and maintaining power appear more revolting, from regal succession being so well established and understood, whereas in Asia they are esteemed less heinous from the circumstances which produce them. Our rights of primogeniture were never recognised in Hindoostan, the choice of the dying monarch being the sole legal title to succession; and accordingly where there were several sons, the inefficiency of such an expression of will can easily be imagined. Few instances therefore occur of an eastern despot dying without bequeathing to his empire a civil war-a civil war, unsparing and exterminating, in which one of his descendants after crushing all rivals secures himself on the throne, by the cruelly jealous policy of murdering or confining for life every relative whose proximity might compromise his safety. Death indeed would in many cases have been clemency, for these unhappy wretches when immured in the rocky fastnesses of a Gualior or Monghir were often forced to drink daily a quantity of liquid infused with poppy which gradually debilitated their frames, and debased their understandings, till they were transformed into confirmed slavering idiots, alike disgusting to their keepers, and harmless to their tyrants. It was in the year 1628, Shaw Jehan having rendered the earth a desert to himself in kindred, ascended the throne of the house of Timour, with the title of "The planet of the faith-the second king of fortunate conjunctions-Mahommed, king of the world."-The first years of his reign passed away in the lap of fortuneeverything went well with him, or better than he could have wished. Shaw Abbas, the sage and ambitious Persian king, who had molested grievously his father Jehangire, died, leaving his vast possessions to an imbecile grandson. Petty rebellions were effectually crushed, and a fierce inroad of Usbecs punished by the celebrated general Mohabet, who acted in these days pretty much the part of our Earl Warwick, the king maker. All this success was however but the harbinger of misery-it was the pleasing lull which preludes the hurricane-the honey which disguises the destroying poison. And midst all this prosperity, Providence seemed fostering retributive vengeance on the head of this spendthrift of blood. The famous Arjemund Banu, his favourite sultana, brought her royal master no less than twenty children, six only of which need here be mentioned. The eldest was the Princess Jehanara-the second, Prince Dara-the third, Suja-the fourth, the Princess Rochenara-the fifth, Aurungzebe-and his brother Morad. All these as they grew up, with the exception of the eldest, who was much attached to her father, joined in every rebellion and intrigue against their parent; a moderate volume would not contain the plots, treasons, factions, and battles which eventually took place amongst these enumerated Princes; suffice it to mention the upshot of much crime, duplicity, and bravery. Aurungzebe at length succeeded in outwitting or defeating all his fraternal opponents, and when our story opens had shut up his father in the fort of Agra, an indulged prisoner. Prince Dara was murdered by him after undergoing many unworthy indignities, Morad was imprisoned-and Suja alone remained to wage ineffectual war against his crafty talented brother, who sat more safely on the throne than his most sanguine expectations could have carried him. We will hereafter have occasion to say more of Aurungzebe's character, fearing to commence with too much musty, but necessary information. CHAPTER II. "The best of men have ever loved repose, Where the soul sours, and gradual rancour grows, Retiring, tasted joys he never knew before." THOMSON. NEAR that most ancient city Ougien, by eastern poets justly styled "the beautiful," lived Ajimut, a descendant from one of the younger branches of the royal house of Persia. Family feuds and misfortunes had exiled him from his paternal plains beyond Caubul, and for upwards of twenty years his prayers and aspirations after home had been poured fruitlessly forth in a lowly Indian cottage. This humble retreat was situated on the Sipra, which passes near Ougien, a stream regarded by Hindoos as pre-eminently holy, and even declared by them at times to flow with milk, a phenomenon easily accounted for from the whitish loam composing its banks, and which, during high floods, imparts that chalky tinge whence originates the fable. Although there was nothing about Ajimut's abode save neatness, worthy of notice, its site deservedly commanded admiration. A lofty tope or grove of aged and umbrageous tamarind trees (beneath which were the tombs of two mussulman saints) completely screened a small garden, and amongst its overgrown shrubs lay embossed his thatched clay-constructed - cottage. According to oriental taste, this garden was little better than a promiscuous assemblage of flowers and fruits which grew nearly as nature dictated: here a ruddy cluster of the richest roses gladdened the eyethere the citron or orange with Hesperian balls bent beneath its riches as the miser's soul is burdened by his wealth-and in another place an informal ineffectual fence of yellow borbul perfumed the languid breeze which loved to linger, and be wooed wearily by the long glossy plantains-whilst above them the solemn mango outstretched its sombre fostering foliage-and along the foot of this sweet enclosure rolled the noiseless Sipra. Ajimut, more from the motive of finding a solace to cankering care, than any desire of amassing riches, had given his attention to business, particularly agriculture; and he acquired considerable wealth, though little reputation, for a stranger in the east is rarely much respected by indigenous neighbours. This however gave him satisfaction rather than chagrin, for an unobtruded retirement when he desired solitude was what he regarded as the most substantial enjoyment life affords, and it undeniably is one which, as the mind becomes more satiated with what this unsatisfying universe contains, appears the more truly valuable. Devoid of pride, he was above courting either society or fame, and his days died innocently away in the pursuit of his avocations, and in the bosom of a family consisting of his wife, a son, and daughter. Alraschid the elder was fair as the dawn: tall, erect, and of elegant symmetry. His features were faultless, unless an eye severely critical might have pronounced them somewhat feminine, for his otherwise manly appearance. His sister, though not so passing beautiful for her sex, was yet more than ordinarily handsome, and her countenance was ever lighted up with an undescribable expression of good humour, which bespoke a heart lightly at ease, and a wit playful enough to tease were it not chastened by too delicate feelings to injure or offend. Somewhat above the ordinary female stature, this cir cumstance, instead of having any unpleasing effect, assisted happily to rivet the eye on the matchless proportions of her form-such was Rhada, the tender counterpart of her brother; and their minds were equally harmonized as their graces. He was bold, affectionate, ardent;-she, tender-hearted, full of hope and joy; no wonder then such children engrossed the souls of their parents; made them indifferent to the frowns and smiles of all around, and even dulled the rarely blunted edge of banishment. Some distance from Ajimut, but also on the river, dwelt Selim, governor of the district, who, although detested by every one on account of his cruelty and rapaciousness, had ever been a favourite with his sovereign. -It was during Shaw Jehan's reign, that by means of his skilfully applied wealth, Selim became vested with the pompous titles of Nawob, Bahaudr, Omrah of ten thousand, and despotic jurisdiction over an extensive territory. Bribery will attain remoter ends in Asia, than Europeans can imagine. To be rich is to be certainly powerful as for honourable distinctions they are not as with us hereditary, but ephemeral as they are empty, dying always with the holder, and often before him on a reverse of fortune. Notwithstanding however the notorious venality of those viziers and court favourites who endeavoured to hoodwink the Emperor, and prevent his taking cognizance of Selim's real character, plaints reached the royal ear. With his faults and crimes, Shaw Jehan was a lover of justice, and nothing could have prevented the governor experiencing that monarch's indignation, but some circumstances we have already alluded to for he was himself doomed to experience the mutability of all earthly grandeur-to fall a victim to the unfilial feuds of his family, and die uncrowned. On Aurungzebe being established on the throne, the chance of retribution falling on Selim's head verged to a certainty for no complaint was ever known to be disregarded by him, and he besides had secret emissaries in |