326 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. (September, 1912. 
term applied to royal mandates. According to Gladwin (Ayeen 
Akbery), it denotes a ‘ command of the emperor,’ a royal com- 
mission. In Bengal the term was used for a patent to trade 
duty free. By way of eminence it means the charter which the 
East India Company obtained from Emperor Farrukh Siyar, 
granting them the liberty of trading, and other privileges. (Cf. 
H. Beveridge, Comprehensive History of India, Tom. I, p. 388). 
The expression farman-i Shaht, meaning the ‘ royal mandate,’ is 
commonly used in the Persian and Urdi languages, the Arabic 
equivalent being Manshir. 
The farman usually takes the following form, as may be 
seen on the mandates: ~ 
Akbar are ambiguous: they may mean ‘ God 
Badauni, p. 210). 
_2. Then, according to Abul Fazl, the Muhr or seal of his 
Majesty is put. The imperial seals of Akbar and Shah ’Alam, 
as may be inferred from the farmans, have a turni p shape with 
predecessors up to Timir. His Majesty’s own name is t 
found in the centre and is encircled by the names of his fore- 
fathers. 
_ 3. Under this seal comes the tughra,' or imperial signature, 
which contains the full name and titles of the king, written in 
a fine ornamental hand in the Naskh character. 
tly 
os 
os 
m 
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ct 
fas) 
4 
et 
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5 
=> 
: 
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' Tughra is the imperial signature. The royal titles prefixed to 
letters, diplomas or other public deeds are generaliy written in 
ornamental hand. 

© of the age; amongst 
the most remarkable was the celebrated Husain or «4bi- Viel (Vizir to 
u ed Tograi. on account of his excel- 
by his 
a battle, wherein his sovereign was defe 
was put to death (a.p. 1120) by that prince’s Vizir, who hated hi 
his great abilities, but particularly, it is said, for his uncommon superi- 
ority in writing the Tughra character. Ch. Wilkins’ Persian, Arabic and 
English Dictionary. 
