Riyaz al-salatin 111.1
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 111.1
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111.1.1
After obtaining victory, Ali Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang, in order to overlook the sacking of the City and the loot of Sarfaraz Khan's treasures at the hands of Afghans and Bhaliahs, for three days encamped outside the City, on the banks of the river Gobrah. On the fourth day, with a sense of perfect security entering the Citadel, he seated himself with extended thighs on the masnad of the Nizamat of Bengal, and confiscated without any trouble Sarfaraz Khan's treasures which the past Nazims with considerable self-denial had hoarded. In that Nawab Mahabat Jang avoided the company of strange women, and did not care for this sort of pleasure, during his life he had only one wedded wife, and in fact, he often plumed himself on this circumstance. Haji Ahmad and his sons and relations possessed themselves of Sarfaraz Khan's fifteen hundred pretty female dependants and slaves. Mahabat Jang banished to Jahangirnagar (Dacca) the wedded Begams of Sarfaraz Khan with their children, and fixed small allowances for them from the income of the Khas Ta'luqah. And Nafisah Begam, Sarfaraz Khan's sister, who had adopted as her child Aqa Baba Kuchak who was her nephew, entered service as a governess in the Seraglio of Nawazish Ahmad Khan, the eldest son of Haji Ahmad, and in this way supported her nephew.
111.1.2
When news of the fall of Sarfaraz Khan and of the succession of Ali Vardi Khan to the Masnad of the Nizamat of Bengal reached Emperor Nasiru-d-din Muhammad Shah, the latter wept and said: "Owing to Nadir Shah, the whole of my Empire is convulsed and shattered." But to mend the state of affairs was difficult, and so the Emperor kept quiet. Mahabat Jang, through Murad Khan, who was one of the associates of the Prime Minister, Nawab Qamru-d-din Khan (about whom mention has been made before), intrigued with the Prime Minister and other Ministers. He remitted to the Emperor forty laks of rupees on account of Sarfaraz Khan's confiscated treasures and fourteen laks on account of tribute, over and above the usual fixed revenue. He also gave three laks of rupees to Qamru-d-din Khan Vazir, and one lak of rupees to Asaf Jah Nizamu-l-Mulk. He similarly conciliated and bribed other Imperial Officers according to their ranks. Intriguing with Rajah Jugal Kishor, agent of Sarfaraz Khan, Mahabat Jang obtained in his own name the patent of the Nizamat of all the three Subahs of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa, according to the usual practice. He then exacted double the usual amount of revenue, presents and tribute from the Zamindars of Bengal.
111.1.3
For the purpose of overthrowing Murshid Quli Khan, and for conquering the Subah of Odisah (Orissa), Mahabat Jang now girded up his loins, mobilised troops and collected armaments, and bestowed the office of Generalissimo on Mir Ja'far Khan Bahadur, who was Mahabat Jang's brother-in-law, and who in the war with Sarfaraz Khan had rendered Mahabat Jang good services. Mahabat Jang bestowed on Mir Ja'far a corps of bodyguard, together with a mansab, a title, and a peerage. He bestowed the office of Diwan with the title of Rai Raian on Chin Rai, who was a clerk in charge of the Jagirs of Ja'far Khan, and who was a person of probity and honesty. And he bestowed on Muhammed Riza Khan, the eldest son of Haji Ahmad, who had married Ghasiti Khanam, daughter of Mahabat Jang, the title of Nasiru-l-Mulk Ihtishamu-d-daulah Nawazish Muhammed Khan Bahadur Shahamat Jang, together with the nominal office of Diwan of Bengal, and the Deputy Nizamat of Jahangirnagar (Dacca), including Chittagong, Raushanabad (Tipperah), and Silhat. And he bestowed on Hashim Ali Khan, the youngest son of Haji Ahmad, who had married the younger daughter of Mahabat Jang, named Amanah Khanam, the title of Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan Haibat Jang, together with the Deputy Nizamat of the Province of Bihar and Azimabad (Patna). And he advanced to ranks, titles, and Jagirs his other relations and connexions, according to their ranks and aspirations.
111.1.4
But the Afghans and the Bhaliahs, who owing to their large numbers were haughty, meddled so much in all the affairs, that they did not care for Mahabat Jang, and deviated from the usual forms of etiquette. Shelving the canons of justice on the shelf of forgetfulness, they looted treasures, and killed and slaughtered the people, together with their women and children. And the conduct of ingratitude, which had subsisted in the times of the early Musalman Independent Kings of Bengal, reasserted itself afresh from the time of Mahabat Jang. Towards the commencement of the insurrection of Ali Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang, Nawab Sarfaraz Khan had asked for help from Murshid Quli Khan, the Governor of Odisah (Orissa), who was his brother-in-law; but the latter, owing to personal spite which has been referred to before, had delayed to march to his help. Whilst Murshid Quli was occupied with despatching a body of troops in the shape of an auxiliary force, he suddenly received news of Sarfaraz Khan's fall and of Ali Vardi Khan's mastery over the Subah of Bengal. It was then that Murshid Quli Khan woke up from slumber, and was plunged into shame and sorrow. General well-being follows mutual union, General ruin follows disunion.
