Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.7.1

4.7.1

Nevertheless matters were going on much in the same manner, and, perhaps, would have been much farther, had not an accident happened, which gave the Emperor some insight into the general discontent. Lal-coar, when yet a common dancer, had been so intimately connected with Zohra, a woman who sold greens about the streets, the she had made her, her Dogana, as is the Indian word, that is, her sworn-sister. This woman could not fail of partaking of her friend's elevation so near the throne; and she had become the channel of favours and graces, an office by which she was able to appear in the streets with a retinue equal to that of the greatest Lord. She rode upon a female elephant, magnificently caparisoned; and whenever she went to see her old friend, Lal-coar, she rode throughout the citadel, quite up to the apartment of the Ladies, a privilege enjoyed only by Princesses Consorts, or Princesses of the blood. Her people, in imitation of their Mistress, were become exceedingly insolent and overbearing, so that whenever she went to the palace, they used to commit insolences upon old women, and such other inoffensive people, as they met In the streets, a conduct that could not but give general offence, and excite in particular the indignation of the nobility, and of the grandees of the state. There was then in the capital, a lord of importance, an ancient general, son to a great nobleman, known in the world under the titles of Ghazi-eddin-khan-firoz-djung-tevary.