Tarikh-i Hindi, of Rustam 'Ali (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)

Translation of Tarikh-i Hindi (Tārīkh-i Hindī)

Language: English
Date: 1877 CE
Translators: Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson
Extent: 42 passages, 9,080 words
Text: complete digital text
Source: archive.org · The History of India, as told by its own Historians. The Muhammadan Period. The posthumous papers of Sir H.… · Public domain (published before 1930)

Text

1

This Prince was a lover of pleasure and indolence, negligent of political duties, and addicted to loose habits, but of somewhat a generous disposition. He was entirely careless regarding his subjects. As is well known, this Emperor, so long as Amíru-l umará Husain 'Alí Khán lived, strictly observed, by virtue of the efficient management of that great Saiyid, all the ancient laws and established rules of his ancestors. The achievement of all undertakings, the arrangement of all political affairs, and the execution of all wars were carried on in an excellent manner by the wisdom of that high nobleman. The Emperor decided all disputes without partiality, according to the Muhammadan law; but when some of the nobles, natives of this country and of Turan, overcome by their evil passions, and merely through envy and malice, put that well-wisher of the creatures of God to death, to the great mortification of poor people and all good subjects, the Emperor became master of his own will, and, actuated by his youthful passions and folly and pride, resigned himself to frivolous pursuits and the company of wicked and mean characters. This created a spirit of opposition and enmity towards him in those very nobles who, from their malicious disposition, had been the instruments of the death of Husain 'Ali Khan.
The Emperor, on account of the rebellion of the nobles, the fear of his own life, and the temptations of his evil passions, shut up the gate of justice and gave no ear to complaints. As the splendour and delight of the garden of this world, and the verdure and fruitfulness of the fields of this earth, depend upon the flow of the stream of the equity and justice of Kings, so the withering of the trees of this world is caused by the hot winds of the negligence and carelessness of rulers and dissensions among well-disposed nobles.
In a short time, many of the officers of this kingdom put out their feet from the path of obedience to the sovereign, and many of the infidels, rebels, tyrants and enemies stretched out the hands of rapacity and extortion upon the weaker tributaries and the poor subjects. Great disorders arose in the country, which shall be briefly related, according to each year of the reign, if God please.

2

At the end of this year, Sharfu-d daula Iradatmand Khan, with a body of nobles, was sent against Raja Ajit Singh, who, having broken out into open mutiny, and taken possession of Ajmir and Sambhar, had reached as far as Narnaul. He was accompanied by Raja Jai Singh Sawai, Muhammad Khan Bangash, and Gopal Singh, Raja of Bhadawar, at the head of an army of about one hundred thousand horse and more than two hundred elephants. Raja Ajit Singh, on hearing the news, lost all courage, fled from Narnaul, and took refuge in the fort of Garh-patti. Here he held out for some time, and at last, mounting a camel, went off to Jodhpur. He then sued for peace, and made over his son, Dhankal Singh, to the nobles to carry to Court. In the mean time, Ajit Singh was slain by his younger son, Bakht Singh, and Dhankal Singh, upon reaching the Court, obtained the investiture of the chiefship. He returned to his country, and became its ruler. His brother, Bakht Singh, besieged the fort of Nagor, and having driven out the Raja of that place, became himself master of it. In the same year Raja Jai Singh founded a magnificent new city between the towns of Amber and Sanganir, and called it Jaipur, after the name of Sawai Jai Singh.

3

Nizamu-l Mulk, being disgusted with the Emperor, went towards Muradabad and Sambhal, under the pretence of hunting. When he had gone as far as the Ganges, near the town of Garh Muktesar, he at once turned aside from his course, and proceeding via Kol and Jalesar, crossed the Chambal and went towards the Dakhin. The Emperor, on hearing of this, sent orders to Mubariz Khan, appointing him governor of that province, and instigating him to destroy Nizamu-l Mulk. Mubarizu-l Mulk, in consideration of the obligations he owed, went from Haidarabad towards Aurangabad. Nizamu-l Mulk sued for peace, but Mubariz Khan was destined for the honour of martyrdom, so he did not listen to his advances, and rashly engaged in fight. The brave warriors, having boldly fought, put many insurgents to the sword. By chance.
Mubarizu-l Mulk was slain, and Nizamu-l Mulk, in perfect security, obtained the governorship of the Dakhin. Muhammad Shah, on being informed of this, was obliged to confer the post of minister, which was vacated by Nizamu-l Mulk, on I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, and sent a farman to Nizamu-l Mulk, appointing him governor of the Dakhin, and bestowing on him the rank of vicegerency and the title of A'saf Jah.

4

In this year a person, having assumed the name of Sabir Shah, went to Kumaon, and represented to the Raja of that place, whose name was Debi Singh, that he was one of the princes of the house of Timur, and thus obtained repeated orders on the functionaries below the hills at Kasipur and Rudarpur, to the effect that they should give him a red tent, such as is usual for the royal family, as well as some troops to accompany him. Having carried these orders into effect, they collected no less than forty thousand Rohillas. Shaikh 'Azamatu-llah Khan, who in those days was the governor of Muradabad and Sambhal, was sent to quell the insurrection, with a body of fifteen thousand horse and twelve elephants. In a single attack he overthrew the Rohilla army. The Afghans were dispersed, and many were put to the sword. Sabir Shah fled towards the east, and went to Burhanu-l Mulk, who, having captured him, sent him to the Emperor, under the custody of Murid Khan, a noble of high rank, and he was ordered to be imprisoned.

