470 M. Hammer's Memoir on the Diplomatic Relations 



place between the years lO-tO (A.D. 1G39) and 1053 (A.D. 1643) ; in which 

 period tlie Wazlrship of Mustafa, tlie first Grand Wazir in the reign of Sul- 

 tan Ibrahim, occurred : for, in all probability, this special mission took place 

 at the same time with the return of Arslan Aga, the bearer of the official 

 letters ; and the presents sent to the holy shrines may have been intended 

 to make up for the want of royal presents to the Sultan, It is ten years 

 later that the return of Muhi-ud-din, the Turkish ambassador, with the 

 learned Saiyad Ahmed, took place ; of whose arrival at, stay, and departure 

 from, Constantinople, Naima gives the following curious account. 



" Arrival of an Indian Ambassador. 



" Muhi-ud-dIn had been formally sent with imperial letters to India; and 

 " returned to Constantinople from Shah Jehan, the Padshah of Hindustan, in 

 " company with the accomplished ambassador, Saiyad Hajl Ahmed, towards 

 " the end of the month Ilejeb. 



" On the 23d,* on which day the quarter's rejeh was paid to the troops, 

 " he delivered his letters and packets ; these contained three most precious 

 " presents, the value of which amounted to 300,000 piastres ; the first, a 

 " brilliant sirgiya, or ornament for the turban, the principal diamond of 

 " which was greater than that worn by his majesty : the second, a sword ; 

 " and the third, a dagger. This ambassador, being a learned man, the 

 " Wazir, tlie Mufti, the Kadiaskcrs, and other dignitaries of the Sublime 

 " Porte, gave him splendid entertainments, at which many learned men 

 " gifted witli the powers of speech, and able to carry on literary disputes 

 " and scientific discussions, assisted. 



" These entertainments were given in the palaces on the shores of the 

 " Bosphorus, that he might be shewn all the beauties of Constantinople. 

 " Indeed, there never were heard of distinctions and attentions more 

 " honourable, tlian those paid to this learned ambassador. After he had been 

 " treated in this manner, his credentials of return were written ; and, as 

 " presents to the Shah of Hindustan, he received an emerald-hilted dagger, 

 ' twenty-five maidens,! and a horse, the trappings of which were estimated 



• This date shews also the blunder before adverted to ; the 23d of Rejeb was not a Tuesday; 

 it was a Monday. 



f Abdipasha, the Nishanji, denies the twenty-five maidens ; in opposition to Haji Khalfa, who 

 relates the same fact in his " Fislika ; or, Historical Synopsis." 