111.1.5
In short, from fear of Ali Vardi Khan, Murshid Quli Khan made preparations in self-defence, and exerted himself strenuously towards the mobilisation of an army, and deputed to Murshidabad Mukhlis Ali Khan, son-in-law of Haji Ahmad, who from before was in his company, in order to arrange the basis of a treaty of peace. After the latter's arrival, Ali Vardi Khan and Haji Ahmad sending a reassuring and diplomatic message to Murshid Quli Khan, set him at ease, and sent back Mukhlis Khan, in order to sow treason secretly amongst the Officers of Murshid Quli Khan's army. Mukhlis Khan presenting himself before Murshid Quli Khan outwardly tried to humour and reassure him, but covertly by offer of allurements and temptations sowed sedition in Murshid Quli's army, and sent an account of his success in this direction to Ali Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang. The latter, with a large army and an immense artillery, instantly marched towards the Province of Orissa. On receipt of this news, leaving his wife, Durdanah Begam, and his son, Yahya Khan, with his treasures in the fort of Barahbati, Murshid Quli Khan with an efficient force and requisite war-paraphernalia, together with his two sons-in-law, named Mirza Muhammad Baqir Khan, a Prince of Persia, and Alau-d-din Muhammad Khan, marched out from Katak (Cuttack) in order to fight, and advanced to the port of Balisar (Balasor).
111.1.6
At the ferry of Phulwar, from the rock of Tilgad'hi to the river Jon, he threw up an entrenchment, and remained behind it waiting for the enemy. Unfortunately, Murshid Quli Khan was ignorant of the wiles of the traitor in his own camp in the person of Mukhalis Ali Khan, and had, therefore, failed to take any precautionary steps against that double-faced scoundrel, and had thus ignored the saying of Shaikh Sa'di: — 'If thy relative be thy enemy, treat him outwardly as thy friend, But never be heedless of his treachery. For inside his heart, wound festers from thy envy, Whenever he thinks of the love-shackles of kinship.' Advancing from Bengal by forced marches with a large army, which numbered more than one lak cavalry and infantry, Ali Vardi Khan reached Mednipur, secured the adhesion of the Zamindars of that district by bestowing on them Khila'ts and gifts, and encamped at Jalisar (Jalasore), which was an Imperial outpost. On the banks of the river Sabanrikha, at the ferry of Rajghat, Rajah Jagardhar Bhanj, Zamindar of Morbhanj, had established a garrison of his Chawars and Khandaits, and had erected entrenchments. To cross, therefore, at the ferry of Rajghat which was protected by dense jungles and thorny trees, was found to be a difficult operation, and therefore, Ali Vardi Khan had to ask for help from the Rajah. The Rajah, however, was haughty owing to his command of a large army, and did not care for Ali Vardi Khan.
111.1.7
He refused to side with the latter, or to permit him to cross at the Rajghat ferry. Ali Vardi Khan placing his artillery-waggons in front of the Rajghat ferry, commenced bombarding it. The Rajah's army were unable to hold the ground in their entrenchment, and fled to the jungles. Ali Vardi Khan with troops and artillery crossed over at Rajghat, and encamped at Ramchandarpur which was at a distance of one and a half karoh from Murshid Quli Khan's encampment. Emissaries and envoys were busy for some days moving to and fro with messages of peace and war, and this sort of diplomatic parley lasted for one month. All this time Murshid Quli Khan did not advance across the ferry of Phulwar. Having regard to the wasteful expenditure on account of a huge army thus locked up, and viewing the dearth of provisions, and apprehending the approach of the rainy season as well as the raids of Mahratta freebooters, Ali Vardi Khan thought it expedient to patch up peace, and return. But Mustafa Khan, generalissimo of Ali Vardi's Afghan contingent, not acquiescing in peace, suggested entrenchments being thrown up during the rains.
111.1.8
After a Council of War, it was decided after much deliberation to send a soothing message to Murshid Quli Khan through a trustworthy envoy, who was instructed to get back a reply in the following form: — "I shall not allow you authority or possession over the Subah of Odisah," and then with this document to return to Bengal, and after the rainy season, again mobilising troops, to re-attempt Murshid Quli Khan's subjugation. Although 'Abid Khan and other Afghan Generals, owing to the sedition sown amongst them by Mukhalis Ali Khan, treacherously advised Mirza Baqir Khan, who commanded the vanguard of Murshid Quli Khan's army, to give battle by advancing out of the entrenchment, Murshid Quli Khan remained on the defensive, and dissuaded Mirza Baqir from attempting a sally. But as the period of stay within entrenchments was tediously protracted, Mirza Baqir, carried by his youthful impulsiveness, sallied out with his contingent composed of Syeds of Barha, and arrayed himself in battle-rank. Murshid Quli was, therefore, obliged to array his troops in front of Ali Vardi Khan's army. On both sides, the battle opened with a cannonade, which was soon abandoned for a sword and spear-charge at close quarters.
