Riyaz al-salatin 111.2
The Riyazu-s-salatin (Abdus Salam) 111.2
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111.2.1
Saulat Jang was of a churlish disposition and regulated himself by avarice. For effecting retrenchment in the military expenditure, he took into his service Salim Khan, Darvesh Khan, Nia'mat Khan, Mir A'zizu-l-lah and other generals, and sent back Gujar Khan to Murshidabad, on the plea of smallness of the revenue of Katak. The aforesaid generals who were anxious to avenge the fall of their old master, Murshid Quli Khan, finding now an opportunity, broke out into revolt. Saulat Jang sent to them Qasim Beg, Superintendent of the Artillery, and Shaikh Hidaitu-l-lah, Faujdar (Magistrate) of Katak, for effecting the basis of a reconciliation. The Generals, who were seeking for an opportunity, finding the above two emissaries unescorted, slew Qasim Beg, whilst Hidaitu-l-lah, after receiving some wounds, made his escape. The citizens and soldiers en masse broke out into revolt, and under cover of the darkness of night they besieged Saulat Jang, took him prisoner along with his followers and relations, and looted his treasures and effects. Then inviting over Mirza Baqir Khan, son-in-law of Murshid Quli Khan, from Sikakul across the Chilkah lake, they placed him on the masnad of the Nizamat of Orissa, and advancing with their forces they conquered Mednipur and Hijli. The news of the approach of the Katak army threw Bengal into commotion.
111.2.2
Ali Vardi Khan, on the occurrence of this disaster, mobilised an immense army equipped with a battering artillery, and then set out for Katak, in order to relieve Saulat Jang and re-conquer Orissa. By forced marches, scouring through Bardwan, he encamped on the outskirts of Mednipur. On receiving news of the approach of Mahabat Jang, the Katak army, which was spread at Hijli and Mednipur, concentrated at Mednipur and Jalisar, next crossed over at the ferries of Rajghat and Phulwar, and then encamped at the Port of Balasore. The soldiers of Mirza Baqir, who had previously received arrow-shots at the hands of the Bhaliahs, suddenly lost heart, and sending all their baggages to Sikakul remained unencumbered. When Mirza Baqir came to know of the disloyalty and cowardice of his soldiers, ostensibly he gave out that he contemplated advancing against the enemy, but in reality he planned to withdraw to the Dakhin. Whilst completing his arrangements for withdrawal to the Dakhin, he detached a force to Chaprah ghat, which is the ferry of the river Mahandi and is situate midway the town of Katak. And he himself with Saulat Jang, &c, and a number of other captives together with tents, &c, crossed the river Katjuri. Mahabat Jang was encamped on the banks of the river Kamhariah, at a distance of forty Karoh from Katak, and there at midnight messengers brought him news of Mirza Baqir's flight.
111.2.3
Immediately summoning Mir Muhammad Ja'far the generalissimo, Mustafa Khan, Shamshir Khan, Sardar Khan, 'Umar Khan, Buland Khan, Sirandaz Khan, Balisar Khan and other Afghan generals, and holding a Council of War, Ali Vardi that very night with their concurrence despatched them expeditiously under the command of Mir Ja'far Khan to pursue Mirza Baqir Khan. Soon after, Ali Vardi Khan himself with the remainder of his army set out. When the aforesaid generals with their army arrived five karoh from Katak, Mirza Baqir Khan being apprised placed Saulat Jang in a fringed Rath, placed in it Haji Muhammad Amin, brother of Murshid Quli Khan, with a drawn dagger, to be his companion and attendant, and also set two armed horsemen on two sides of the Rath, with Amanat Khan, Mir Kazim Khan, Bahadur Ali Khan. Ali Vardi reached with his army the northern banks of the Mahanadi river opposite to Katak town, whilst Mirza Baqir Ali was encamped with his troops on the southern banks of the same river. Seeing Ali Vardi's huge army, Mirza Baqir Ali's soldiers fled, and dispersed in all directions, whilst Ali Vardi's troops plunged into the river, quickly crossed over to Katak town (at the Jobra Ghat, as would appear from the Biyaz), and rescued Saulat Jang who was encaged in a Rath (a four-wheeled carriage) covered over with a white sheet tied round it with white strings. Saulat Jang's escape from certain death was almost miraculous.
