30 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
its concomitant powers and privileges, for the space 
of six hours, by one of lower degree than this eccen- 
tric manufacturer of bulls’-eyes and sugar-stick, to 
wit, by a common water-carrier. 
THE STORY OF KING HUMMAIONE AND THE 
B1HISTI, 
would form the basis of a romance worthy of the 
Arabian Nights ; but being a veritable passage in the 
history of the Delhi emperors, I will relate it accord- 
ing to the best version, and without embellishment. 
In a. d. 1539, the emperor Hummaione, being in 
personal command of his forces, gave battle to the 
redoubtable invader Shere Kahn and his Afghan 
army, upon the banks of the Karamnassur. Hum- 
maione was victorious in the field; but the crafty 
Afghan succeeded in regaining all the honours and 
advantages of conquest, and an ample revenge, by a 
bold stratagem which he carried into effect that same 
night. While the troops of the emperor were wrapt 
in sound sleep, and in the fatal security of their 
previous success, Shere Kahn, with the survivors of 
his hardy followers, surprised the camp, and mas- 
sacred thousands of the Moguls. Those who perished 
not by the sword fled, unarmed, in the confusion of 
the panic ; and the emperor himself would have 
fallen into the hands of the pursuers, had it not been 
for the devoted gallantry of three of his chief omras, 
who nobly sacrificed their lives for his sake, and 
