Burnes, Alexander: Travels into Bokhara: containing the narrative of a voyage on the Indus from the sea to Lahore, ... and an account of a journey from India to Cabool, Tartary and Persia ; performed by order of the supreme government of India, in the years 1831, 32, and 33 (Band 3) (London, 1835)

CHAP. I.

SHOOJA OOL MOOLK.

243

rendered any further measures unnecessary; and
Azeem Khan now took the extraordinary step of
recalling Shooja ool Moolk from his exile, in the
territories of British India. He offered him the
crown of Cabool, and sent a Koran to the ex-mon-
arch, under his seal, according to the custom of the
country, as proof of his sincerity. Shooja repaired
with every despatch to Peshawur.

Since Shooja ool Moolk had been defeated at
Neemla, he had wandered as a fugitive in various
corners of his dominions ; and his adventures, which
have been detailed by himself in a small volume*,
are replete with interest. After his discomfiture at
Candahar, he was seized by Ata Mahomrned Khan,
the son of his former Vizier, and subjected to much
indignity. He was for some time confined in the
fortress of Attok. The lancet was frequently held
over his eyes; and his keeper once took him into
the middle of the Indus, with his arms bound,
threatening him with instant death. The object
of such severity was to extract from him the cele-
brated diamond, called Koh-i-noor, or mountain of
light, which he was known to possess. In the
meanwhile Ata Mahommed Khan proceeded to
Cashmere, and carried the captive monarch in his
train. On the fall of that valley he was released by
Futteh Khan, and permitted to join his family at
Lahore.

His queen, as I may well call the Wuffadar

* I am in possession of this curious work, which Shah
Shooja himself did me the honour of presenting.

E 2