[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Bengal, Orissa and the North-East](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east) › [Riyāẓ al-salāṭīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin) › [The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam) › 105 # Riyaz al-salatin 105: VICE ROYALTY OF SHAHZADAH WALAGUHAR MUHAMMAD 'AZIMU-SH-SHAN AND THE FALL OF RAHIM KHAN. The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 105 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [105.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1) — 7 parts - [105.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2) — 13 parts ### VICE ROYALTY OF SHAHZADAH WALAGUHAR MUHAMMAD 'AZIMU-SH-SHAN AND THE FALL OF RAHIM KHAN. ### [105.1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.1) As related before, Shahzadah Walaguhar Muhammad 'Azimu-sh-Shan, son of Muhammad Muazzam Bahadur Shah, received from the Emperor a special Khilat, together with a jewelled sword, a high Mansab and the Insignia of the Mahi Order, and was appointed Subadar of Bengal and Behar. For the chastisement of the rebels, he started from the Dakhin with his two sons, named Sultan Karimuddin and Muhammad Farukh Sir for the Subah of Behar, and swiftly arrived in Behar via Subah Oudh and Avlahabad. The Prince issued Royal mandates, as potent as God's decrees, summoning to his presence the Zamindars, 'Amils, and Jagirdars. These appeared in His Highness' presence with tributes and gifts, and were recipients of valuable Khillats according to their respective ranks. And attending to the administration of the State affairs, they paid in the revenue and taxes into the Imperial treasury. The fiscal and administrative affairs were entrusted to honest Diwans and thrifty Karkuns, and Tahsildars were appointed to charges of Circles and Mahals. All of a sudden, news of the victory of Zabardast Khan and of the defeat of Rahim Shah arrived through the medium of newsletters. ### [105.1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.2) Fancying that the fish of victory and triumph that was worthy of himself might be angled by another, who would go in for reward on account of good services, and fearing that Zabardast Khan, who was a grandson of Nawab 'Alimardan Khan, in recognition of such valuable services, might be invested with the office of Subahdar of Bengal, the ambitious Shahzadah, moving from Subah Behar, swiftly marched to Rajmahal, and spurring his horse for the chastisement of the rebels advanced with his large force to Bardwan. The Prince ignored Zabardast Khan's services, and failed to bestow on him a single word of praise or encouragement. The aforesaid Khan, becoming depressed by the apathy of the Shahzadah, and finding his great labours wasted, resolved to proceed to the Emperor. Caring not for the power of the Shahzadah, he struck the kettle-drum of march, and took the route to the Dakhin. Rahim Shah who, from fear of the fury of that lion of the forest of warfare, had been hiding like the fox and the jackal, in the holes of the mouse and the serpent, finding now an opportunity, brought back water into the rivulet of his ambition, and triumphantly made incursions on the frontiers of Bardwan, Hugli, and Nadia. Pillaging the inhabitants of that tract he desolated it, nay rendered it a den of wild beasts and a nest of owls and crows. ### [105.1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.3) After the departure of Zabardast Khan the Prince, with great self-reliance, despatched mandates and orders to Jahangirnagar (Dacca) for conciliating and reassuring the Zamindars and Faujdars. His Highness himself, slowly marching from Akbarnagar (Rajmahal), advanced stage by stage, studying the convenience of his troops. The 'Amils, Faujdars, and zamindars, with appropriate contingents drawn from their respective mahals, presented themselves before the Prince with gifts and tributes, and accompanied the latter in his Royal Progress. The ill-fated Rahim Shah, fancying the news of the approach of the Prince to be a fiction, like his own fate, was sleeping the sleep of negligence. When, however, the news of the approach of the Royal Army reached the ear of that wretch, he hurriedly and anxiously concentrated his Afghan levies who were scattered far and near, and prepared for warfare. That royal eagle of the summit of the Empire, caring not for that flock of sparrows, set out unhesitatingly, without baggage and paraphernalia, and pitched his camp in the outskirts of Bardwan. There the Prince suspended the royal pearl of salutary advice to the ear of that contemptible prevaricator, promised reward in the event of acceptance, and threatened vengeance in the event of refusal. ### [105.1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.4) That