318 Koyul Gardens of J^ahore. 



his wife to sit down. He promised to bring her the infant. 

 He arrived at the place. No sooner had his eyes reached the 

 child, than he was almost struck dead with horror. A black 

 snake (say our authors) was coiled around it, and Aiass be- 

 lieved he beheld him extending his fatal jaws to devour the 

 infant. The father rushed forward. The serpent, alarmed at 

 his vociferation, retired into the hollow tree. He took up his 

 daughter unhurt, and returned to the mother. He gave her 

 child into her arms ; and, as he was informing her of the won- 

 derful escape of the infant, some travellers appeared, and soon 

 relieved them of all their wants. They proceeded gradually, 

 and came to Lahore. 



" The Emperor Akbar, at the arrival of Chaja Aiass, kept 

 his court at Lahore. Asiph Khan, one of that monarch's prin- 

 cipal Omrahs, attended then the presence. He was a distant 

 relation of Aiass, and he received him with attention and 

 friendship. To employ him, he made him his own secretary. 

 Aiass soon recommended himself to Asiph in that station ; and, 

 by some accident, his diligence and ability attracted the notice 

 of the Emperor, who raised him to the command of 1,000 horse. 

 He became, in process of time. Master of the Household ; 

 and his genius being even greater than his good fortune, he 

 raised himself to the office and title of Aktimad-ul-Dowla, or 

 High Treasurer of the Empire. Thus he, who almost perished 

 through mere want in the desert, became, in the space of a few 

 years, the first subject in India. The daughter who had been 

 bom to Aiass in the desert, received, as she grew up at Lahore, 

 the name of Mher-ul-Nissa, or the Sun of Women. She had 

 some right to the appellation, for in beauty she exceeded all 

 the ladies of the East. In music, in dancing, in poetry, in 

 painting, she had no equal among her own sex ; her disposition 

 was volatile, her wit lively and satirical, her spirit lofty and un- 

 controlled; she was married first to Sheri Afghan*, whose 

 original name was Asta Jillo, and afterwards to Jehangeer. 



» He received this title from having fought with and conquered a tiger 

 ia siqgle combat. 