5

A dispute arose in the Emperor's audience chamber between Muzaffar Khan and Burhanu-l Mulk, because the latter officer, in the province of Oudh, had taken possession of the jagirs of mansabdars. It continued many days, and at last Mir Jumla Yar Khan was appointed by the Emperor of the World to decide it. He was of opinion that Burhanu-l Mulk should resign the governorship of Oudh, and Muzaffar Khan the office of superintendent of the ordnance. The former situation, in consequence of the removal of Burhanu-l Mulk, was given to Muzaffar Khan, and Burhanu-l Mulk was to be appointed governor of Malwa. This decision was approved and confirmed, and the office of the superintendent of ordnance, which was vacated by Muzaffar Khan, was entrusted to Sa'du-d din Khan, in whose place, Sher Afghan Khan was appointed steward of the household. Muzaffar Khan, with the intention of going to the province of Oudh, pitched his tents near Patparganj, and Burhanu-l Mulk marched towards Malwa; but when the latter reached Agra, he at once crossed the river Jumna, and went towards Oudh. Muzaffar Jang was consequently obliged to proceed to Ajmir, as the government of that province included Narnaul and Sambhar.

6

Muhammad Khan Bangash Ghazanfar Jang, with an army of eighty thousand horse and more than a hundred elephants, proceeded to the province of Allahabad, to fight against Raja Chatrsal. After great exertions and many actions, the fort of Jitgarh, where he resided, was taken. Chatrsal fled for refuge to the Zamindars of Jharna and Purna, and the whole territory came into the possession of the Khan.
Burhanu-l Mulk led an army against the fort of Chachandi, near Shahabad Kanauj, the chief of which was Hindu Singh, a Chandela Rajput. He was, however, not to be subdued; but Raja Gopal Singh Bhadauria, who accompanied Burhanu-l Mulk, under the pretence of making peace, went to Hindu Singh and told him that it was not expedient to quarrel with the Emperor's nobles, that he should leave the fort for three days, and he called God to witness that, after three days, when peace would be concluded the possession of the fort should be restored to him. Hindu Singh was deceived, and left the fort, and with his family and property pitched his tents at some distance. The third day, by the order of Burhánu-l Mulk, Rája Gopál Singh, breaking his word, took the fort and zamíndárí into his own possession. Consequently Hindu Singh, having no remedy, prepared to fight with the army of Burhánu-l Mulk, which amounted to about sixty thousand horse, but, baffled in his attempt, retreated towards the territory of Chatrsál. As a punishment for violating his promise, Rája Gopál Singh soon hastened towards his own destruction. After his death, his son, Anrat Singh, was confirmed in possession of that district.

7

The brother-in-law of Tahawwur Khán, named Muhammad Afzal, according to the Emperor's orders, succeeded Tahawwur Khán as his heir in the zamíndárí of Sháh Jahánpúr, and took possession of it. 'Abdu-llah Khán and Zuhúru-llah Khán, brothers of Táju-d dín Khán, who had fled away towards Shamsábád-mau, in conjunction with Mír Khurram 'Alí, a relative of the author, collected eight thousand horse of the Rohilla tribe, and advanced towards that city. Muhammad Afzal came out against him with a large body of Afgháns. A most fierce battle was fought near the city on the banks of the Garra. Muhammad Afzal was slain, and 'Abdu-llah Khán became master of the zamíndárí.
Mír Mushrif, who was one of the principal officers of the great Emperor, departed from this perishable world to the everlasting regions, and was buried in a garden which he had himself made.

8

Saiyid Mírán, who was truly a man of great virtue and devotion, went on a Friday to the Jáma' Masjid of Dehlí, and, in order to attract attention to the wrongs of the oppressed people, prohibited the reading of the khutba, upon which, the Sadaris of the artillery, under the Emperor's orders, put him to death. From that day disturbances arose throughout the kingdom, and enemies and rebels gained more and more power every day. The Emperor greatly regretted this event, but to no purpose.
It was reported to the Emperor that the base enemy (the Mahrattas), having crossed the Nerbadda, had attacked Giridhar Bahadur, the Governor of Malwa, and plundered his camp. The Emperor also received intelligence in this year that Baji Rao Mahratta, having collected an army of 100,000 horse, had come to assist Raja Chatrsal, and had besieged Muhammad Khan Bangash in Jitgarh. The time of the decadence of the Empire had arrived, and in retaliation for shedding the innocent blood of Saiyid Miran, no plan of repelling the enemy proved effectual. From that time to this the power and dominion of that tribe has daily increased. The siege of Jitgarh lasted for six months, and within the fort one sir of flour was sold for eighty rupees. At last, Chatrsal obliged Muhammad Khan to evacuate the fort, and having given him back some of the horses which he had plundered from him, allowed him to depart. In the way, the Khan met with his son, Kaim Khan, at the head of twelve thousand horse, and both father and son returned to their native city, Farrukhabad, which had been founded in the name of Muhammad Farrukh Siyar. From that time the population increased every day, and gradually it became a very large city.
In this year, in the month of Sha'ban, a great tumult arose in the Jama' Masjid, to avenge the death of a Musulman who was slain by a Hindu of the name of Subh Karan. The Hindus were assisted by the Royal mutasaddis (or writers). On Friday, at about 3 o'clock, a great fight took place. Seventeen men were killed within the Masjid, and Sher Afghan Khan, the Emperor's steward, having received a wound, escaped by the assistance of Roshanu-d daula.

9

Muhammad Khan Bangash Ghazanfar Jang was appointed Governor of the province of Malwa, on condition of his chastising the enemy. When he went there, he sometimes fought with them, sometimes connived at their proceedings, and in this manner managed to prolong the period of his government.

