118 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
expected on the following morning. Accordingly, 
ere the sun had risen next day, news was brought 
that four hundred palanquins belonging to the prince 
were approaching, and immediately Asa Aheer 
ordered the gates of his fort to he thrown open, 
while he and his family went into the bazaar to 
meet their illustrious visitors. Scarcely had the 
last palanquin been admitted within the gates, when, 
at a signal from the captain who commanded the 
body-guard, every palanquin was thrown open ; and 
each was found to contain two armed soldiers, who 
forthwith leaped out, and commenced an indiscrimi- 
nate slaughter of all the inhabitants — indiscriminate, 
except inasmuch as the venerable Asa Aheer and every 
member of his family were marked for immediate 
destruction, — men, women, and children, even to the 
youngest babe, so that not one of the race remained. 
Those of the inhabitants who were spared fled with 
terror from their homes, and left the hill entirely in 
the occupation of their enemies. 
Nazur Kahn, who during the massacre had re- 
mained in the fort of Lulling, no sooner heard of the 
success of his diabolical treachery, than he repaired 
to Aseer ; and having peopled it with his own crea- 
tures, he greatly extended and improved the town 
and fortifications, having determined to make it his 
own abode and the capital of his kingdom. 
At this time, the chief priests and guardians of 
Nazur Kahn were Sheik Zein-ud-Deen and Sheik 
