The Rashīdī History 138.2

138.2

Most of those experienced and wise men whom Amir Sayyid Ali had gathered round him, during a space of eighty years, had died by the end of Muhammad Haidar Mirza's life, or if they were not actually dead, they were only decrepit old men [shaikh-i-fani] whose hands and intellects were no longer capable of guiding or controlling. Their sons [had developed into incapable young men] quite unworthy of their parents. At this time, Mirza Abá Bakr was about twenty years of age, and was in the service of his guardian [aku-l-mâdá] uncle [Sayyid Muhammad Mirza]. He mixed and associated, in the most friendly way, with the princes and youths [of the court], while they, for their part, from equality of age and from fellow service, became very devoted to him. Mirza Abá Bakr was so open handed and generous, that in a few days he distributed all his property and household possessions, as if they were plunder [bataraj dádá]. One day, one of his followers, hearing of some spoil, came in great haste, but found everything gone, and that others had already exhausted the booty. So he came and laid hold of the skirt of Mirza Abá Bakr, who was standing at the door of his own house, saying: "Although I have come the last [and am disappointed of booty], nevertheless I have found a good pledge [which I will not give up until a ransom is paid]." At these words Mirza Abá Bakr laughed, and bought himself free from the man with a large sum.