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 assassinate him.  As a reward for this service he received the seals of office; and the Raja confiscated all the property of the deceased, amounting to four lakhs of rupees[2] and resumed the whole of the estates held by the family.

The young Raja died soon after; and his father, when he resumed the reins of government, wishing to remove the new minister, got him assassinated by Gambhir Singh, another feudal Rajput baron, who, as his reward, received in his turn the seals of office.  This man was a most atrocious villain, and employed the public establishments of his chief to plunder travellers on the high road.  In 1833 his followers robbed four men, who were carrying treasure to the amount of ten thousand rupees from Sagar to Jhansi through Tehri, and intended to murder them; but, by the sagacity of one of the party, and a lucky accident, they escaped, made their way back to Sagar, and complained to the magistrate.[3] The[4] minister discovered the nature