The Book of Akbar 342.1

342.1

did not possess a happy constitution, he did not separate that camel-driver’s son from himself, nor withdraw his hand from other evil deeds. Secretly he plotted wickedness, outwardly he showed improvement. Nasir-ul-Mulk continually vituperated his bad behaviour and strove for sending an army against him and for chastising him, while Bairam Khan took the part of ‘Ali Quli Khan and from his magnanimous nature regarded his lawless acts as unacted. His friends at court gave him weighty admonitions, and as that evil-doer could not turn back from his deeds he had recourse to tricks and stratagems. He sent a confidential servant named Burj ‘Ali to Court in the hope that he might perhaps put his affairs straight, and find a remedy for the agitations at Court. In those days Nasir-ul-mulk was all powerful, and political and financial affairs were committed to his weighty judgment. He followed loyalty from the bottom of his heart and did not regard the partiality of Bairam Khan. One day Burj ‘Ali, who belonged to the turbulent set of ‘Ali Quli Khan’s society, went to Nasir-ul-mulk, and uttered words which were out of all bounds. Accordingly the truth-recognising soul of Nasir-ul-mulk became indignant, and he ordered Burj ‘Ali to be stretched out and beaten with rods, and that he should be thrown from the tower of Delhi fort and flung into the moat of annihilation. Then he said, “This fellow is now an illustration of his own name (Burj, a tower).” Bairam Khan was much vexed at this.