10

Information was received that Muhammad Khan Ghazanfar Jang had crossed the Nerbadda, and joined Nizamu-l Mulk. He was removed from the government of Malwa, and Raja Jai Singh Sawai was appointed in his stead.
In this year Mir Jumla Tarkhan, one of the greatest nobles, and a man of learning and a friend of the learned, who was chiefly engaged in the study of the natural sciences, according to the will of God, departed this transitory world. This Mir Jumla was called Mir 'Ibadu-llah. He came to Hindustan from Samarkand in search of his father, Mir Abu-l Wafa, who had become kazi of Benares. By degrees he himself was appointed kazi of the province of Bengal, and when Prince Muhammad Farrukh Siyar became governor of that province, he made him his tutor. During the time of this Prince's reign he was reckoned one of the greatest nobles of the State, and had the conduct of all political affairs in his hands. At last, through the hostility of the Saiyids, he was deprived, after the murder of Farrukh Siyar, of all the insignia of nobility; but, by the favour of Husain 'Ali Khan, he was again raised to his former rank and Jagir, as well as to the office of Sadru-s sudur. He was a person of exceeding generosity, and gave away lacs of rupees. He was often heard to say, that as regards the works of this world, he had only one desire unfulfilled, which was that he had never been able to give any person a present of one kror of rupees. He loved knowledge and learned men, because by means of his learning he had reached the Emperor's Court, and obtained his rank.
In the same year, at the instigation of Raja Jai Singh, the vile enemy took possession of Malwa, and the Raja himself added to his own territory many parganas which belonged to the Emperor in the vicinity of Amber. Dhankal Singh, Raja of Marwar, sacked the district of Rewari, which is thirty kos from Dehli, and took thirteen lacs of rupees from the authorities of that place. The enemies in all parts of the country stretched out their hands to ravage and plunder.

11

Waziru-l Mulk I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, with 70,000 horse, marched from Dehli against Udaru, the Zamindar of Kora Jahanabad, who had killed Jan Nisar Khan. Udaru, on receiving the intelligence, retired from the district, and Kamru-d din Khan returned to the seat of Empire through Kanauj and Farrukhabad.

12

Muzaffar Khan, brother of Khan-dauran Khan, accompanied by Jai Singh and other Rajas, was despatched with a large army against the enemy, but being informed at Sironj that they had crossed the Nerbadda, and gone to the Dakhin, he returned to the capital.

13

According to the Emperor's orders, I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan Nusrat Jang, with a large army, many elephants, and heavy ordnance, moved towards the enemy through Agra, and Amiru-l umara Bahadur Samsamu-d daula Mansur Jang, with many nobles and Rajas, and at the head of an army said to amount to 90,000 horse, and a large park of artillery, marched through the territory of Mewat. But through the misrepresentations of Raja Jai Singh, he was induced to give orders not to commence an action. One day, however, as 'Alí Hámid Khán, one of the chief nobles, had left camp, he encountered by chance a body of the enemy. Although he had no force with him at the time, yet with his few attendants he repulsed the assailants, and returned to the camp in safety. As the Amíru-l umará would not engage with the enemy, one of the nobles named Tír-andáz Khán deserted him, and departed with three hundred horse with the intention of going to Dehlí; upon which a party of the enemy, acting, it is said, under the instructions of Raja Jai Singh, hastened in pursuit, and having overtaken him, surrounded him on all sides like a swarm of ants and locusts. Tír-andáz Khán showed great courage, and after fighting nobly, met with the honour of martyrdom. Of his followers some were killed, and others fell prisoners into the hands of the enemy.
In the mean time, one of the enemy, by name Malharjí, with a body of 45,000 horse, overran some of the parganas of Rája Jai Singh, and laid siege to the fort of Sambhar. After three days the city was taken and plundered. It is said that nine hundred inhabitants of the city were killed and wounded. He took a contribution of one hundred and fifty thousand rupees, besides two elephants and some horses from Fakhru-d dín Husain Khán, son of Udu Afghán Khán, the then governor of the place, and returned to oppose the army of the Amíru-l umará.
The Amíru-l umará, deceived by Raja Jai Singh, returning to the capital without coming once to action, arrived on the 17th of Zí-l hijja. I'timádu-d daula, who had gone to oppose the enemy viâ Ágra, fought with Pílují Mahratta, near Narwar.
At last, he also, leaving the result of the war, returned to Dehlí on the 29th of Zí-l hijja in the same year.

14

The enemy went to the territory of Mewár, which is ruled by the Rána, reached the city of Udípur, and having taken a contribution from the Rana, turned towards Marwar, plundered the city of Mirta, took some tribute from Bakht Singh, Raja of Nagor, and then arrived at Ajmir. The Mahratta chiefs alighted from their horses, and with the utmost respect visited the tomb of the great and venerable Khwaja, and thence advanced to the fort of Rupnagar. Raja Sawant Singh had busied himself in strengthening the fort with heavy guns. The army of the enemy, seeing no way of success, retreated, after suffering much loss, towards Jaipur. In the mean time, Yadgar Khan Edo, Saiyid Kirparam, and Najabat 'Ali Khan, the nephew of Husain 'Ali Khan, went to Jai Singh, to request his interposition in coming to some accommodation with the enemy. All these officers, with the concurrence of Raja Jai Singh, gave the enemy in the district of Kishangarh a sum of twenty lacs of rupees on the part of the Emperor, to induce them to return to the Dakhin, when they themselves returned to Dehli.
During this year Burhanu-l Mulk Sa'adat Khan went towards Kora Jahanabad. The chief of that tract, named Bhagwant, son of Udaru, who before this, having killed Jan Nisar Khan, governor of that place, had greatly injured and oppressed the peasantry, on receiving the news of the Burhanu-l Mulk's advance, marched forward with a body of vagabonds amounting to twenty-five thousand horse and foot. The army of Burhanu-l Mulk, excepting himself and two thousand horse, had not yet crossed the Ganges, when suddenly the army of that ringleader of the infidels appeared. After both parties had met, much fighting ensued. Bhagwant Singh himself shot an arrow which wounded Burhanu-l Mulk in the arm. But that lion of the field of courage immediately drew it out, and in turn shot that vile infidel in the forehead, and sent him to the next world. Many of his followers were slain, and the rest fled away. Burhanu-l Mulk victoriously returned to camp, and ordered him to be flayed, and his skin to be filled with straw. His head and that of his son were placed on the points of spears and sent to the capital.
In the beginning of Sha'ban of this year the compiler of this work saw with his own eyes the skins and heads of both those unfortunate wretches hanging in the bazar of Dehli near the Police Office.

