It is inscribed after the date, thus, A.H.
1048 [A.D. 1638-9], 'The humble fakir Amanat Khan of Shiraz.' Austin
was a still greater favourite than Amanat Khan; and the Emperor Shah
Jahan, no doubt, readily acceded to his wishes to have himself
represented in what appeared to him and his courtiers so beautiful a
picture.[24]
The Diwan-i-Khas, or hall of private audience, is a much more
splendid building than the other from its richer materials, being all
built of white marble beautifully ornamented. The roof is supported
upon colonnades of marble pillars. The throne stands in the centre of
this hall, and is ascended by steps, and covered by a canopy, with
four artificial peacocks on the four corners.[25] Here, thought I, as
I entered this apartment, sat Aurangzeb when he ordered the
assassination of his brothers Dara and Murad, and the imprisonment
and destruction by slow poison of his son Muhammad, who had so often
fought bravely by his side in battle. Here also, but a few months
before, sat the great Shah Jahan to receive the insolent commands of
this same grandson Muhammad when flushed with victory, and to offer
him the throne, merely to disappoint the hopes of the youth's father,
Aurangzeb.
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