dissembler treated the bright pearl of the order of the Prince ostensibly as the jewel of the ear, but covertly as the gravel of his own eyes, that is, apparently he shewed signs of submission, but in reality, he sowed the thorn of rebellion and dissimulation in the field of his heart. He besought to his assistance Khwajah Anwar, elder brother of Khwajah 'Asam, who was a high officer and a boon companion of the Prince, and in fact the latter's prime-minister, and represented that in case the Khwajah came and promised on oaths and re-assured his mind, next morning he would proceed in his company to the Prince's presence, to sue for pardon for misdemeanour. The guileless Prince, ignorant of the wiles of that traitor, assenting to his request, ordered the above Khwajah to proceed early in the morning to Rahim Shah's camp, and instructed him to reassure the latter and to fetch him to the Royal Darbar to publicly avow submission. ### [105.1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.5) Next morning the abovementioned Khwajah, following the order of his master, adopted no measures of precaution, and rode out with a few relations and friends. Halting in front of the camp of Rahim Shah, he sent information, and on horseback remained on the look-out. Hiding his armed Afghan soldiers in his tent, Rahim Shah was in pursuit of treachery. Opening towards the envoy the door of wiles and softness, he requested that the Khwajah should enter his camp. Fearing lest smoke might arise from the fire of the reptile, the above Khwajah hesitated to go in, and making promises summoned out Rahim Shah. When the demands of both sides resulted in a parley and the object of the mission remained unaccomplished, suddenly Rahim Shah with an armed force sallied out of his camp shouting and advanced in front of the Khwajah. From wounds of the tongue it culminated in wounds of the spear. Fathoming the water underneath the straw, Khwajah Anwar, regretted his coming, and wanted to return without accomplishing the object of his mission. Rahim Shah, advancing forward, commenced fighting. Being compelled to encounter him, Khwajah Anwar gallantly and bravely fought, and made heroic exertions, but being covered with mortal wounds, fell together with a number of his comrades. Finding the field deserted, the Afghans with swords rushed out and attacked the Royal camp of the Prince. ### [105.1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.6) When that scion of the Imperial family Beheld perfidy in that prevaricator, And also in regard to the condition of Khwajah Anwar, News arrived that his head had been severed from his body; His face became cherry from rage, He called for arms from the armour-bearer. He placed the cuirass on the shoulder and the helmet on the head, From head to foot he became a figure of iron. He suspended an adamantine sword, And placed tightly a dagger in his waist. He tied one sunny shield to his shoulder, And placed a shining spear in his hand. He hung a quiver from his waist, And threw round the shoulder a Kaianian bow. He tied a noose to the top of his howdah, And clutched with the hand an iron mace. He gave order that the Generals of the army Should collect quickly near the Royal tents. At his order, the battle-seeking army Flocked in towards the Prince. When the Prince mounted his elephant, He looked like the sun on a mountain. The kettledrum of battle was struck, and the army moved, Like the river waving. He advanced to the field and raised aloft his standard, And boldly set himself to put his troops in array. He arranged his centre and wings: The right and left wings, the rear and the van. From the overwhelming number of his force, and from the Imperial prestige, The world quaked with terror. He rode up to the battle-field, But was dilatory in delivering an assault. ### [105.1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.1.7) When the battle-field was arranged, and the cavalry and infantry, like the men at chess, were set in their proper places, Rahim Shah made a hostile flank movement, and fought gallantly. A number of Afghan troopers clad in cuirass and armed with daggers, by a desperate sally, galloped right through the ranks of the Imperialists, reached the centre, and sought for the Prince, shouting out "Azimu-sh-Shan." Attacking the Royal elephant with their horses, they prepared to give the final checkmate. The Imperial cavalry and infantry, unable to withstand the onslaughts of those villains, left the Prince in a corner before the enemy and fled. Thus the thread of the arrangement of the Imperial army was snapped. Rahim Shah, breaking through the entrenchments, attacked the Prince's elephant. At this crisis, and at the sight of this impudent daring, Hamid Khan Quraishi, who was standing at a short distance, spurred on his charger like an arrow shot from its bow, attacked Rahim Shah, and said, "Villain, I am Azimu-sh-Shan." Promptly discharging a rock-piercing arrow from his quiver, he pierced Rahim Shah on the chest. He pulled out his bow from its string And drew out his Khadang arrow from its quiver. He joined the arrow-notch to the ass's leather, And aimed at that giant. When the arrow-notch was shot to take aim, It pierced through the breast of that fighting demon, Piercing right through his breast, It figured like the balance from weight. ### [105.