Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 24.11.5

24.11.5

and he did not choose to lay a finger upon any thing belonging to the Government; he contrived to give him a pension; and when he found it inadequate, and could not afford to give a better one, he used to employ him abroad in the collections of the revenue, in such a manner as he might benefit by the employment. But when matters did not succeed to his mind, even in this manner, his method was then to send for the person, and after having excused himself in a rational manner, he ended his apology by making him a handsome present, over and above a sufficient sum to carry him back; and he always finished his compliment by dismissing him with politeness and regret. Sheh-sherif-eddin-mohammed, a descendant of the Protomartyr, Sheh-said-mohammed, (whose station may God exalt to a higher one!) was an aged, learned, pious man, and one of the principal citizens of Nedjef-eshreff (the nobility and holiness of which spot may God augment!) who, urged by necessity, and by the distress into which he had fallen, through some accident, had conceived a design of repairing to India, on hearing of the opulence of the country, and of the rich presents made, and the high regard paid by the Grandees of that land to the officers and servants of the sublime places, and to those that had lived in, or had visited, the holy cities; (and indeed such was the custom in India when the Empire was yet in its lustre).