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into this same dialect, just such as any one uses in common conversation. But first this guilty being, _Mir Amman_, of _Dilli_, begs to relate his own story: "That my forefathers, from the time of King _Humayun_, served every king, in regular descent, with zeal and fidelity; and they [21] also (i.e. the kings), with the eye of protection, ever justly appreciated and rewarded our services. _Jagirs_, titles and rewards, were plentifully bestowed on us; and we were called hereditary [22] vassals, and old servants; so that these epithets were enrolled in the royal archives. [23] When such a family (owing to which all other families were prosperous) dwindled to such a point! which is too well [24] known to require mention, then _Suraj Mal_, the _Jat_, [25] confiscated our _Jagir_, and _Ahmad Shah_ the _Durrani_, [26] pillaged our home. Having sustained such various misfortunes, I abandoned that city, which was my native land, and the place of my birth. Such a vessel, whose pilot was such a king, was wrecked; and I began to sink in the sea of destitution! a drowning person catches at a straw, and I sustained life for some years in the city of _'Azim-abad_, [27] experiencing both good and bad fortune there. At length I left it also--the times were not propitious; leaving my family there, I embarked alone in a boat, and came in quest of a livelihood [28] to Calcutta, the chief of cities. I remained unemployed for some time, when it happened that _Nawwab Dilawar Jang_ sent for me, and appointed me tutor to his younger brother, _Mir Muhammad Kazim Khan_. I stayed with him nearly two years; but saw not my advantage [in remaining there any longer.] Then, through the assistance of _Mir Bahadur 'Ali Munshi_, I was introduced to Mr. John Gilchrist (may his dignity be lasting.) At last, by the aid of good fortune, I have acquired the protection of so liberal a person, that I hope better days; if not, even, this is so much gain, that I have bread to eat, and having stretched my feet, I repose in quiet; and that ten persons in my family, old and young, are fed; and bless that patron. May God accept [their prayers!] "The account of the _Urdu_ tongue I have thus heard from my ancestors;--that the city of _Dilli_, according to the opinion of the _Hindus_, was founded in the earliest times, [29] and that their _Rajas_ and subjects lived there from the remotest antiquity, and spoke their own peculiar _Bhakha_. [30] For a thousand years
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