In
1840 Agha Khan, who had raised a revolt at Kerman, had to escape from
Persia. He took refuge in Sind, and eventually rendered good service both
to General Nott at Kandahar and to Sir C. Napier in Sind, for which he
receives a pension from our Government.
For many years this genuine Heir and successor of the Viex de la
Montaingne has had his headquarters at Bombay, where he devotes, or for a
long time did devote, the large income that he receives from the faithful
to the maintenance of a racing stable, being the chief patron and promoter
of the Bombay Turf!
A schism among the Khojas, owing apparently to the desire of part of the
well-to-do Bombay community to sever themselves from the peculiarities of
the sect and to set up as respectable Sunnis, led in 1866 to an action in
the High Court, the object of which was to exclude Agha Khan from all
rights over the Khojas, and to transfer the property of the community to
the charge of Orthodox Mahomedans. To the elaborate addresses of Mr.
Howard and Sir Joseph Arnould, on this most singular process before an
English Court, I owe the preceding particulars.