111.1.9
Murshid Quli Khan's generalissimo, Mir Abdu-l-'Aziz, who commanded the van, and his devoted contingent of three hundred knights consisting of Syeds of Barha spurred on their chargers, exhibited feats of heroism and hereditary gallantry, and with the flashing of their lightning swords ignited the life-harvests of all whose moment for death had arrived. Before this gallant charge, Ali Vardi Khan's soldiers, who had hitherto fancied themselves lions of the forest of bravery, fled like sheep from the battle-field, and met with a crushing defeat. The elephant on which Ali Vardi Khan with his Begam was mounted, was withdrawn half farsakh away from the battle-field. At this crisis, Mukhalis Ali Khan and Jibid Khan surnamed Farzand Ali Khan, upon whose loyalty Murshid Quli Khan reposed implicit confidence, together with Muqarrab Khan and other Afghan generals, exhibiting treachery which is the characteristic of the Afghan race, effaced from the tablets of their hearts all the alphabets of obligations that had been engraved thereon by many years of shelter and salt-eating, deserted the side of Murshid Quli Khan, and retired from the battle-field.
111.1.10
At this juncture, Manikchand, Peshkar of the Rajah of Bardwan, who had arrived with an appropriate auxiliary force to serve under Ali Vardi Khan, reflecting that results of war were dubious, and speculating about the future, covertly humoured Murshid Quli Khan, and asked for the latter's flag of truce, in order to join him and exhibit self-sacrifice and loyalty. From a side of the forest, towards the direction whence the force of Mirza Baqir Khan was marching in pursuit of Ali Vardi Khan, Manikchand shewed himself, and displayed Murshid Quli Khan's flag. Inasmuch as the aforesaid Mirza was unaware of his aim, he opposed his progress. Manikchand was obliged to fight. Mirza Baqir's efficient soldiers were already exhausted by warfare, so they fought in broken lines, and by the viccisitudes of times, the corps of Mirza Baqir was defeated. Ali Vardi Khan, on being apprised of this, hurriedly collected his vanquished troops by use of persuasions, and a second time engaged in fighting. Mir Abdu-l-'Aziz and his corps, consisting of three hundred Syed knights, dismounting from their horses, and girding up their loins of bravery, marched to the battle-field, and one by one, all of them fell, being shot down by bullets fired by the Bhaliah corps. Murshid Quli Khan being thus defeated retired to the Port of Balisar (Balasore), and there embarking on a sloop which had been kept ready from before, he sailed for the Dakhin, and presented himself before Nawab Asaf Jah.
111.1.11
A providential victory thus fell to the good fortune of Ali Vardi Khan Mahabat Jang. The latter pursued the vanquished army up to the Port of Balasore. From there, he detached Mirza Khairu-l-lah Beg, Faqiru-l-lah Beg, and Nuru-l-lah Beg to capture Yahya Khan and Murshid Quli's Begam, and also to seize his treasures and chattels. Ali Vardi instructed them to proceed by forced marches, whilst he himself followed them on horse-back. When news of this affair and of Murshid Quli Khan's retreat to the Dakhin reached Katak (Cuttack), Murad Khan, the generalissimo of the Rajah of Parsutam (Puri), who had been detailed for guarding Yahya Khan and the Begam in the Fort of Barahbati, planned to send instantly the Begam and Yahya Khan together with all their chattels and treasures to the Dakhin, by way of Sikakul. Baggages and equipages were kept ready, and jewelleries, gold coins, treasures, and other precious things were loaded on elephants, camels, and waggons, when all of a sudden the army of Ali Vardi Khan made its appearance. The elephant and camel-drivers, &c., leaving behind the loaded treasures and chattels with their baggages, fled, and all those treasures fell into the hands of the aforesaid Mirzas, who divided the precious jewelleries, treasures, and other valuable wares amongst themselves. Since Ali Vardi Khan also followed up subsequently, he captured the remaining treasures, and also confiscated other treasures of the adherents of Murshid Quli Khan.
111.1.12
Issuing proclamations of peace and security, and employing reassurances and persuasions, Ali Vardi Khan won over to his side the Collectors, Zamindars and Officers of Orissa, and set about making settlement of the revenue, nazar, and tribute, as well as of the Jagirs. And in the course of one month, having finished the organisation and settlement of the Subah of Orissa, he entrusted the charge of that Province to Said Ahmad Khan, his nephew, who had previously served as the Faujdar of Rangpur, procuring for him from the Emperor the title of Nasiru-l-Mulk Said Ahmad Khan Bahadur Saulat Jang. Ali Vardi Khan also left Gujar Khan, a Rohilla general, together with a contingent of three thousand cavalry and four thousand infantry, to be in attendance on Said Ahmad Khan at Katak (Cuttack). Ali Vardi Khan then returned, triumphant and victorious, to Bengal.