CHAPTER XVIII.

An account of the return of the Illustrious Embassadors (the Sultán’s sons) in the year 1208, Hijri, and the naming of the Kutcheries, or Brigades of Infantry, after the great and glorious names;*— also, the distinction and honours conferred on the Sultán’s Amírs, by the title of Mír Mírán. The preparation or formation of the throne of the kingdom, and the arrival of one of the Princes of Eeraun, or Persia, the cause of his coming being the enmity of the Amírs and Chief personages at his (Father’s) court.— An account also, of the marriage of the Sultán, and a detail of the events or occurrences in the kingdom, from the beginning of 1208, to the year 1212, Hijri.— A. D. 1793-1797.

AFTER the embassador princes had remained at Cheenaputtun or Madras a year and some months, and on both sides, that is, both on the part of the Sultán and British Government, the conditions of peace and friendship had been fully established and the amount agreed on, paid, they returned, and the Sultán then made a hunting and pleasure excursion to the environs of Dewun Hully, and there on an extensive plain he received the embassadors, his sons, and their enlightened tutors or guardians, and now entertained hopes of victory and success. Gholám Alí Khán and Alí Ruza Khutíb, however, from suspicion of disaffection, were placed in arrest, and the escort of the princes was dismissed with honours and royal presents.

A banquet was also given by the Sultán, at which every thing which could promote festivity and joy was provided, and every one of the Sultán’s Amírs, and his brave officers received his favours with increase of rank and pay.— Verses,— “He increased their rank and dignity.”— “His soldiers were delighted with his liberality.”— “They were all well pleased and satisfied:”— “and from the weight of his favours and benefits they were all bent down to the earth.” It was also in this expedition that the most distinguished of his officers were honoured with the title of Mír Mírán, and the Kutcheries* (brigades, or divisions) were named or numbered after the Ismá il Hussena, the names of the most high, which are ninety-nine in number; as, for instance, the Iláhi Kutcheri was named the Reh­man Kutcheri; the Ghuffar Kutcheri, the Ghuf­foor, and so on, and the Sultán having made this new regulation, returned to his capital and appointed three or four thousand Sipahees to each Kutcheri, and abolished the name of Jysh,* calling them all Uskur.* It is not to be omitted here, that Syud Ghuffar, the faithful servant of the Sul­tán, was the first person distinguished by the title of Mír Mírán, and Muhammad Ruza, the son of Ibrahim Sáhib, the maternal uncle of the deceased Nawáb and the grandfather of Tipú Sultán,* also, raised the standard of Mír Mírán, and was also styled the Binky Nawáb. The cause of his being so named, was this;— on some former occasion, the Sultán had deputed him with a body of troops to quell disturbances raised by certain rebel Naímars, and by his bravery and good conduct, he having brought the signs of the last day on these mis­guided people, and having taken many of them prisoners, he shut them with their wives and chil­dren up in a house, and burned them alive (with the fire of example, or as a warning to others). He was, therefore, called by this name.* Khán Jehán Khán, and Poornia, the Brahmun, and some other persons of the Nayut tribe, and some the sons of religious men, who neither possessed courage nor a knowledge of the military art, but who were acceptable to the Sultán; the patron of all Mus­sulmans, were raised to the rank of Mír Mírán, and dignified by being allowed the use of kettle drums, &c.

To the whole of the Mír Míráns were also pre­sented dresses of gold embroidery, and tassels, with jewels arranged in a certain order, and jewelled gorgets. About this time the Sultán changed the names of the different arms (fire arms), as for instance, a bundook, or matchlock, was called Tofung; a tope, or cannon, Duruksh;* and a ban, or rocket, Shuhab, &c.* The throne of the king­dom was also at a fortunate period finished as was desired, but as according to the customs of the kings of Delhi, first introduced by Sultán Julal uddín Muhammad Akbur; for they previously demanded the daughters of the family of Juswunt,* (that is, I conclude, the daughters of the Rajpoot Princes of Hindostan), previous to the Sultán’s ascension, a certain ceremony remained unperformed, the Sultán having despatched hundreds of thou­sands of pounds to the Raja of Kutch; by his presents and favours made him obedient and willing to send his daughter to him in marriage. At that period, however, fortune being employed in endeavours to ruin those professing the true religion, and the defender of God’s people; this happy result was not attained. About this time the Prince of Eeraun, on account of the opposition and enmity of Aka Baba, an eunuch (of his father’s court), was obliged to quit his own country, and after suffering many hardships, arrived at Seringaputtun.