Page:Modern Hyderabad (Deccan).djvu/143

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MODERN HYDERABAD.
131

one or two fields to erect this structure upon. He requested the engineer of the English force stationed at Hyderabad to make an exact survey of the spot and when this was finished upon a large sheet he carried it to the Darbar and, showing it to the Nizam, requested he would grant the English Government a grant of the land. The Prince, after gravely examining the survey, said he was sorry he could not comply with the request. When the Resident was retiring, not a little disconcerted at the refusal of a favour which he deemed so trifling, Mir Alum (the minister), said to him, with a smile, "Do not be annoyed. You frightened the Nizam with the size of the plan you showed him. Your fields were almost as large as any of the maps of his kingdom he has yet seen. No wonder," added the Mir, laughing, "he did not like to make such a cession. Make a survey on a reduced scale and the difficulty will vanish." The Resident could hardly believe that this would be the case; but when at his next interview he presented the plan upon a small card, the cheerful assent of the Prince satisfied him that the Mir had been quite correct in his guess at the cause of his former failure." In due course the building was proceeded with,