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.1) In quick succession Hamid Khan shot other arrows at the neck of Rahim Shah's horse, and laid low both its neck and head. Rahim Shah, owing to two mortal wounds on the breast, was felled to the ground. Hamid Khan with great agility sprang down from his horse, and sat upon Rahim Shah's chest, and severing the villain's head from his body whirled it round on a spear. At the sight of this, the cowardly Afghan soldiery faltered and fled, whilst the standards of those insolent villains were turned upside down. The zephyr of triumph and victory once again blew on the tails of the Imperial banners, and the Imperial band of victory and triumph struck up loudly, whilst cries of "Allah, Allah" resounded from the earth to the sky. The cavalry of the victorious Imperial army chased the vanquished to their tents, and whoever amongst young or old fell across the range of its career became the food of the crocodile of blood-drinking swords; whilst the rest who escaped the sword, scampered off, covered with wounds and racked by anxieties. Much booty and numerous captives fell into the hands of the Imperialists. The fortunate Prince, an associate of triumph and victory, entered Bardwan, and made a pilgrimage to the noble shrine of the saint Shah Ibrahim Saqqa. Making votive offerings, the Prince entered the citadel, and sent a congratulatory message on this victory to the Emperor, and despatched troops for chastising the adherents and abettors of the miscreant Afghans. ### [105.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.2) Wherever trace could be found of their whereabouts, they were captured and slaughtered, and in a short time the districts of Bardwan, Hugli, and Jasar (Jessore) were purged of the defilement caused by the Afghan raiders. The tracts that had been desolated by the ravages of these rebels once again became fertile. Jagat Rai, son of Kishan Ram, the slain Zamindar of Bardwan, was invested with the khilat of the hereditary Zamindari of his forefathers. In a similar way, other Zamindars of that tract who had been oppressed and banished by the Afghans, were re-assured by Royal Proclamations of goodwill, and re-installed in their hereditary ranks and dignities. Taking fresh settlements of the Khalsah mahals (crown lands) and of Jagirs, these commenced making collections of rent; whilst the holders of Tiyuls and Aimahs and Altamghas re-entered into the possession of their respective mahals. Hamid Khan Quraishi, in recognition of his gallantry was rewarded by the Emperor with the advancement of his mansab, with the bestowal of the title of Shamshir Khan Bahadur, and with the office of Faujdar of Silhat (Sylhet) and Bandasil (?). And the other officers of the Prince, who had rendered good services, according to the measure of their services, and according to their ranks, were honoured with mansabs and dignities. The Prince halted in the fort of Bardwan, which contained the Residency of the Faujdars of that district, laid the foundations of buildings, and erected a Cathedral mosque. ### [105.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.3) And in Hugli, he founded Shahganj, alias 'Azimganj, and named it after himself. And he extended the scope of the Sayer taxes that had hitherto been levied only on wares and silk-stuffs. And he levied customs-duties, in the shape of tax, at the rate of 2½ percent, on the goods of Musalmans, and 5 per cent, on the goods of Hindus and Christians. He held in esteem and respect the learned, the good, and the noble; and in the society of the nobility and the gentry, he discussed the subjects of Theology, Casuistry, Traditions, poetical works of Maulana Rum (God's mercy be on him), and History. He shewed an anxious solicitude to profit by the advice of saints and he exerted himself to promote the welfare of the realm. One day he sent Sultan Karimu-d-din and Muhammad Farukh-sir to invite over Sufi Baizid, who was the most glorious amongst the saints of Bardwan. On their approach the saint greeted them with the salutation of "Salam Alaekum." Sultan Karimu-d-din, assuming the gravity of princely rank, did not respond; but Farukh-sir walking up barefooted, stood respectfully and after offering salutations communicated his father's message. The saint, being pleased with the courteous behaviour of Farukh-sir, took the latter by the hand, and said : " Sit down, you are Emperor of Hindustan," and he offered prayer for Farukh-sir. The arrow of the saint's prayer reached the butt of Divine acceptance. ### [105.