111.2.4
instructions that should the army of Mahabat Jang overtake them, they should instantly hack up Saulat Jang with daggers and spears and on no account should let the latter escape. And Mirza Baqir himself mounted a horse, and along with the Rath containing Saulat Jang he left the La'l Bagh Palace situate in the city of Katak, and arrived at Malisar. At this time, Balisar Khan with fifteen horsemen, who were his comrades, came up. The flags carried by the cavalry were visible in the forest. By chance at that time, from the excessive heat of summer, Saulat Jang changing his seat inside the Rath sat in the place where Haji Muhammad Amin had hitherto sat, and gave his own seat to the Haji. At the very sight of the flags of Balisar Khan's cavalry, the two armed horsemen who rode alongside the Rath thrust their spears through the Rath—screen, wounded Haji Muhammad Amin whom they mistook for Saulat Jang, and fled. As fate would have it, as soon as the spear-thrust pierced the Haji's hand and shoulder, the Haji's dagger fell from his hand, and shouting out, "you have killed me; you have killed me," the Haji tumbled down inside the Rath. Saulat Jang, the cup of whose life was not yet full to the brim, remained unscathed. When the Afghan troops were busy looting the vanquished, Mir Muhammad Ja'far Khan Bahadur and Muhammad Amin Khan Bahadur, with a few men fell in with the runaways, and moved in every direction in quest of Sa'id Ahmad Khan Bahadur Saulat Jang;
111.2.5
but Saulat Jang fearing lest some enemy might be searching for him, held his breath quietly. When Muhammad Amin Khan came up quite close, Saulat Jang, recognising his voice, answered him. The aforesaid Khan, on hearing the response, immediately tearing the screen of the Rath, and cutting up the tent-ropes brought out Saulat Jang, and dismounting from his horse embraced him. And Mir Muhammad Ja'far Khan also coming up, they embraced each other, and after offering thanks to Providence for the safety of Saulat Jang's life, they indulged in jubilations. At the time when they were busy with embracings and hand-shakings, Haji Muhammad Amin, finding an opportunity, nimbly got out of the Rath, and mounting the horse of Muhammad Amin Khan fled to the jungle, and vanished. When after enquiries into the condition of Saulat Jang they mounted their own horses, Muhammad Amin Khan was confounded at the disappearance of his own horse. On subsequently ascertaining the secret, they were all sorry. When the Afghan soldiery, after finishing their work of plunder and sack, rallied round Mir Muhammad Ja'far Khan, they sent Saulat Jang to Mahabat Jang, whilst they themselves set out in pursuit of Mirza Muhammad Baqir. Finding the chance of his escape to be slender, the Mirza became desperate, and opened the battle by shooting rockets and arrows and firing muskets.
111.2.6
When the fighting was about to turn to a charge with spears and swords, Murad Khan, the generalissimo of the Rajah of Puri, who with a large contingent of troops supported Mirza Baqir, seizing the rein of the Mirza's horse, and by use of great persuasion, pulled him back from the battle-field. Becoming his guide, Murad Khan led the Mirza by a route across the forest towards the Dakhin. Ali Vardi Khan, after holding a thanksgiving service for meeting Saulat Jang and obtaining victory, allowed Saulat Jang to retire to the city of Katak for rest, whilst he himself, after resting some time and being freed from all anxiety on account of the enemy, entered Katak triumphantly. And after chastising fully the adherents and friends of Mirza Baqir, Ali Vardi confiscated all the branded horses of Mirza Baqir, appointed Shaikh Ma'sum, who was an able General, to the office of Deputy Nazim of the Subah of Odisah (Orissa), and after finishing the administrative arrangements of that Province returned to Bengal.
111.2.7
Inasmuch as Jagat Isar, Rajah of Morbhanj, had taken sides with Mirza Baqir, and had not submitted to the authority of Mahabat Jang, the latter was in anxiety owing to his insolence. Therefore, on arrival at the port of Balasore, he girded up his loins in order to chastise the Rajah. The latter was at Hariharpur which contained his mansion, and was at the time plunged in pleasures and amusements. His knowledge of the denseness of the forests that surrounded him, coupled with his command of numerous hordes of Chawars and Khandaits, made him feel insolent, and so he did not pull out the cotton of heedlessness from the ear of sense, nor cared for the army of Ali Vardi Khan. Ali Vardi Khan's army stretching the hand of slaughter and rapine, set about looting and sacking the populations, swept the Rajah's dominion with the broom of spoliation, captured the women and children of the Khandaits and Chawars, and sowed dissensions amongst them. The Rajah, seeing the superiority of Ali Vardi Khan's army, with his effects, followers and dependants, fled to the top of a hill, and hid himself in a secret fastness, beyond the ken of discovery. Ali Vardi Khan then subjugated the tract of Morbhanj, shewed no quarter, and mercilessly carried fire and sword through its limits.