tation of Sol in
Leo was first adopted by Ghias-ud-din Kai Khusru bin Kaikobad, who
began to reign A.H. 634, A.D. 1236, and died A.H. 642, A.D. 1244; and
this emblem, he adds, is supposed to have reference either to his own
horoscope or to that of his queen, who was a princess of Georgia.

_Note f_. Hanway states, vol. i, p. 199, that over the gate which
forms the entrance of the palace built by Shah Abbas the Great [A.D.
1586 to 1628] at Ashraf, in Mazenderan, are 'the arms of Persia,
being a lion, and the sun rising behind it'.

_Note g_. The emblem of the Lion and Sun is upon all the banners
given to the regular corps of infantry lately formed. They are
presented to the regiments with great ceremony. A mulla, or priest,
attends, and implores the divine blessing on them.

_Note h_. This order, with additional decorations, has been lately
conferred upon several ministers and representatives of European
Governments in alliance with Persia.

_Note i_. The medals which have been struck with this symbol upon
them have been chiefly given to the Persian officers and men of the
regular corps who have distinguished themselves in the war with the
Russians. An English officer, who served with these troops, informs
me that those on whom these medals have been conferred are very proud
of this distinction, and that all are extremely anxious to obtain
them (_History of Persia_, ed. 1829, vol. ii, p. 406).

In Curzon's figure the lion is standing, not 'couchant', as stated by
Malcolm, and grasps a scimitar in his off forepaw.

CHAPTER 23

The Raja of Orchha--Murder of his many Ministers.

The present Raja, Mathura Das, succeeded his brother Bikramajit, who
died in 1834. He had made over the government to his only son, Raja
Bahadur, whom he almost adored; but, the young man dying some years
before him, the father resumed the reins of government, and held them
till his death. He was a man of considerable capacity, but of a harsh
and unscrupulous character. His son resembled him; but the present
Raja is a man of mild temper and disposition, though of weak
intellect. The fate of the last three prime ministers will show the
character of the Raja and his son, and the nature of their rule.

The minister at the time the old man made over the reins of
government to his son was Khanju Purohit.[1] Wishing to get rid of
him a few years after, this son, Raja Bahadur, employed Muhram Singh,
one of his feudal Rajput barons, to a