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.4) As a result of courteous behaviour on the part of Farukh-sir, what the sire desired was bestowed on the son. When the saint arrived to meet 'Azimu-sh-Shan, the latter advanced, and making apologies besought the saint's prayer for the attainment of the object which His Highness had in view. The saint said : " What you seek, I have already bestowed on Farukh-sir, and now the discharged arrow cannot be recalled." Offering the Prince benedictions, the saint returned to his own closet. In short, being satisfied with the administrative methods and arrangements introduced in respect of the affairs of the tracts of the Chaklah of Bardwan, Hugli, Hijli, and Midnapur, &c, the Prince set out on Imperial war-vessels, constructed by Shah Shuja, towards Jahangirnagar (Dacca). After arrival at Dacca, he set himself to organise the administration of that tract. When information about certain improper acts of the Prince like practices of Sauda-i-Khas and Sauda-i-'Am, and the wearing of saffron-coloured red clothes at the time of the Holi, which is the Nauroz or New Year of the Hindus, through the medium of messages of news-writers and historiographers, reached Emperor Aurangzeb, the latter was annoyed. The Emperor wrote thereon to the Prince as follows : "A Saffron-coloured helmet on thy head, a red garment on thy shoulder, thy venerable age verging on forty-six years ; ### [105.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.5) hurrah on thy beard and moustache !" In regard to Sauda-i-Khas the Emperor wrote the following across the news-letter, and putting his own signature returned it : " What propriety is there in calling public oppression Sauda-i-Khas, and what connection has Sauda-i-Khas with Sauda-i-'Am? Those who purchase — sell ; We neither purchase nor sell." And by way of censure, to serve as a deterrent, the Emperor reduced the Prince's mansab by 500. The meanings of Sauda-i-Khas and Sauda-i-'Am are as follows: "All the goods which arrived on board the mercantile ships at the port of Chatgaon (Chittagong), &c, were bought up on behalf of the Prince, and were styled Sauda-i-Khas; afterwards those very goods were re-sold to the merchants of this country, when they were called Sauda-i-'Am. When the news-letter containing the Emperor's signature came to be perused by the Prince, the latter abandoned the aforesaid trade. The Emperor Aurangzeb appointed Mirza Hadi to the office of Diwan of the Province of Bengal, after bestowing on him the title of Kar Talab Khan. The Mirza was a sagacious man, and an officer of honesty and integrity. He had already held the office of Diwan of the Subah of Orissa. In several Mahals pertaining to Orissa he had effected retrenchments in expenditure, and had thus become prominent amongst the Imperial officials. He was held matchless in probity and rectitude of purpose. ### [105.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.6) Rendering eminent services, in periods of siege and war, he had got into the good graces of Emperor Aurangzeb. At that period, the reins of the administration of Financial and Revenue affairs, the power over the assessment and collection of revenue, and payments into and disbursements from the Imperial Treasury lay in the hands of the Diwan of the Subah. The Nazim had jurisdiction over the Procedure and Administration of Political affairs, such as the repression and chastisement of the refractory and the disobedient, and the extirpation of rebels and tyrants. Except with regard to the Jagirs attached to the Nizamat and personal Mansabs and presents, the Nazim had no power to meddle with the Imperial revenue. Both the Nazim and the Diwan were guided in the administration of the affairs of the Subah by a Procedure Code that was issued year after year by the Emperor, and they were not permitted to deviate from, or infringe, them by a hair-breadth. Kar Talab Khan, being appointed by Emperor to be Diwan of the Subah of Bengal, arrived at Jahangirnagar (Dacca). After waiting on the Prince, he devoted himself to the administration of the fiscal affairs. And the remittances into, and disbursements from, the Treasury being in charge of the abovementioned Khan, the Prince's control over the income and expenditure ceased. ### [105.