Page 83 - Journal of Asian History_Neat

V ti; l AND rORTUOUKSK IN TUB PKIISIAN CSUI.F S3
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of famous khagans and the recourse of sultans possessed of power,
there has come your friendship-bearing letter which has arrived
' through your man Nikola, who is one of the notables of the Christian
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millet. It [is about] matters set forth in the well-intentioned contents
of the letters which have reached Our Exalted Court sometime ago
from your own person and from your govornor (kaiin maJeam) in the land
of India. You have sought our imperial permission that your esteemed
ambassador should come [to discuss] the friendship desired with our
court which is famed for justice. Our felicity-bearing letter has been
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r. sent in respect of that matter and our imperial permission has been
given that your ambassador shall come [to us], for the sovereign
elevation of our thoughts has ever been well-intentioned and directed
towards those who make, to our high court, a request in friendship
and sincerity. Your province [of India] is far off and the journey is
dangerous, wherefore your ambassador has been delayed here, while we
sought consultation with the people of your province: but do not have
any doubts about the sincerity of our desire for friendship; our ambas­
sador is about to be sent. You have requested that your man who has
come [to us] should send back promptly, [bearing] joyful news. All
matters included have been submitted, in their entirety, to our vic­
torious stirrup and our noble world-adorning conciousness has compre­

hended and embraced it. Matters being so, our felicitous court is ever
open and accessible and there is no impediment to the desire of anyone
who [wishes] to come and go. By the favor of Allah-praise be unto
him, may his Name be exalted-now, at this present time, the cali­
phate of the world is in the hands of our possession and power. The
people (re'aya) of the East and the West seek the protection of our
State. Since the abundance of our imperial compassion is ever decided
[in favor] of [other] people, and since-for the well-being of the people
and the merchants in these regions-there is no withdrawing from the
friendship [now] desired, you shall establish, on land and on sea,
safety and security for the people and the merchants of our well
protected dominions, who are in the land of India, in the region of
Jezayir and in other lands. Your present ambassador has—without
delay-been accorded our noble permission, and, with our imperial
letter, he has been sent back to that land. Now it is needful that, when
[this letter] reaches you, you shall, without delay, despatch to us your
ambassador, who shall be sent for this laudable purpose, that is, for
the bettering of the conditions of the people and for the good ordering
of affairs of state. And you shall act promptly, so that the conditions of

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