Muntakhab al-tawarikh 1: Shuja'u-d daula.
Muntakhabu-t Tawáríkh, of Sadásukh (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 1
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- English
Shuja'u-d daula.
1.1
Shuja'u-d daula (after his defeat by Shah 'A'lam and the English) went to consult with Ahmad Khan Bangash. In reply to Shuja'u-d daula, Ahmad Khan Bangash said, "I recommend you to go to the English attended by only one or two hundred unarmed men, and entertain no fear, because they are very wise and liberal, and it is not to be expected that they will treat you otherwise than in a becoming manner." Shuja'u-d daula, after deliberation, saw that the old man was right, and agreed with him that what he had said was best. "I have got with me," he said, "some very valuable presents to give them. The fact is, two boys of noble extraction, ten or twelve years of age, who belong, perhaps, to the family of the King of England, have fallen into my hands, and I have regarded them with much greater care and affection than my own sons. They are much pleased with me, and they have promised that, if I take them to their own people, they will do me much good. Although no dependence can be placed upon the words of boys, yet I see no other chance of success. I will go to the English according to your suggestions. Let the event be what it may, I will launch my boat on the water." The Nawab, having left Ahmad Khan, proceeded in that direction with about one thousand of his servants, including his own family.
1.2
It happened that at this time Lord Clive, who was a very experienced officer, had just arrived from England, and had proceeded from Calcutta to Allahabad, on the part of the Honourable Company to settle pending disputes, and to obtain the liberty of the two boys who had been taken by Shuja'u-d daula. When the Nawab arrived at Nawab-ganj, which is six kos from Allahabad, Lord Clive, Mr. Stacy, and some other officers in the King's service, came to receive him. The English gentlemen took off their hats, and showed all marks of respect, according to the custom of their country, and behaved with great affability. They stood before him closing their hands together. After that, they conducted him with great honour into the fort of Allahabad. At this Shah 'Alam changed colour. What passed in his mind he knew alone. There is no room to say more about it. All this honour and respect which the English showed to the Nawab were very disgusting to Shah 'Alam.
1.3
Beni Bahadur, who had gone towards the district of Biswara and Lucknow, also came with all speed, and sought the protection of the English, fearing lest, by being separated from Shuja'u-d daula, some mischief might befall him. After showing every hospitality and respect, the English intimated to the Nawab that they would not take the country which formerly belonged to him. Shuja'u-d daula surrendered both the boys whom he had kept with such care to Lord Clive. The Governor-General sent them to England, and after this it was proposed to the Nawab, that at all times the English army would be ready to assist him, and so it would be kept at his disposal wherever he chose to place it; he should therefore make a provision for their pay from the revenue of his territory. Thus it was agreed that the Nawab should take ten anas in the rupee, and should give up six anas on account of the army. This being done, the English recommended Shah 'Alam to him, saying that he had separated himself from the Nawab, and had taken their side only with a view to his own interest, and that the Nawab ought to assist him by making some provision for his maintenance. The districts of Allahabad, Kora, and Karra, might be made over to him. At this time Shuja'u-d daula was a mere cipher. Whatever he received he considered as the gift of God, and was satisfied.
1.4
Such honours and distinguished treatment were beyond his expectation, and he knew not, as somebody says, "Whether all this was reality or a dream." He esteemed it a favour of Providence to see himself in such a fortunate state after his distress. What could he do, had he not accepted? He agreed to the proposals of the English with all his heart. He said that he was a slave of that noble house, and he should be very happy to render it any assistance in his power. After this the English were going to submit another question. But the Nawab, interrupting them, said, if they wished to recommend him to forgive that ungrateful wretch, he would not accept all the favours they were bestowing on him. He would go to Calcutta or England and remain there, but they should say nothing in behalf of Beni Bahadur. He would proceed against him in the manner he thought best. The English also thought that Beni Bahadur was a mean and low person, who had been raised to such rank only through the favour of Shuja'u-d daula, that he had ruled instead of the Nawab himself, and yet had behaved towards him with ingratitude. He was a servant of the Nawab, who might do with him what he liked; they had no concern with that wretch. But they requested that the Nawab would grant them one favour, which was not to take his life. Shuja'u-d daula agreed, and having deprived him of sight, fixed a daily allowance of ten rupees for his subsistence.
1.5
The Nawab, very happy and cheerful, marched thence and came to Faizabad. He paid no attention to the old army and the Mughals, so that they dispersed in all directions. The truth is that within the last three hundred years, Humayun and Shuja'u-d daula are the only two potentates who have recovered their lost kingdoms after most marvellous vicissitudes. The latter even exceeded the former in this respect; for Humayun, after obtaining his kingdom, did not enjoy the pleasures of it, because he soon died. But Shuja'u-d daula, after emerging from a state of the utmost embarrassment, added, by the power of his arms, the districts of Etawa and Rohilkhand to his former dominions, and ruled in great prosperity and happiness for ten or twelve years after it. His descendants also enjoy their power to this day, * * and at present, among the Muhammadans, there are no princes so fortunate. The Nawab, after dismissing the old army, organized a new force in imitation of the English. He taught the soldiers the use of muskets or matchlocks. He made several divisions, each counting one thousand men, and gave them the appellation of Bark Battalion, Bakht Battalion, and Baisi. Instead of Kumaidans and Captains, he called the officers by the name of Salár. In short, he introduced everything into the army entirely contrary to, and at variance with what prevailed before.