Nineteenth Year of the Reign.

15.1

The Mahratta armies entered the territory of Bhadawar, the chief of which, Amrat Singh, collected an army, advanced from the town of Ater with the utmost intrepidity, and gave battle at the distance of a kos from that town. It is commonly reported that the army of the Raja consisted of seven thousand horse, twenty thousand foot, and forty-five elephants; while that of the invaders amounted to near one hundred thousand horse. The war continued for one month; and although the territory of Bhadawar lay close to the capital, yet that Emperor, the asylum of negligence, took no measures for the expulsion of the foe. It is said that one of the brothers of the Raja, who had long cherished hatred against him in his own bosom, joined with the enemy, who, at his instigation, left half of his army to confront the Raja, and sent the other half through the towns of Gohad and Barhad to the town of Ater, which they began to plunder. The Raja was obliged to retreat, fighting all the way with the enemy, and got safe into the fort. Although the enemy had plundered much treasure and property, yet he took besides a contribution of twenty lacs of rupees in cash and ten elephants.

15.2

After this, in the beginning of Zi-l hijja of the same year, the enemy's army having crossed the river Jumna, near the village of Rapri, besieged the fort of Shukohabad. Lalji Khatri, the governor of that place, presented him one hundred and fifty thousand rupees and an elephant, and thus saved the town. Marching thence, the invaders burnt down Firozabad and I'timadpur, which is five kos from the capital, Agra, and plundered them, and then proceeded towards Jalesar. All of a sudden, about dawn, Burhanu-l Mulk drew near, having marched from Etawa in pursuit of the enemy. At first, his nephew Abu-l Mansur Khan Safdar Jang, with twelve thousand horse, came in sight, when the Mahrattas, with their usual confidence, considering his force to be small, surrounded him on all sides. Abu-l Mansur Khan slowly retreated, fighting all the way, till he reached the spot occupied by Burhanu-l Mulk, at the head of fifty thousand horse. When the Mahrattas approached near, he suddenly charged the army of those rebels with his cavalry, like a wolf falling upon sheep, or a tiger upon a deer. Thus those vagabonds, seized by the hand of death, were obliged to run away in alarm towards the forest.

15.3

The Muhammadan army pursued them, made heaps of the slain, and kept the battle raging for the distance of thirty-five kos. A body of the invaders were overtaken near the tank of I'timadpur, and three chiefs with about a thousand men were taken prisoners. Those who escaped the sword crossed the river Jumna. Many of them missed the ford, and were drowned in the river of eternity, but most of them escaped and joined their countrymen. When the prisoners were brought before Burhanu-l Mulk, he gave each man a rupee for his expenses, and set them all at liberty; but he kept the three chiefs loaded with chains. After this, he returned towards Shah-Jahanabad, from which place Amiru-l umara Khan-dauran was advancing with a body of twenty-five thousand horse, some guns, and many elephants, accompanied by Muhammad Khan Bangash Ghazanfar Jang, at the head of twelve thousand horse. The army, which in the beginning of Zi-l ka'da had been ordered by His Majesty to proceed against the enemy, met Burhanu-l Mulk near the city of Mathura, in the beginning of the month of Zi-l hijja. One day, the Amiru-l umara invited Burhanu-l Mulk to his tents, and prepared a feast for his reception. In the midst of the banquet it was suddenly reported that the enemy's army, having marched through the town of Fathpur, and leaving Dig, the native land of Badna Jat, on the right, had arrived at Dehli.

15.4

Burhanu-l Mulk, on hearing this, bit the finger of sorrow with the teeth of distraction, and, mounting an elephant, hastened towards that city. It is commonly said that I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, who, with the intention of expelling the enemy, was then encamped near Kaman Pahari, also returned to Dehli. In the mean time, Raja Jai Singh, having marched from Jaipur with an army of fifty thousand Rajput horse and above seventy elephants, advanced as far as the town of Nimrana; but when he heard the news of Burhanu-l Mulk's march towards the capital, he returned to Jaipur. The enemy's army, having sacked the village of Nakal, near Dehli, went to the shrine of the great Khwaja Kutbu-d din; but as they could not obtain admittance, they plundered the inhabitants of the place, and the next day appeared before the Barahpola. Early in the morning, according to the Emperor's orders, Mir Hasan Khan, the commandant of the Emperor's body-guard, came out to oppose him with a body of one thousand mansabdari horse. Immediately behind him, Amir Khan, and other nobles, with a large army and artillery, came out of the city, and stood before the enemy; but as they had not been ordered to fight, they did not commence the battle. Mir Hasan Khan and Raja Sheo Singh, however, advanced and fought valiantly. * * During the fight the enemy retreated, and pitched their tents near Tal Katora.

