142 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
deserts proves thee a fool. Dewan,” added King 
Sadrak, “let this stranger depart as he came!” 
But here the chief vizier ventured to interpose. 
“ Oh Prince,” said he apart, “ let not this traveller 
be thus repulsed, I cannot but think that there is 
excellence in him. May your highness be pleased to 
grant him his exorbitant claim but for a few days, and 
when he is proved, it will be in your power to dis- 
charge him, or to retain him upon such stipend as 
may be proportionate to his merits. Let it please 
your majesty to place him as dewan within the gate, 
and let a continual watch he placed upon his ac- 
tions! 1 ’ This speech pleased the Raja greatly, and 
having bestowed some mark of favour upon the 
stranger, he admitted him to his service with the 
salary of four hundred pieces of gold daily. 
Having received his commission, the traveller 
brought his wife and child to the gate of the palace, 
hut it was remarked that he would not suffer them 
to dwell in the gate, nor to sport in the shadow of it ; 
neither would he render any explanation of this 
fanciful proceeding ; but with his own hands he built 
them a small hut, without the gate, at the foot of a 
large tomb. No sooner had this Rajhpoot become 
established in his office than the former dewan was 
carried to the water and expired ; but while all the 
household mourned his loss they could not but be 
sensible that his place was excellently well filled. 
In a very few days it became evident, that the 
Rajhpoot was a man of no common ability and 
