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SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHERIN.

in the great battle of Acberabad. These were Seid Abdullah-khan and Seid Hussein Ali-khan, sons of the famous Seid Abdullah-khan, so much revered in Ajmir under the name of Mia-khan. On the elder, Abdullah-khan, he conferred the government of Ilahabad; and he gave that of Azimabad (Patna) to the younger, Hussein-Ali-khan. At the same time Jafer-khan was entrusted with the provinces of Bengal and Orissa, in which he had hitherto acted as minister of finance. After these arrangements the prince took up his residence at his father's court, where he exercised great influence. The emperor, who was exceedingly good-natured, and mild even to a fault, having remembered a vow which he had once made to the Creator of all things, that if ever he should ascend the throne he would never deny any man's request, now wanted to act up to the letter of this vow: accordingly, dignities, titles, and employments were lavished so indiscriminately, that they lost much of their value, and ceased to be deemed marks of honour or distinction; although no less a man than Munaim-khan was appointed to examine into the several petitions, and to report on the respective claims of each person. Nevertheless, as men of low origin, whether Hindus or Mussulmans, obtained every day the military grade of six or seven thousand horse, and the titles of