15.5

The next morning, on hearing the news of Burhanu-l Mulk's arrival, Baji Rao, the chief of the Mahrattas, rode like a jackal running away at the roar of a tiger, and fled from the place. Kamru-d din Khan, who had advanced with three hundred men, engaged in a severe skirmish, and retired after killing some of his opponents. As Burhanu-l Mulk had advanced without orders and engaged with the enemy, he fell under His Majesty's displeasure, and being distressed at this, he crossed the Jumna without an interview with the Emperor, and returned to his own residence. When the Amiru-l umara and Muhammad Khan were returning to Dehli, the Jats of the village of Mitrol, between Kodal and Palwal, fell on their baggage and plundered it. Consequently the army surrounded the village, and having sacked it, set it on fire. The Amiru-l umara entered the seat of the Empire, and, according to the royal orders, Muhammad Khan returned to Agra for its protection. Towards the end of the same year Nizamu-l Mulk arrived from the Dakhin, and on Monday, the 16th of Rabi'u-l awwal, had an interview with His Majesty in the capital.

Twentieth Year of the Reign.

16.1

In the commencement of this year 8000 horse of the Rathor Rajputs, among whom were eighteen chiefs, the relatives of Raja Dhankal Singh, assembled on some pretence in the city of Sambhar. Bharat Singh, their leader, by whose hands Shaikh Illahyar Khan of Bilgram had been slain in the battle which was fought between Sarbuland Khan and Dhankal Singh, openly drank wine on a Friday in the Masjid of Sambhar, and prohibited the muazzin from calling to prayer. It happened that Hayatu-llah Khan, son of Jamalu-llah Khan, the governor of the place, with a few men, went to them in the evening. After some verbal altercation, the matter ended in a regular fight. That lion of the field of battle thrust Bharat Singh into the well of destruction with a stroke of his lance. The market of the angel of death was thronged through the use of rockets, arrows, and lances. Eighteen chiefs of the opponents were slain, and the rest fled away. Three followers of the Khan, who were Saiyids of Narnaul, obtained the degree of martyrdom, and were interred near the tomb of Saiyid Husain Khan.

16.2

During this year I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, with 50,000 horse and many elephants and guns, moved towards Barha, the native place of the Saiyids, and sent 'Azimu-llah Khan Zahiru-d daula with a large army to precede him. 'Azimu-llah Khan, for fear of his life, placed several guns around him in the shape of a triangle. Saifu-d din 'Ali Khan, brother of Kutbu-l Mulk and Husain 'Ali Khan, who was the chief of Barha, with three hundred horse, boldly attacked that miserable body. When the Mughals fired their guns, a great number of the Saiyids were killed; but Saifu-d din 'Ali Khan, with a few other Saiyids, to avenge their death, drew out their swords, and repulsed the Mughals to the distance of three miles. Suddenly the wanderer of the forest of wretchedness and misfortune, by name 'Ali Muhammad, a Rohilla, at the direction of I'timadu-d daula, and with the hope of preferment, came from the rear with 20,000 Rohillas, and fell upon the Saiyids. Thus he sacrificed the good of the next world to the desires of this earth, and became the cause of victory to the Turanis. 'Azimu-llah Khan, having buried the Saiyids, returned to Dehli laden with immense plunder, and accompanied by I'timadu-d daula. It was just punishment of this crime of persecuting the Saiyids, that soon after they suffered the calamities occasioned by Nadir Shah.

16.3

In this year Nizamu-l Mulk, on the condition of subduing the enemy, was appointed governor of Agra and Malwa. Proceeding through Bundelkhand, he reached the latter province, and a battle was fought with the enemy near the town of Bhopal, founded by Dost Muhammad Khan, whose eldest son, Yar Muhammad Khan, is still ruling over it with wisdom and equity. As the crooked mind of Nizamu-l Mulk was bent towards such things as were contrary to what his name imports, viz. administration, he allowed disturbances to break out in the country, and with his eyes open suffered for one or two days grain to be sold in his camp one sir for a rupee. On account of the tumults and quarrels raised by him, many people were hastened to their graves with the stroke of starvation, and many Musulmans, by the tricks of that unprincipled man, fell into the hands of the enemy, and met with their destruction. At last, on being informed of this, Muhammad Shah sent orders appointing Baji Rao to the governorship of Malwa. Nizamu-l Mulk, reproached by the people, and deceived by the enemy, returned to the capital. The Mahrattas laid siege to the fort of Kota; and the Maharao Raja fled away in alarm, and took refuge in Gagrun, which is one of the strongest forts in that part of the country. The inhabitants of Kota, to preserve their honour, opposed the ravagers and saved the city.

16.4

At last peace was declared, and the invader, having taken a contribution of several lacs of rupees, went towards Ahirwárá, the country of the tribe of Ahirs. He overran this district, and besieged the fort of Korwai, near the town of Sironj, which was the residence of 'Izzat Khan, son of Diler Khan Afghan. 'Izzat Khan fought very bravely for two months, when peace was made. During the siege of Korwai, the compiler of this work went to the enemy's camp. On seeing the fort encircled like the stone of a ring by the army which resembled swarms of ants and locusts, the safety of those who were in it appeared impossible; but the result deceived expectation. When Nizamu-l Mulk, with all the pomp and circumstance attaching to his high station, accompanied the Mahrattas against the fort of Bhopal, Yar Muhammad Khán, ruler of the place, who was celebrated for his courage, by dint of great bravery and determination, expelled Nizamu-l Mulk out of his possessions without sustaining any injury from the insurgents. Many nobles and other respectable people, on account of the ravage and desolation committed in the Emperor's dominions by the enemy, found protection in this territory, and lived in peace and tranquillity under the Khan's just rule.

16.5

The compiler of this book, on hearing the praises of the Khan, left the enemy's camp at Sironj, and came to the city of Bhopal, which is full of nobles and excellent people from all parts of the country. In fact, from the day he had left Shah-Jahanabad, and travelled through the country of idolatry, it was here only that he found Islam to be predominant.

