40 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
He gave it into her arms, and while he was yet 
relating its miraculous escape, behold, a party of 
travellers appeared advancing towards them. These 
proved themselves to he humane persons ; for they not 
only relieved the existing necessities of the sufferers, 
hut furnished them with the means of proceeding 
comfortably upon their journey. This they did by 
easy stages, and at length arrived at Lahore, then the 
capital of the Emperor Akbur. 
Here Khaja Aias had the good fortune to meet 
with a distant relation, by name Asupli, with whom 
he had formerly been on terms of sworn friendship ; 
and who, being now in high favour with the em- 
peror, hoped to be able to give his newly arrived 
kinsman some substantial proof of his sincere affec- 
tion. He first appointed him his own private secre- 
tary ; and having discovered his great abilities, he 
himself introduced him at court, where his noble 
appearance and graceful bearing soon attracted the 
favourable notice of Akbur. The monarch made 
immediate inquiries of Asuph concerning him ; and 
having heard his history, and being satisfied of his 
great abilities and intrepidity, as well as of his firm 
integrity, he at once raised him to the command of a 
thousand horse. After a short period of subordi- 
nate service, by diligence, rectitude, and temperance, 
Khaja Aias was raised to the distinguished appoint- 
ment of steward of the royal household ; and again, 
in process of time, his genius being superior even to 
