Riyaz al-salatin 110.1.8

110.1.8

Meanwhile, a letter from Mahabat Jang came avowing his loyalty, and explaining that he had come simply to pay his respects to Sarfaraz Khan. Sarfaraz Khan, who was quite inexperienced, on perusal of the letter, became reassured, dispensed with all precautions, foolishly released Haji Ahmad, who was the root of all the disturbance, and sent him to A'li Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang, in order to reassure the latter and to bring him over. He also sent in the Haji's company Shuj'a Quli Khan and Khwajah Basant, his two special confidantes, with a view to ascertain exactly the prospects of peace and war, to guage correctly the dispositions of A'li Vardi's Army, and then to apprise him accurately. The imprisonment of the Haji with his other relatives had plunged Mahabat Jang into a whirlpool of confusion. He had apprehended that they would be slain, and had, therefore, hesitated to offer battle. Viewing the release of the Haji to be auspicious, nay as the first augury of victory, Mahabat Jang (A'li Vardi) enclosed in a casket a brick, giving out it contained the Holy Qoran, held it in his hand, and swore by it that next morning he would with folded hands present himself before Nawab Sarfaraz Khan, and would sue for pardon for his misconduct. At the same time he presented two hundred gold coins to Khwajah Basant.