Governor of Azim-abad murdered by the Afghans. look at the Paan-dan, or plate containing the Biries of Pann; and whilst he was taking another, that wretched drawing his cattary, made at the unfortunate man’s side; but as his hand was shaking, the blow had no effect. At sight of this, Mahmed-asker-qhan, who sat close to the Governor, screamed out: Traitor! What treason is this? And meanwhile the Governor raising his head to see what was the matter, and putting his hand to a sabre that was before him, as is customary, the wretched had time to draw his own sabre, and to give him such a violent blow, as cleft him from the shoulder down to the stomach, cutting down as far as the navel. Instantly the Prince fell dead on the pillow at his back. After this, the wretched or some one like himself, cut the Prince’s head as well as his right foot, and lodged them in his cleft stomach; doubtless thinking he was doing some fine action, or more probably, he was persuaded that this would operate like a charm upon his uncle and relations, and prevent their ever taking their revenge on him. Mir-m8rteza hearing the tumult, and thinking the Prince only wounded, ran to him and covered him with his body; but he was hacked to pieces in an instant. Mahmed-asker-qhan laid hold of the Prince’s sabre,* and after having defended himself sometime, was cut down. Mahtab-ráy having received a wound that left his side quite open, seated himself down, and taking the head of his murdered patron on his lap, he expired in that posture. Padeshah-nevaz-qhan, a Mansubdar, and a nobleman of great rank, who had been a man of great consequence and power in Fahqr-eddöulah’s Govern­ment, and was now commencing an acquaintance with the Gov­ernor, having just got up in this tumult, was immediately dis­patched by those ruffians. Ramzany, the Daroga or Superinten­dent, who with the long sword of his master’s in his hand stood over against him, unsheathed it instantly; and being joined by Sitaram, the clerk, who took up another sword, they both rushed amongst thousands of Afghans, and after having fought with a strength and fidelity that did them honour, they both fell together, and together departed for the other world, where they arrived with a rosy face, and a glorious countenance. M8rlidur, and Mir-beder-el-dehy, with both their hands wounded, found means to escape from that scene of slaughter and confusion. Ram-naráin, and some other penmen, after having been stripped to the skin, were suffered to depart, some wounded, some not. Mir-abdollah himself could not escape the hands of those murder­ers, but after having parted with his Cattary, his Camur-bund or girdle, and his Shawl, which he threw amongst them. Shah-bendeghy was killed on the spot; the rest fled, every one as his mind could prompt him. The doorkeepers of the Seraglio see­ing how matters went, quitted their stations, and fled every one to their own homes. Séyd-aaly-qhan, my youngest brother, who was then in the library, and getting ready with his masters and teachers to wait on the Governor who had sent for him, hearing the tumult and screams, was at a loss what to do with himself. His masters threw him into the women’s apartment, and dispersed immediately. In such a scene of confusion and dismay, Amina-begum, daughter of Aaly-verdy-qhan, and consort to the murdered Prince, had the presence of mind to order the gates of the Zenana or women’s apartment to be shut up; and getting Séyd-aaly-qhan upon the terrace of the building, which was contiguous to Shahamet-djung’s house, she bade him provide for himself just as he could, but by all means to find his way to the house of his uncle, Abdol-aaly-qhan; and unfortunately it happened that Abdol-aaly-qhan himself was gone on a visit to Sheh-abdol-res­s8l-belgrami, an ancient Commander of character, who had served with honour under Ser-b8lend-qhan, and who having taken his leave from Aaly-verdy-qhan, was now returning to his own coun­try. By a particular providence this gallant man, on passing by, spied a boy with a turbant of cloth of gold upon his head, who was staring in the street, and seemed much at a loss what to do with himself. He stopped short, and having recollected who he was, he was moved with pity, and throwing away the boy’s showy turbant, he put upon him some old clothes, with an old dirty blanket, and in that condition he took him along the water-side and carried him to Abdol-aaly-qhan’s house: an action by which he rendered an important service to the boy’s father and mother, as well as to all his relations.