1869.] Badaoni and his Works. 125 



Whilst recovering from his wound, 'Abdul Qadir witnessed the 

 total conflagration, in 979, of the town of Badaon. 



Towards the end of 981, 'Abdul Qadir fell out with his old patron, 

 Husain Khan, in whose service he had been for nine years (II, 172). 

 He does not state the cause of- the disagreement ; but to judge from 

 his remarks, he felt himself wronged. Husain Khan in vain asked 

 Badaoni's mother to intercede for him : her son had made up his 

 mind to go to Court, and thus carry out the plan which he had made 

 before entering Husain Khan's service. 



'Abdul Qadir was introduced to Akbar by Jalalucldin Qi'irchi, a 

 commander of Five Hundred, and a personal friend of the emperor, and 

 by Hakim 'Ain ul niulk, one of the Court Doctors. " As in those days," 

 says Badaoni, "knowledge was a marketable commodity, my mere arrival 

 at Court procured me His Majesty's favorable notice. He made me 

 at once join a disputation which was going on among some learned 

 men ' that beat the drum of profundity, and in their pride, care for 

 no one.' His Majesty watched me closely. With the help of G-ocl, 

 my force of character, my subtle understanding, and youthful boldness, 

 gained the victory. The emperor praised me very much, and remarked 

 that I was the man for Haji Ibrahim of Sarhind. As His Majesty 

 wished to see the Haji defeated in argument, he appointed me as 

 opponent. The manner in which I acquitted myself, entirely satisfied 

 the emperor. But Shaikh 'Abdunnabi, the renowned gadr of the 

 realm, disliked me, as I had not consulted him before my presentation 

 at Court. But when, during the discussion, he saw me placed on the 

 opposite side, he did according to the proverb, ' He who has been 

 bitten by a serpent, will eat opium,' and gradually allowed his dislike 

 to change to friendliness." 



Immediately after 'Abdul Qadir's introduction at Court, Abulfazl 

 was presented to the emperor. 'Abdul Qadir hated and envied 

 Abulfazl from his first appearance at Court ; he must have known 

 him in the house of his father who was their teacher, and may have 

 looked upon him as a younger school comrade. The high opinion 

 which Akbar had formed of 'Abdul Qadir's learning and disputational 

 powers, was transferred to Abulfazl, who not only possessed 'Abdul 

 Qadir's learning, but the boldness of thought and breadth of opinion 

 which dazzled the Court, and excited the jealousy and envy of the 

 'TTiamas. 



