168 W. Irvine-— Later Mughals (1707-1803). [No. 2, 
worked his hardest and in a week sent as many as two hundred guitars 
to Zi-l-fiqar Khan. The wazir insisted upon delivery of the full num- 
ber. Ni‘mat Khan complained to his Majesty of the excessive bribe 
demanded from him. Jahandar Shah, when next he saw the wazir, 
asked him the reason of collecting so many guitars. The answer was 
that when musicians were sent to govern provinces, nobles must dis- 
card their weapons and learn to play on the guitar. This remonstrance 
induced Jahandar Shah to cancel the appointment. ! 
Among other wild freaks, an order was given to cut downall the 
lofty trees from the palace to the hunting preserve called Jahan-numa. 
Khushhal Cand, a rare instance of an Indian taking notice of the beauty 
of natural objects, laments over the wanton destruction of the ‘ spreading 
trees, with heads reaching the sky, the refuge and solace of the weary, 
foot-sore, traveller, the abode of far-flying and sweet-singing birds. 
Throughout Dihli and its environs it was for the trees like* the coming 
of Judgment Day; and the trees on the two banks of the Faiz canal, 
planted by Emperors of high emprize, ceasing to raise their heads to 
Heaven, received wounds in the garment of their existence, and fell into 
the dust of degradation and disgrace.’ # 
Gifts were showered upon Lal Kunwar and her friends. It is said 
that an annual allowance of two krors of rupees (about £ 2,000,000 
sterling) was made for her household expenses, exclusive of clothes and 
jewels. She was allowed to display the imperial umbrella and to march, 
with drums beating, asif she had been the emperor in person, One 
writer says the days of Nur Jahan Begam were revived for her; that 
coins were issued in her name as they had been in that of Jahangir’s 
favourite wife. Such coins of Lal Kunwar, if ever issued, have not 
come down tous. Low persons, such as Zuharah, a woman who kept a’ 
vegetable stall, were promoted to high rank and received valuable jagirs. 
There are many stories of the insolent conduct of these low-born favour- 
ites. One day Cin Qilic Khan (afterwards Nizamu-l-Mulk), then living 
at Dihli without employment, was passing in his palki through a 
narrow street, when he was met by Zuharah on an elephant, followed by 
along train of servants. The Khan’s small retinue was hustled out of 
the way by the woman's followers, and as she passed she cried out, ‘Is 
that the blind man’s son ?’® By the Khan’s orders his men pulled her 
rudely from her elephant. Complaint was made to the emperor through 
Lal Kunwar, and Zi-1l-fiqar Khan received orders to punish the Nawab. 
1 Warid, 80; Khushhal Cand, 389 6. Valentyn, 299, places the event on the 25th 
July (=19th Jamadi II) and his details differ slightly. 
2 Khushhal Cand, 389 b. 
3 His father, Ghaziu-d-din Khan, Firaz Jang, although in active military employ 
was blind during the last twenty-three years of his life (Ma’dsiru-l-wmaré IT, 875). 