16.6

It is said that Bhopal was founded in the time of Rája Bhoj. Afterwards by some accident it was ruined and reduced to only a small village on the borders of the lake, which in length and depth is the greatest of all the lakes in this country. When, by a lucky accident, Dost Muhammad Khan, son of Nur Muhammad Khan Afghan, of the tribe of Warakzai Mirzai Khail, came from Roh to the country of Hindustan, he met at Jalalabad his relatives, who were the descendants of the same ancestors. When Almighty God wishes to raise one of his creatures to some great rank in this world or the next, He first throws him into difficulties and troubles, and after that exalts his dignity in order that he may estimate its true merits. And so it happened that a misunderstanding arose between the brothers, and that Khan of noble disposition, alone, and without any means of subsistence, left Jalalabad, and went to the province of Malwa. By his judicious plans and great exertions, he took possession of several parts of this province, and at a most auspicious moment, in the fifth year of Muhammad Shah's reign, corresponding to A.H. 1135 (1723 A.D.), laid the foundation of the city of Bhopal. Under his just rule the lion and goat drank water at the same pool. He was so generous that even Hatim would envy him. A great number of saints always dined with him.

16.7

When the fame of his virtues reached the ear of the ministers of the Emperor's court, he was favoured by His Majesty, through Saiyid Husain 'Ali Khan, with a mansab, tuman, togh, kettle-drums, naubat, as well as a title. But he died. After this event the eldest son of the noble Khan, who was with Nizamu-l Mulk in the province of the Dakhin, arrived in this territory, and at a most auspicious time sat upon the masnad, administered justice, subjugated a great number of the refractory chiefs, and by his wise measures the country from the banks of the Nerbadda to the vicinity of the town of Sironj, was brought under his power. Notwithstanding that the enemy, having gained great dominion, infested the country from Sattaragarh to the suburbs of Dehli, yet under the good management of this equitable chief the people of his territory were perfectly secure from the ravages of the tyrants. For his surpassing courage and wise administration of the country he received great favours from the throne, and was honoured with the rank of 5000 personal and 5000 horse, together with the insignia of Mahi and Maratib.

TWENTY-FIRST YEAR OF THE REIGN.

17.1

As above stated, contention, disaffection, and discord broke out among the nobles, and the report of the enemy's success was noised abroad. The cursed infidels, encouraged by the misrule and carelessness of the sovereign, particularly by the hostility and revolt of the very ministers of the throne, had become predominant throughout all the country. Thus incited, the Emperor of I'ran, by name Nadir Shah, who, having acquired entire power over that country, had reached up to Balkh and Kandahar, now marched in this direction, with the design of conquering Hindustan, and, as some say, at the suggestion of Nizamu-l Mulk and Sa'adat Khan. It was suddenly reported to the Emperor that Nadir Shah, having invaded Kabul, and obliged Nasir Khan, the governor of the province, to join him, had crossed the Attock and reached Lahore. The Governor of this city also, after a slight show of resistance, had gone over to him. Notwithstanding all this, the careless Emperor and the ungrateful nobles, having covered their faces with the veil of gross negligence, were awaiting the approaching misfortune. After the invader had marched past Lahore, the Emperor of Hindustan was compelled to fit out an army. All this delay, which occasioned the subsequent disasters, arose from the Emperor's not confiding in the counsel of any of his ministers. Whatever plan was suggested by the Khan-dauran was opposed by Nizamu-l Mulk, and vice versa.

17.2

According to the statement of Mir Fakhru-d din, the Emperor of this country, having prepared for war with two hundred thousand horse, foot soldiers without number, fifteen hundred elephants, and many field-pieces and other guns, left Dehli with the intention of expelling the Emperor of I'ran. The army of Hindustan, owing to its immense numbers, which amounted to ten hundred thousand, both horse and foot, could scarcely find space to encamp on. Towards the end of the month of Zi-l ka'da, the army encamped near the town of Karnal, and, as some say, according to the advice of Nizamu-l Mulk, was placed all round in the shape of a ring. Notwithstanding this, the soldiers of Iran made attacks from all sides upon the Indians, and carried off corn, grass, and wood, which are essentially necessary for the maintenance of man. Hence the price of grain was enormously high in the camp. Burhanu-l Mulk, one morning, at the beginning of Zi-l hijja, entered the camp to pay his respects to the Emperor. He had scarcely arrived, when it was reported that twenty thousand horse of Nadir Shah's army had plundered all his camp, equipage, and baggage. Burhanu-l Mulk instantly took his leave, beat the drums of battle, and went after the plunderers. It is said that the whole army of Nadir Shah amounted to fifty-five thousand fighting horsemen, skilful in the art of war and murder, while others make it amount to three hundred thousand horse.

17.3

No sooner had Amiru-l umara Khan-dauran heard that Burhanu-l Mulk had gone, than he also, without making any due preparation, went to the field with a force which amounted, according to some, to seven thousand, and according to others, to twenty thousand horse. Burhanu-l Mulk, a short time after the armies had engaged, was taken prisoner and carried before Nadir Shah. That nobleman, renouncing his dependence upon the will of God, and acting according to the dictates of his own choice, precipitated matters; but Providence discomfited all his plans. After the capture of Burhanu-l Mulk, the army of Nadir Shah surrounded Amiru-l umara on all sides, and began to shoot their arrows and fire their guns, and the battle raged till the close of the day. The Indian warriors, saiyids, shaikhs, Afghans, and Rajputs, so fought with their cruel swords that, had Rustam and Afrasiyab lived to this time, their livers would have become water at the sight of this dreadful battle. The Iranis, dreading the swords of these brave men, left the field, and, firing their guns from a distance and from different quarters, made heaps of the corpses of Indians, who preferred death to flight.

