32 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
deliverer than he descended from his throne, and 
causing the Bihisti to supply his place, he formally 
delegated to him authority to exercise all the various 
functions of the sovereign supreme, himself being the 
first to perform homage. The Bihisti was in no 
sort abashed by the novelty of his position, or con- 
fused by the adulation and officious servility of his 
courtiers ; but, restoring order to the court, he em- 
ployed his ephemeral authority in framing certain 
decrees and ordinances in favour of all classes of 
Bihistis , which remain on record (and in force within 
the palace walls) to this day. The privileges which 
he thus bestowed on himself and his fellow Bihistis , 
were of the most reasonable and modest kind ; and 
so much was Hummaione pleased with his preserver s 
conduct, that, on the termination of his short reign, 
and on the moment of his own re-accession, he 
elevated the Bihisti to permanent rank and distinc- 
tion as a noble of the realm, and bestowed the solid 
advantages of comparative wealth and independence 
upon all the members of his family. 
Akbur Shah the Second, died in October, 1837, 
when nearly eighty-two years of age ; he was suc- 
ceeded by Prince Mirza Mohummed Aboo Zaffir, 
under the titles of Abool Mozaffir Suruj-ud-Deen 
Mohummed Bahadoor Sani Shah. In honour of the 
