The Translation and Comment

 by 

 Mohammed Abdulkarim:

 of Original Document:

To—The  King  !  Shelter  of  the  World  
RESPECTFULLY  SHEWETH,—That  your  petitioner  is  a  poor farmer,  and  has  of  old  been  your  Majesty's  subject.  That  he has  claims  against  his  tenants  on  account  of  the  Autumnal crop,  but  cannot  obtain  payment  from  them;  and  that  when he  applies  to  them,  they  put  him  off  with promises from  day  to  day.  He  therefore  depends  on  Your  Majesty’s favour  and  goodness  and  expects  that  an  order  will  be  issued to  the  Officers  stationed  in  the  Old  Fort,  to  have  the  money which  is  due  to  your  slave,  realized  for  him,  so  that  he  may pay  his  instalment  of  the  Government  revenue.  Your  petitioner further  submits,  that  if  he  is  authorized,  he  will  collect  the 
revenue  of  the  hamlets  connected  with  the  Old  Fort,  agreeably to  the  papers  of  the  Village  Accountants,  and  will  bring  it  to the  Royal  presence,  for  now,  it  is  being  uselessly  lost.  In  its reaching  the  Royal  Treasury,  your  slave  will  have  obtained distinction.  Furthermore,  your  petitioner  represents,  that when  he  speaks  to  the  farmers  to  carry  on  their  sowings  and the  agricultural  operations,  in  view  to  provide  for  future  production,  they  do  not  heed  his  injunctions,  and  that,  if  some  do take  steps  to  cultivate  their  lands,  the  people  of  the  army, camel-drivers,  &c,  destroy  their  cultivation.  Seeing  them, cow-herds,  &c.,  let  their  cattle  loose  into  the  fields,  and  when your  slave  remonstrates,  the  said  camel-drivers  come  forward to  resist  him  forcibly.  Your  slave’s  preservation  or  ruin  is  in Your  Majesty’s  hands,  and  he  therefore  prays  that  five Troopers,  and  a  petty  Officer  of  Cavalry,  may  be  assigned  to aid  and  protect  him,  so  that  his  agricultural  operations  may  be put  in  train  of  commencement,  and  when  they  have  been sufficiently  advanced,  after  a  month  or  fifteen  days,  if  Your Majesty  wishes,  the  Troopers  may  be  recalled.  Otherwise, how  shall  we,  farmers,  be  able  either  to  pay  the  Government Revenue  for  the  present  season,  or  support  ourselves  and  our families,  for  we  shall  have  been  utterly  ruined,  and  rendered houseless  ?  However,  Your  Majesty  is  master.  (Prayers  for the  prosperity  of  the  reign).  Petition of  the  slave,  of  old  nouri- shed  by  His  Majesty’s  salt,  Dundia  Khan,  farmer,  resident  of the  Old  Fort.  No  date. 

Autograph  order  by  the  King,  in  Penewl

       Mirza  Moghal  will  peremptorily  enjoin  on  the  Officers  of the  Infantry  Regiment  staying  in  the  Old  Fort,  that  damage be  not  done  to  the  cultivation  of  our  subjects. 

Exposition  of  autograph  order 

      Mirza  Moghal  will  peremptorily  enjoin  on  the  Officers  of the  Infantry  and  7th  Cavalry,  that  damage  be  not  done  to  the cultivation  of  our  subjects.  (The  order  was  evidently  not 
correctly  deciphered). 
   Note  in  a  corner  at  the  top,  bearing  the  Royal  Signature. Order  without  Signature,  or  Seal,  apparently  by  Mirza Moghal.—Let  the  farmers  of  the  Old  Fort  be  summoned. Dated  28th  July  1857. 
The  King’s  orders  have  been  carried  out.  There  is  no need  to  summon  the  farmers.  Dated  30th  July  1857. 
Note  below  order—‘‘Orders  have  been  issued  to  the Officers  of  the  Infantry,  and  the  7th Cavalry,  stationed  at  the Old  Fort’’