THE AUTHOR'S MEETING WITH HUMAYUN 265 and the intention never forsook his mind. On an eve which was full of light, this insignificant creature, the author, having obtained the honour of being present in his Majesty's court at Gwalior, was commanded to sit down, and the fingers of the generosity of that sun of the heaven of glory opened the gates of kindness to him, and the tongue of that king of kings, who was as dignified as Alexander the Great, pronounced these pleasing words: " It seems proper and desirable that the inventions of my auspicious mind and the improve- ments of my enlightened understanding should be ar- ranged in a series and written down, so that in future ages the light of these happy works may shine among the people of countries far and near." For this cause, the writer, who was wishing for a long time that such a mandate might come to pass, engaged, like his pen, in writing these very interesting subjects; and having commenced to mention the wonderful inventions, he imparted eloquence to the pen which possesses two tongues. He hopes that, through the favour of God on high, these pages, which contain useful matters, may meet the approbation of the most learned personages of the high court, and that they may view these lines of the book of eloquence with the eye of acceptance, and overlook the mistakes which may have been com- mitted therein by the deficient tongue of the pen. In the beginning of Jumada-1-awwal, 937 A. H. (Dec., 1530 A. D.), when Zahir-ad-din Mohammad Babar, the king who was as dignified as Solomon, whose seat is now in paradise, left the throne of this world for the
