HYDRABAB AND BIDUR. 
183 
of destroying the temple of Mekka, Alla is described 
as having employed a flight of gigantic cranes to 
stone his army to death. When, therefore, the 
course of the devotions had been concluded, Hum- 
maione, conceiving that the Moolla had insolently 
selected this chapter with the design of charging him, 
by implication, with injustice and cruelty, directly 
gave orders that the unhappy man should be thrown 
at the feet of his infuriate elephants. Certain it is, 
that the executioners, being no respecters of persons, 
would promptly have carried the harsh mandate into 
effect, had it not been for the intercession of Mool- 
lana Mohummed, who, by bravely and generously 
casting himself between the despot’s wrath and the 
innocent offender, ultimately succeeded in convincing 
the emperor of the simple character and uninten- 
tional error of the poor Moolla. Having thus 
removed the cause of his resentment, he went still 
further, and read him a severe lecture upon the 
unpardonable injustice and iniquity of lightly or 
angrily passing judgment, even upon the most culpa- 
ble offenders ; and with so great effect did this honest 
man urge his censure, his arguments, and advice, 
that the repentant monarch is represented as having 
passed the whole of the subsequent night in the most 
poignant regret and mortification of spirit.” No one 
surely will consider that the bold and conscientious 
Moollana Mohummed had too much honour paid to 
his memory, at a time when the fame of a skilful 
