The Events of Mushtāqī 2.3

2.3

The Mian answered, "The same difficulty exists here: while you are getting it ready, the time for eating it will have passed." The Khan said, "While it is getting ready I will send for some sweetmeats for you from the bázár." The Mian said, "Very good, but tell the man to bring the money to me. I will direct him what he should bring." When the money was brought, the Mian said to the man, "Give it to me, and you go and prepare the khichri." In short, when it was ready, and the Mian had finished it, he said he had eaten too freely, and it would be very troublesome for him to stand the motion of a litter. The Khan asked, "Why do you go in a litter, have you no horse?" He replied that a horse which goes uneasily is worse than a litter, and that his horse had very unpleasant paces. The Khan said, "I will give you one of my own horses which goes very easily." The Mian exclaimed, "Why should I not ride if there be such a horse at my disposal!" The Khan ordered his men to bring a certain horse, and it was brought just as it stood in the stable, with only its clothing on it. He ordered it to be made over to the Mian, who said, "In consequence of my belly being so full, I complained of the litter; but now a greater difficulty has arisen, for I never can ride a horse with a naked back." The Khan smiled, and sent for a saddle, which was brought and put on the horse. The Mian then asked whether he was to keep the animal at his house, or send it back.