17.4

At last the great luminary of the world set in the west, and with the approach of night darkness spread over the earth; yet up to this time no army came to reinforce Amiru-l umara, all through the connivance of Nizamu-l Mulk, who, with the utmost animosity towards the followers of Islam, always held out encouragement to infidels and tyrants. It is said that five thousand men on the side of Amiru-l umara met with the honour of martyrdom, among whom were Muzaffar Khan, his brother, Mir Kallu, 'Ali Hamid Khan, Yadgar Khan, Lodi Khan, and other nobles. In the evening Amiru-l umara, with a few of his men, returned from the field to his tent, wounded and sorrowful. The next day he set in array a new army, with the intention of hazarding another battle, and defeating Nadir Shah, who had trembled at the courage displayed. But the Amir fell, and drank the cup of martyrdom.

17.5

It is said that when Burhanu-l Mulk fell into the hands of Nadir Shah, the Shah inquired from him all the particulars of this Government. He was informed in reply that Khan-dauran, who had fought with him that day, was only one of the servants of the Emperor of Hindustan, and that, like him, there were many other nobles and Rajas, possessed of great power and much courage, in his camp as well as in all parts of the kingdom, and that any one of them was well able to cope with him. He recommended him, therefore, to receive something on account of his travelling expenses, and return to his own country. Nadir Shah was confounded to hear this, and peace was determined on. Muhammad Shah, by the advice of Nizamu-l Mulk, rode to the tent of Nadir Shah, whose son came to receive him. The Prince, according to his father's orders, sat below the throne, like an attendant. After the interview, Muhammad Shah dined and returned to his tent.

17.6

On the same day Nizamu-l Mulk, with his usual impudence, put on the official dress of the Amiru-l umara, which had been promised to Burhanu-l Mulk, who, on being informed of this, under the impulse of ambition, represented to Nadir Shah, that Amiru-l umara Khan-dauran deceased was the only person of importance in the government, and that now there was no man in the kingdom equal to him in power or dignity; that Nadir Shah should contrive to take Muhammad Shah prisoner, and make himself master of the country. Having no regard for gratitude, deluded by the base avarice of this world, and having no shame even for contradicting his own words, he occasioned the general slaughter and great contentions and disasters which ensued.

17.7

Nadir Shah, having called Nizamu-l Mulk, placed him in custody, and constrained him to send for the Emperor. That wanderer in the forest of envy and malice, without considering what might be the result, wrote a letter under his own hand to the effect that he had settled the terms of peace, and the confirmation of it depended upon his coming. The heedless Emperor, being deceived by that artful person, rode to the tent of Nadir Shah, who ordered the few persons who had gone with the Emperor to be turned out, and the Emperor, with Nizamu-l Mulk, Amir Khan, Is'hak Khan, Jawed Khan, Bihroz Khan, and Jawahir Khan, to be placed in confinement. Some of his myrmidons were sent to I'timadu-d daula Kamru-d din Khan, and forcibly brought him out of his tent into Nadir Shah's camp. At the same time, officers of the Shah were placed as guards on all the offices and establishments of Muhammad Shah. It is said that Fath 'Ali Khan, son of Sabit Khan, and 'Ali Amjid Khan, escaped, and went in safety to their houses. Khan-i zaman Khan, also, escaped after changing his clothes.

17.8

The next day, according to Nadir Shah's orders, Burhanu-l Mulk and 'Azimu-llah Khan went to Shah-Jahanabad, for the purpose of establishing his rule. Though all these ungrateful persons, through their ambition, had adhered much to the interests of Nadir Shah, yet, as Providence had destined that the sovereignty of the House of Timur should be preserved, and Muhammad Shah's reign prolonged, they in the end gained nothing but shame and disgrace.

17.9

Afterwards, Nadir Shah himself, with the Emperor of Hindústan, entered the fort of Dehli. It is said that he appointed a place on one side in the fort for the residence of Muhammad Shah and his dependents, and on the other side he chose the Diwan-i Khas, or, as some say, the Garden of Hayat Bakhsh, for his own accommodation. He sent to the Emperor of Hindustán, as to a prisoner, some food and wine from his own table. One Friday his own name was read in the khutba, but on the next he ordered Muhammad Shah's name to be read. It is related that one day a rumour spread in the city that Nádir Shah had been slain in the fort. This produced a general confusion, and the people of the city destroyed five thousand men of his camp. On hearing of this, Nadir Shah came out of the fort, sat in the golden masjid which was built by Roshanu-d daula, and gave orders for a general massacre. For nine hours an indiscriminate slaughter of all and of every degree was committed. It is said that the number of those who were slain amounted to one hundred thousand. The losses and calamities of the people of Dehli were exceedingly great. * *

17.10

After this violence and cruelty, Nadir Shah collected immense riches, which he began to send to his country laden on elephants and camels. Muhammad Shah witnessed with the utmost emotion and indignation these outrages of Nadir Shah, which were occasioned by the rivalry of the disaffected nobles. It is narrated, that one day Nádir Sháh, in his public court, spoke some harsh and abusive words to Nizámu-l Mulk and Burhanu-l Mulk, and threatened them with punishment. When they left the court, Nizamu-l Mulk, with all the lying and fraud to which he was naturally habituated, spoke to Burhanu-l Mulk some very soft and heart-rending words, and told him that it would now be difficult to escape the hands of that tyrant; he advised that they both should at the same moment go home, and, taking a cup of deadly poison, pursue the path to death, and sacrifice their lives to their honour. After this, that chief of deceivers went to his house, and, having expressed his will to his relations, and drunk a cup of water mixed with sugar, covered himself with a sheet and went to sleep. Burhanu-l Mulk, who was a true soldier, and was not aware of his perfidy, as soon as he heard this, drank a cup of poison, and went to the next world.