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.7) The abovementioned Khan, finding that the country was without thorns, and fertile and rich, commenced re-assessment, and deputed sagacious and thrifty Collectors to every Parganah and Chaklah and Sarkar. And after assessing accurately the Imperial revenue and sair taxes, he remitted one Kror of rupees to the Emperor, and prepared a complete Revenue-roll of the Khalsah mahals (crown lands) and of the Jagirs. In former times, owing to the badness of the climate of Bengal, the higher officers did not care to seek for service in this Province, as they fancied it not only fatal to human lives, but as actual haunts of demons. Therefore, the Chief Imperial Diwans, by way of inducement, conferred numerous Jagirs in Bengal on the Bengal Mansabdars. In consequence of this policy, very few Khalsah mahals were left in Bengal, so that the revenue of the mahals of this Subah did not suffice to meet either the pay of the soldiers under the Prince, or that of the naqdi troops. Therefore, their pay had to be provided for from revenues of other Subahs. The aforesaid Khan submitted a scheme to the Emperor suggesting allotment of lands in Orissa on account of Jagirs to the Bengal Mansabdars; and this scheme met with the Emperor's approval. ### [105.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.8) The Khan thereon resumed all Jagirs in Bengal, together with their sair revenues, save and except such as pertained to the Nizamat and the Diwani, and allotted in lieu thereof Jagirs to the Bengal mansabdars in Orissa, the soil whereof was comparatively worse, poorer, more sterile, and less fertile. By this ingenious stroke of policy, the Khan effected a big surplus in the Bengal revenue to the credit of the Emperor, and squeezed out the profits from the Bengal Zamindars and Jagirdars. And by minute attention to details, he effected considerable retrenchments under the several Heads of the Public Expenditure. Year after year, he enhanced the Revenue-assessments of the Subah, and thus became the recipient of Imperial favours. When the Prince ('Azimu-sh-Shan) found his control over the Bengal revenue diminished, he was constantly in a bad humour. Besides, the rewards which the Khan received for his good services from the Emperor weighed as thorns of envy on the heart of the Prince, and kindled the fire of his jealousy. The Prince schemed to kill the Khan, but failed in his aim. The Prince won over to his side the Commander of Nuqdi troops named Abdul Wahed and the Naqdi Contingent under the latter, by holding out promises of rewards and increase in pay. These naqdi troops were old Imperial servants. From pride of their strength and from confidence in their number, they did not truckle to the Nazim or Diwan of Dacca, and much less to others. ### [105.2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.9) From their conceit of being dexterous swordsmen, they fancied others no match for themselves. For their nonchalance and bravado, they were widely known. These naqdi troops were incited to waylay the Khan when opportunity might offer, under the pretext of demand of pay, and to kill him. This wicked Contingent at the instigation of the Prince were on the look-out for an opportunity to kill the Khan. The Khan adopting precautionary measures, always carried in his retinue an escort of armed troops, and never failed to be on the alert whilst going to and from the Darbar. One day, however, early of a morning, he rode out unattended to wait on the Prince. On the way, a corps of naqdis, under pretext of demanding pay, raised a tumult, and crowded in round the Khan. The latter, displaying great nerve, faced them, and drove them away. Ascertaining that the originator of this disturbance was the Prince, he in fury and rage proceeded to the latter. Discarding all official decorum, in an avenging mood, he placed his hand on his dagger, and sat knee to knee with the Prince, and added : "This riot was due to your instigation, desist from this course, or else at this moment I will take your life and give mine." The Prince saw no way of escape, and from fear of the Emperor's resentment he trembled like the aspen. Summoning Abdul Wahed with his corps, the Prince publicly forbade him from creating tumult and disturbance, and set about soothing the Khan by display of courtesy and affability. ### [105.2.10](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.10) The Khan, being freed from anxiety arising from the hostility of his enemies, proceeded to the Diwan-i-Am, demanded the account of naqdi troops, levied their pay from Zamindars, and paying them off cashiered them. And he sent the Emperor an account of their meeting, embodying the same both in the Court-Record as well as in the News-sheet. He also submitted to the Emperor a Proceeding signed by the leaders of the riot, together with his own Report. Fearing the ill-humour of the Prince, the Khan resolved to keep