1879.1 or a History of Hamir, prince of Bantliambor. 195 



besieged eighty-four forts and captured them. In the course of taking 

 a certain fort, a devil was made a captive by four warriors, and a bastion 

 was, by the command of the emperor, raised over his head. In the dead 

 of the night, while all was still, a sound came : " Ala-uddin, Ala-uddin, 

 mighty monarch, dost thou presume to keep me buried for ever under these 

 walls ? huge pillars are but as hairs on my head. Release me, or this very 

 moment I am free and thy bastion broken.' 



Ala-uddin. — " Rest, unquiet spirit, I give thee the entire right over 

 the throne of Suleman." 



Chapter III. 



Once the emperor Ala-uddin intended to go out for a hunt. Saudds 

 were mounted upon elephants, and many noble steeds saddled. All the 

 vassals, then present in the imperial court, with all their retainers and 

 acquaintances, marched, each wearing his hunting dress. Numerous heroes 

 strutted along with an important air, some restless in pride, others advanc- 

 ing in solemn gait. Trumpets, drums and other musical instruments 

 were sounded. Ala-uddin took with him a queen, who in beauty and fascina- 

 tion could well be compared with the fairy Urvasi of heaven. She charm- 

 ed him, as the white moon-beams charm the eager cJiakor, and the pretty 

 lotus binds the bee in love. Packs of dogs, leopards, hawks and other 

 beasts and birds of prey followed the hunters. Thick columns of dust rose 

 high iip in the air and hid the sun. The loud sound of the drums seemed, 

 as if peals of thunder were heard from the dark clouds of the rainy season. 

 Numbers of horses ran briskly and passed off like meteors. The imperial 

 veterans clad in mail, began to play at arms, wrestle, bend their bows, adjust 

 arrows and display their skill in various kinds of heroic feats. 



At last the hunters entered a forest. They saw that it was very deep, 

 and that profound darkness reigned over it, and heard the murmuring of 

 rivulets and the rushing of springs. 



[Here follows a description of an intrigue between Chimna, Begam 

 and one Muhammad Shah, which we omit.] 



The queen confessed her guilt, but the emperor doted upon her and, 

 fearing lest the execution of the Sheik should be followed by suicide on 

 her part, exiled him, saying, "Be gone, Sheik, be gone for ever from the 

 confines of my dominions. I will kill the man who may chance to give 

 thee refuge. Thou art deserving of the gallows. Muhammad Shah, there 

 is no one on earth who is so bold as to shelter thee from my anger, thee 

 who bast wronged me. I will circulate what thou hast done to the four 



