56 
W. Irvine —The Later Mu gh als. [No. 1, 
flatterers continued to attend their audiences. But soon it became 
known that tbe Emperor had made up his mind to destroy them, and 
bad transferred the office of wazh* to another. By slow degrees the 
daily crowd of suppliants grew less and less. Nay, some of the very 
Barhah Sayyads absented themselves, and the two brothers and their 
adherents fell into great perplexity. If things had gone on like this 
for three or four days longer, they would have been much reduced in 
strength : in another week or ten days, the Emperor’s end would have 
been gained. But it was not long before the truth leaked out, as to 
the differences among his advisers, the want of heart in his troops, and 
the state of alarm into which he had himself fallen. Once more the 
Sayyads’ mart resumed its former briskness, and the throng at their 
doors became greater than before. 
The Emperor ordered Islam Khan, Mashhad!, formerly head of the 
artillery, to point some cannon at Husain ‘All Khan’s mansion, and kill 
him if possible. This order was not obeyed; and on Mir Jumlah’s 
complaint, Islam Khan was sent for. That officer excused himself on 
the plea of the risk to innocent neighbours, and asked what fault the 
Sayyad had committed. Farrukhslyar began to complain of them. Islam 
Khan then offered his services as intermediary. Having visited them 
and expressed to them the Emperor’s grievances, Husain ‘Ali Khan 
began with a denial of having thwarted the Emperor in the least. He 
continued: “ The words of the truthful, though somewhat bitter, yield 
“ pleasant fruit. As S‘adi of Shiraz says : 
‘ Each good deed has its reward, each fault its penalty. 1 
“ If they were in fault, let the Emperor himself say so ; why should a 
“ multitude suffer for the crimes of two men; their heads were there, 
“ready for His Majesty’s sword. By God Most High! since they 
“ were real Sayyads, no word of reproach would escape their lips :— 
We turn not our heads from the sword of the enemy, 
Whatever falls on our head is our Destiny.” 2 
This talk frightened Islam Khan so much that he soon asked for 
leave to go. He hurried back to Farrukhslyar. and worked on the 
Emperor’s mind till his views were changed. Islam Khan then suggest¬ 
ed: “Why not send for them”? and he offered to bring them. 
Farrukhslyar said: “ Good, I also wish it.” Islam Khan reported to the 
Sayyads that the Emperor had turned round and would like to see 
them. Husain ‘All Khan met this by the objection that though they 
1 Har ’ami ajr , o har gunah jazae darad, 
* Sar na gardanem az te gh -i-janlb, 
Har ccih dyad bar sar-i-man ba nasib. 