himself aloof from the former, and to stay at a safe distance from him. After much deliberation and consultation, he fixed on the excellent site of Makhsusabad, where news of all the four quarters of the Subah could be easily procurable, and which, like the pupil of the eye, was situate in the centre of the important places of the Subah. ### [105.2.11](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.11) It had on the north-west the chaklah of Akbarnagar (Rajmahal) and the passes of Sakrigali and Tiliagadhi, the 'Key' to Bengal, on the south-west, Birbhum, Pachit and Bishanpur, the road to Jharkand, and the forests and hilly passes for the ingress and egress of freebooters and armies from the Dakhin and Hindustan, on the south-east, the chaklah of Bardwan, the road to Orissa, and Hughli and Hijli (ports for the arrival of ships of Christian and other traders), and the chaklahs of Jasar (Jessore) and Bhusnah, and on the east the chaklah of Jahangirnagar (Dacca), which then constituted the Viceregal Capital of this Subah, and to which pertained frontier outposts like those of Islamabad or Chittagong, and Silhat and Rangamati, and on the north, the chaklahs of Ghoraghat and Rangpur and Kuch Behar. The above mentioned Khan, without taking permission from the Prince, migrated to Makhsusabad with the officers of Zamindars and Qanungos and Revenue officials in charge of crown-lands, and settled down there, but when the news of the disturbance created by the naqdis reached the Emperor in the Dakhin through the medium of News-letters and Court-records, and through the Report of Kar Talab Khan containing denunciation of the Prince, an Imperial edict couched in threatening language was addressed to the Prince to the following effect : "Kar Talab Khan is an officer of the Emperor; ### [105.2.12](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.12) in case a hair-breadth injury, in person or property, happens to him, I will avenge myself on you, my boy." And peremptory orders were also passed by the Emperor to the effect that the Prince should quit Bengal and withdraw to Behar. Leaving Sarbaland Khan with Sultan Farukh-sir as his Deputy in Bengal, the Prince with Sultan Karimu-d-din, his household attendants and bodyguard set out from Jahangirnagar, and reached Mungir (Monghyr). Finding there the elegant white and black marble edifices built by Shah Shuja to be in a dilapidated condition, and seeing that a heavy outlay would be needed to set them in order, he did not like to fix his quarters there. And preferring the climate of Patna, which is on the bank of the river Ganges, the Prince fixed his quarters there. With the Emperor's sanction, he improved that city, named it 'Azimabad after himself, and built there a fort with a strong rampart. Kar Talab Khan, at Makhsusabad, after the lapse of a year, prepared the Annual Abstract Accounts, and started for the Imperial Camp. And preparing the Revenue-Assessment papers, the Revenue-Roll, the estate Ledgers, and the Cash-Account of Receipts and Disbursements of the Subah, he desired Darab Narain, the Qanungo of the Subah of Bengal, to sign them. ### [105.2.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105.2.13) Taking advantage of the system then in force that the Accounts relating to the financial and internal administration of the country were not passed by the Imperial Central Diwan, unless they bore the signatures of Qanungos, that mischievous and shortsighted fool refused to sign the papers, unless his demand for three lakhs of rupees on account of his fees as a Qanungo were satisfied. The Khan under stress of necessity promised to pay one lak of rupees on his return from the Emperor, but Darab Narain would not accept this arrangement, and withheld his signature. But Jinarain Qanungo, who was a Joint-Qanungo with Darab Narain, using foresight, signed the Accounts. Regardless of the hostility of the Prince, and regardless of the refusal of Darab Narain to sign the Account-papers, the Khan started for the Imperial Camp, presented gifts and tributes of Bengal to the Emperor and to the Vizier and other Imperial Ministers, and also paid to the Emperor the Revenue-balances and profits of the Jagirs. And making over the Account-papers of the Subah to the Mustaufis and to the Diwan-iand proving his good and faithful services, the Khan became the recipient of further Imperial favours, and was appointed by the Emperor Deputy to the Prince in the Nizamat of the Subah of Bengal and Orissa, in addition to the office of Diwan. He was also given the title of Murshid Quli Khan, and further received a valuable Khilat, with a standard and a kettle-drum. His mansab was also raised. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.east.riyaz-al-salatin~en-abdus-salam.105) · Pramāṇa