The Nāṣirī Generations 291.1.6

291.1.6

He advised that the Khalifah should make use of the great wealth he possessed, and endeavour, by means of it, to ward off this calamity, and that liberal presents should be sent. For the Khan, a thousand bales of the finest fabrics, such as silk, fine linen, cloth, and other valuable wares and commodities, a thousand bukhti [hairy, double-humped] camels, and a thousand fine ’Arab horses, caparisoned befittingly; and, for the Mughal Shah-zadahs and great Amirs, presents suitable to their rank and degrees. The Jami’-ut-Tawarikh puts a piece upon this, in order to flatter his Mughal patron no doubt, and says that the Wazir—who, according to his account, was an innocent lamb—advised that the Khalifah, his master, “should make apologies” to the barbarian, Hulaku, “insert his name in the Khutbah, and stamp the coin with his name that the Khalifah was willing to do this, but that Mujahid-ud-Din, and others, with whom the author of that work associates all the knaves and vagabonds of Baghdad, “out of animosity to the Wazir, prevented it.” That city, however, is not the only place where traitors have taxed patriots, who would not sacrifice “their countries’ interests,” with owing their influence to the support of knaves and villains, which terms were, at the same time, alone applicable to themselves. the Mash-had of Musa-i-Ja’far — God reward him! — and the son of the Lord of the Faithful, the Amir, Abu-Bikr, had slain some of them, and despoiled them.