EXTRACTS.

[The exaltation of the Saiyids ('Abdu-llah and Husain 'Alí Khán) exceeded all conception, and passed the bounds of de­scription. They became envied by many of the nobles, and their names were upon every tongue. Mír Jumla on his part never lost an opportunity of making malicious insinuations and charges against Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and he especially complained that the Saiyid, in pursuit of his own pleasure, had left all the control of business in the hands of Ratan Chand, who had a maw as insatiable as the nethermost hell for swallowing gold and silver. Against the younger brother Amíru-l umará Saiyid 'Alí Khán, it was alleged that his bearing was proud and haughty, unbecoming in a subject. By such insinuations the mind of the Emperor was poisoned. Khán-daurán was ostensibly intimate and friendly with the two brothers, but he considered himself one of the most trusted counsellors of the Emperor. He was never absent from Court night or day, and whatever entered his mind, whether exalted or low, pleasant or unpleasant, he imparted to the Emperor. * * It was often proposed that the two brothers should be seized in the Emperor's private council chamber, and committed to close confiement.]

Murder of Husain 'Alí Khán.

[The chief nobles having, according to practice, attended the Emperor to his tents, were returning to their own quarters. Amíru-l umará Husain 'Alí, unmindful of the designs of his enemies, proceeded to his tents in a pálkí, escorted by seven or eight of his attendants. Muhammad Amín Khán, Sa'ádat Khán, and some other of the conspirators, were with him. Mu­hammad Amín resorted to artifice, and pretending to be faint, he wished to lie down on the ground. He was brought round by means of rose-water and musk. Thereupon he directed that they should bring to him Haidar Kulí Khán, the commander of the artillery. They ran to fetch that crafty partner in the conspiracy. At this time there were only two or three of the attendants and valiant brothers of the Saiyid near his pálkí. A man named Haidar Beg, from the station of Muhammad Amín, accompanied by several Mughals, came for­ward complaining of Muhammad Amín, and desiring to present a petition. * * The attendants wanted to take the petition from his hands, but he would not allow them. The Amíru-l umará kindly told them to let the man approach. Haidar Beg advanced to present the petition, and as the Amír took it, the assassin drew a dagger from his waist, and stuck the Amír in the side, so that he rolled out of the pálkí, and his blood spurted over the by­standers. He called out, “Will no one come to my aid?” and as he lay with his bowels protruding, he cried, “Bring me a horse, I will ride.” A youth of fourteen years of age, named Saiyid Mír Khán, son of the Amír's elder brother Asadu-llah Khán Bahádur, was walking near the pálkí, and as soon as he saw what was passing, he cried out, “Some rascals are killing the Nawáb!” Then he attacked Haidar Beg fiercely with his short sword, and wounded him in two or three places, stretching him dead upon the ground beside his victim. The other Mughals attacked the youth, and slew him with many wounds. The murdered Nawáb's head was then cut off, and carried to Mu­hammad Amín Khán, and those who bore it expected great rewards in fulfilment of the promises made to them.]

Death of Kutbu-l Mulk Saiyid 'Abdu-llah.

[The Mughals at length so worked upon the Emperor by their importunities and artifices, that he consented to the poisoning of the Saiyid.]