Annals and Antiquities of Rajasthan, or the Central and Western Rajput States of India v2.c28.s1.t2.183

v2.c28.s1.t2.183

The prince of Amber, towards the close of his career, became partial to 'the cup'; but, aware of the follies it involved him in, an edict prohibited all official intercourse with him while he was under its influence. The direct overture of Bakhta was canvassed, and all interference between the kindred belligerents was rejected in a full council of the chiefs of Amber. But the envoy had a friend in the famous Vidyadhar,¹ the chief civil minister of the State, through whose means he obtained permission to make 'a verbal report, standing.' "Bikaner," he said, "was in peril, and without his aid must fall, and that his master did not consider the sovereign of Marwar, but of Amber, as his suzerain." Vanity and wine did the rest. The prince took up the pen and wrote to Abhai Singh, "That they all formed one great family; to forgive Bikaner and raise his batteries": and as he took another cup, and [110] curled his moustache, he gave the letter to be folded. “Maharaja,” said the envoy, “put in two more words : ‘or, my name is Jai Singh.’” They were added. The overjoyed envoy retired, and in a few minutes the letter was on transit to its destination by the swiftest camel of the desert. Scarcely had the envoy retired, when the chief of Bansko,¹ the Mentor of Jai Singh, entered. He was told of the letter, which “would vex his Saga.”² The old chief remonstrated; he said, “Unless you intend to extinguish the Kachhwahas, recall this letter.” Messenger after messenger was sent, but the envoy knew his duty. At the dinner hour all the chiefs had assembled at the (Rasora) banquet-hall, when the spokesman of the vassalage, old Dip Singh, in reply to the communication of his sovereign, told him he had done a cruel and wanton act, and that they must all suffer for his imprudence.