FORT OF AGRA. 
143 
discernment; his inferiors respected, and his su- 
periors admired him, for his zeal and his discretion ; 
nor did the Raja think fit to reduce his salary 
honestly confessing that his services were even under- 
valued : and it was apparent that avarice formed no 
blemish in the man’s character, for daily when his 
money was disbursed from the treasury, without os- 
tentation, he devoted one half of it to the 2:0 ds and to 
the Brahmins, distributed one quarter to the poor, and 
the remainder he reserved for himself. In his duties he 
was never failing, in his good works he was constant. 
Day and night he continued at the palace gate, having 
his sword in his hand ; he was just to all men, but 
over-indulgent to none. Thus during many years 
he continued to serve the Raja. 
As the Rajhpoot was esteemed among all who knew 
him, so his son became even more greatly the object 
of affection and regard. Handsome of person, as he 
grew towards manhood he was equally remarkable for 
his amiable and elegant deportment ; and it was fully 
expected by all that the Raja would place him in 
some post of honor and confidence about his royal 
person, as soon as his education was complete. But 
about this time the following event took place. 
Upon the fourteenth day of the averted moon, the 
city of king Sadrak was visited with a fearful earth- 
quake ; and at midnight the raging winds shook the 
lofty towers of the castle, and the glancing lightnings 
sported from dome to minaret of the palace, while 
the massive walls trembled to the rolling thunder. 
