1869.] Translations from the Tdrilch i Firuz Shdhi. 203 



demented from the possession of vast wealth, elephants, horses, fol- 

 lowers and dependents, as well as from his innate folly, and that he 

 only discussed both these projects out of arrogance, incapacity, and 

 stupidity ; yet they were obliged to have a regard for his hasty tem- 

 per and evil disposition. Through fear of his irascibility therefore, 

 they commended his sentiments, and bringing forward false dogmas 

 and similes as true, they made the application of them conformable to 

 his vile disposition ; so that he fell into the idea at last that these 

 impossible propositions that had issued from his senseless heart and 

 tongue, might perhaps be accomplished. The above absurdities, that 

 escaped from his lips at convivial assemblies, were gradually dissemin- 

 ated throughout the city ; and while some respectable men laughed, 

 and attributed them to his folly and ignorance, other intelligent per- 

 sons were sore afraid and said among themselves, " This fellow has 

 " the very pride of Pharaoh without possessing a particle of sense ; 

 11 and such immense treasures, as would blind the eye of the wise 

 " even, not to mention the foolish and unwary, having fallen into 

 " the hands of this idiot, if Satan instil into his mind a mode of faith 

 " opposed to true religion, and he, in enforcing its false doctrines, should 

 " slay sixty or seventy thousand individuals, what would become of 

 "us Musalmans and our religion." 



The author's uncle, 'Alaulmulk, the Kotwal of Dihli, on account 

 of his extreme obesity used to go and pay his respects to the Sultan 

 'Alauddin on the first day of every month only. On the first of 

 one month, when he had come according to his usual custom, and had 

 joined the Sultan's wine-party, the latter asked his advice regarding 

 his two insane projects. 'Alaulmulk had heard from others that the 

 Sultan was in the habit of expressing these sentiments in public, and 

 that the bystanders always corroborated his. opinions, and were unable 

 to speak the real truth for fear of his violent and hasty temper. On 

 this occasion however, when 'Alaulmulk heard the Sultan express 

 these sentiments, and demand his advice on the matter, he replied : 

 " If your Majesty will order the wine to be removed from this assem- 

 bly, and will permit no one to stay with him, but four Maliks, I will 

 lay clearly and explicitly before the throne my views and the conclu- 

 sion that I have arrived at with respect to these two schemes of your 

 Majesty." 



