BABEB. 
231 
and Khali Khan. It is explained, however, by a 
well-informed historian, who relates the anecdote on 
the authority of his father. f It so happened/ says 
he, f that Mir Khalifeh had gone to see Mehdi 
Khwajeh, whom he had found in his tent. No- 
body was present but Khalifeh, Mehdi Khwajeh, and 
my father Mohammed Mokim. Khalifeh had scarcely 
sat down an instant, when Baber, who was at the 
last extremity, suddenly sent for him. When he left 
the tent, Mehdi Khwajeh accompanied him to the 
door, to do him honour and to take leave of him, and 
stood in the middle of it, so that my father, who fol- 
lowed but out of respect did not push by him, was 
immediately behind. The young man, who was 
rather flighty, forgetting that my father was present, 
so soon as Khalifeh was fairly gone, muttered to him- 
self, f God willing, I will soon strip off your hide, old 
boy V and, turning round at the same instant, per- 
ceived my father. He was quite confounded, but 
immediately seizing my father s ear, twisted it, and 
said hurriedly, f The red tongue often gives the green 
.head to the winds V My father, having quitted the 
tent, sought out Khalifeh, and remonstrated with 
him, telling him that, in violation of his allegiance, 
he was taking away the sovereignty from Moham- 
med Humaioon, and his brothers, who were accom- 
plished princes, to bestow it on the son of a stranger ; 
and yet, how did this favoured man behave? He 
then repeated what had passed just as it happened. 
Khalifeh on the spot sent off an express for Hu- 
maioon, and despatched a body of special messengers 
to Mehdi Khwajeh, to inform him the king’s orders 
