Page:History of India Vol 3.djvu/64

 40 GHAZNI AND GHOR this scene with mine own eyes, I, Abu-1-Fazl," says Baihaki. Such orgies were characteristic of the Turkish rulers of Ghazni. Even the great Mahmud had his drinking- fits, which he excused on the ground that they afforded a rest to his people; but his son Mas'ud carried them to far greater excess. Fortunately he had a remarkably able prime minister in Maimandi, who had served the father till he fell under his displeasure, and whom the son released from prison and restored to office with extraordinary marks of respect. The khwaja (to use the title given to the vizirs of Ghazni, though the word properly means a holy man) made his formal re-entrance at the levee at noon, after careful consultation with the astrologers, who determined the auspicious hour. He was dressed in scarlet cloth of Baghdad embroidered with delicate flowers, and wore a large turban of the finest muslin bordered with lace, a heavy chain, and a girdle weighing a thousand gold pieces, studded with turquoises. The captain of the guard, sitting at the door of the robing-room, presented him, according to custom, with a piece of gold, a turban, and two immense turquoises set in a ring. On entering the presence, he was congratulated by the amir, and kissing the ground, offered his sovereign a valuable pendant of pearls. Then Mas'ud gave him the signet of state, engraved with the royal seal, " that the people may know," he said, " that the khwaja 's authority is next to my own." The minister kissed hands, bowed to the earth, and retired, escorted by a splendid retinue, and