1845.] An account of the early Ghiljdees. 311 



river Tarnak, when a Fakeer, appearing to be from Hindustan, approach- 

 ed the party, and said, "What good girl among you will give me a kiss Y* 

 Some ran away, others hid their faces, and some abused him ; but Nazo, 

 throwing back her veil, and approaching, said, " Oh Fakeer, a kiss of my 

 face is at your service." 



The Fakeer, to the surprise of all, instead of availing himself of the offer, 

 stroked her head with a fatherly hand, and said, !? I have prayed to God 

 to give you three or four children ; one of whom shall be a king, (Hajee 

 Meer-khan, alias Meer Wais)." 



The father of Meer Wais (a Sodeen is the informant,) was in the em- 

 ploy of Malakhe, whose daughter Nazo falling in love with him, (true 

 daughter of Ghalzo'e,) an elopement to the Ataghar hills, occupied by 

 the Hotaks, was the result ; who, however, for fear of Malakhe's wrath, 

 refused them refuge; and they had to spend their honey-moon in the 

 desert hills, living principally on game. 



Getting tired of this, Nazo proposed to her husband that they should 

 go " Nanawat" (as supplicants) to her father, who was of a forgiving 

 disposition. 



Having no other resource this plan was adopted, and with success. 

 Malakhe received them kindly, as well as some Hotakees who accom- 

 panied them. When giving them leave, Malakhe asked his daughter what 

 she would have, a chadar or veil ; it being the Afghan custom that the 

 first time a daughter visits her father after her marriage, he gives her a 

 veil. She replied, " The Hotaks have no land (on the Tarnak river), 

 kindly give me a piece of land." 



Malakhe gave her a piece of land below the Tabaksar hill, opposite 

 to Kalat, watered by and dependent on the Ajurghak canal ; and to the 

 groom who led the horse she rode, he gave the land dependent on the 

 spring of the Jukhtaran hill close by. This Jillodar was a Kishyanee 

 by tribe. Others say, that Nazo got ten days and nights water right 

 on the canal, and her groom two. These shares are now (1841) 

 distinct. 



Malakhe was killed in battle at Darwazye, between Inzargai and 

 Surkh Sang, and was buried at Ab-i-Yazee. 



The father of Meer Wais is called by the Hotaks Shah Alam. The 

 Tokhees contradict them, and say they only were called Shah Alam- 

 khels after their progenitor married a Shah Alam Tokhee's daughter. 



2 x 



