58 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL, 
and also in working some admirable pieces of tapestry 
and embroidery, in painting silks with exquisite deli- 
cacy, and in many other equally lady-like and profit- 
able accomplishments. The fruits of her labour and 
ingenuity were sold by her slaves among the more 
opulent ladies, in the squares of the royal seraglio, 
and in the harems of the nobles ; and being elegant 
beyond anything of the kind which had been before 
seen, and possessing additional interest from the 
history of the fair artist who wrought them, were 
bought with the greatest avidity, and at the most 
extravagant prices. Nothing was fashionable among 
the great ladies of Delhi and Agra but the work of 
her hands ; and by the traffic of her pretty wares she 
soon accumulated so large a sum of money, that 
she was enabled to repair and beautify her apart- 
ment, and to clothe her slaves in the richest 
tissues and brocades; while she herself affected a 
very plain and simple dress, without any sort of 
ornament. 
In this situation the beautiful widow of Shere 
Afghan continued during four years, without having 
once seen the emperor. Her fame reached his ears 
from all quarters, and he at length found his reso- 
lution giving way to curiosity. He resolved upon 
surprising her, and therefore, communicating his 
design to no one, he suddenly entered her apartments. 
He found everything so elegant and costly w'here he 
had expected to behold the miserable and poverty- 
