BOORHANPOOR. 
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yet he continued to keep his troops in arrears, and upon 
the most niggardly supplies of food. They, therefore, 
seeing no chance of redress, and at length worn out 
with calamity and terror, resolved to seize upon 
their prince, and hand him over to the enemy. Before 
their scheme could be effected, however, it reached 
the ears of one of Bahadoor Kahn s ladies, who 
immediately apprised her lord of his danger ; and he, 
having summoned his ministers to a special council, 
sought their advice as to how he should best avert 
the threatening danger. The nobles, weakened by 
long indulgence and debauchery, and dismayed by 
the melancholy aspect of affairs, felt no disposition 
to cope with the gathering difficulties ; and advised 
their sovereign that it was then too late to seek a re- 
medy, and that his only safety would be found in sub- 
mission to the enemy. Bahadoor Kahn immediately 
opened negotiations for the surrender of the fortress, 
proudly alleging that the pestilence alone, and not 
the arms of his enemies, had reduced him to such a 
necessity. He demanded, in his conditions, that the 
lives of all his garrison should be spared, and that all 
personal property should be secured to the owners. 
Akbur returned for answer, that, as for the lives and 
property of his followers, if there were any left, they 
should be held sacred ; that the life of Bahadoor 
Kahn should be given him for repentance ; but that, 
since he was unacquainted with the proper use and 
value of money, the emperor Akbur would conde- 
m 2 