17.11

The Shah of Iran, after having brought so many disasters and calamities upon Hindustan, presented to the Emperor of that country seven horses of 'Irak, several trays of jewels and cloths, instilled into him some precepts useful to Emperors, granted khil'ats to the ministers of the throne, and, having left Dehli on the 7th of Safar, returned to his own country. He proceeded through the territory of Sind, and having taken a large contribution from its chief, who was of the tribe of Bhatti, went to Kandahar. It is said that after the departure of Nadir Shah, the chiefs and Rajas of all parts of Hindustan sent large sums of money to Muhammad Shah, together with horses, elephants and other property of various kinds.

Twenty-Second Year of the Reign.

18.1

Two krors of rupees and three hundred elephants were sent to His Majesty by Shuja'u-d daula, governor of the province of Bengal. After Nadir Shah had gone away, Amir Khan was raised to the rank of 7000 and the office of third bakhshi, and Is'hak Khan to the diwani of the khalisa. They were also received into the favour of the Emperor, on which account Nizamu-l Mulk, again having recourse to his fox-like habits, and being displeased, left Dehli. He spent some days at the village of Tilpat, and at last, with the advice of Mihr-parwar, the grandmother of the Emperor, and on condition that Amir Khan should come out to meet him, returned to the city. Amir Khan son of Amir Khan senior, one of the chief nobles, was appointed Governor of the province of Allahabad, where he applied himself to the work of administration.

18.2

A body of Jats from Mahaban, having raised their heads in rebellion, put Hakim Kazim, the Faujdar of the pargana of Firozabad, to death, and carried off all his property and treasure. The chief of these insurgents proclaimed that he had assumed the name of Wantar Shah, and more than 5000 men having flocked round him, he raised great tumult and alarm. Zahiru-d daula 'Azimu-llah Khan went against him with a body of 6000 horse, and having made an end of him, determined to cross the Chambal, proceed to the territory of Bhadawar, and place Raj Singh, son of Amrat Singh, on the masnad of that principality. But on account of the river being too full, he could not cross it, and returned to Dehli. An army of more than 100,000 Mahratta horse attacked Nasir Jang, son of Nizamu-l Mulk. He, unlike his father, who always assisted the enemy, was the most virtuous man of his time, and possessed great courage and humanity. They burnt villages in the environs of the city of Aurangabad. Upon which Nasir Jang equipped an army, which some say did not exceed 8000 horse, and sallied out from the city. Nasir Jang fought very bravely, and despatched a great number of the enemy to hell, so that, not being able to stand their ground, they took to flight. Nasir Jang pursued them, and at the distance of a few kos, the enemy again made a stand, when the Musulmans put a great number of them to the sword.

18.3

By the favour of Almighty God the enemy again fled, and Baji Rao, chief of the miscreants, was greatly surprised at the courage of that lion of the field of heroism. With great ignominy and shame, he stopped on the banks of the Nerbadda, and as the Mahrattas had suffered great loss in the battle with Nasir Jang, they turned towards Hindustan, in the hope of ravaging that country; because they had been informed that, although they themselves had before now reached to the very suburbs of Dehli, and so many ravages had been committed by Nadir Shah, yet the Emperor was still equally as negligent and indifferent as ever. With this idea they gladly crossed the Nerbadda. Malharji, Pilaji, and other chiefs of the enemy's army, which, according to some, was no less than 50,000 horse, came through Bundelkhand as far as the banks of the Jumna; but suddenly, on hearing that Baji Rao, having fallen into the claws of death, had gone to the deserts of hell, they returned, without accomplishing anything, towards Sattara-garh to meet Raja Sahu. Raghu, nephew of Raja Sahu, at the head of 80,000 horse, fought with Nasir Jang, to avenge the defeat of Baji Rao. Nasir Jang in this battle also gave a complete repulse to the infidel enemy.

18.4

One of the nobles, by name Shuja'u-d daula, who was a very good man, and governed the province of Bengal with the utmost justice, died a natural death. As he was a great protector of his subjects, and exceedingly just, the country, by virtue of these qualities, flourished greatly, and the revenue had so much increased that every year he sent two krors of rupees to the Emperor; besides which, thirty thousand horse and an immense body of infantry received their pay from him. He also sent thousands of presents to the saints in all parts of the country and cities. The Emperor Muhammad Shah, and the ministers of the throne, having shut up the path of justice, and stretching out the hand of rapacity upon the subjects, devoted themselves to amassing wealth, which at last all fell to the lot of the enemy, and there was even a deficiency in the fixed revenue of the khalisa.

19

Zahiru-d daula 'Azimu-llah Khan, being appointed to the governorship of Malwa, went to the territory of Bhadawar, and having taken five lacs of rupees as a contribution from Raj Singh, son of Rája Anrat Singh, raised him to the masnad of that principality. He then proceeded to Datia, where he came to an understanding with its chief, and took seven lacs of rupees from him in return for the renewal of his Jágírs. From that he went to Úrchha, and spent some days in fighting and squabbling with the Rája. As he acted contrary to the rule of the former governors, who, after securing the satisfaction and alliances of all the Rajas who were the servants of the Emperor, applied themselves to the government of the province, he could not even enter the territory to which he was appointed, through fear of the enemy. He passed some time in quarrelling with these Rajas, and then returned.
Mírza Mannu, son of I'timádu-d daula Kamru-d dín Khán, was appointed to the governorship of Ajmír, and he went to that place with two thousand horse. Although the Rajas had acquired great ascendency in that part of the country, so that in the city of Ajmír, where the sepulchre of the Great Khwája stands, the slaughtering of cows and other practices of Islám were prohibited, yet he stayed there only for one day, and, according to the orders of his father, who had instructed him to act in subordination to Rája Jai Singh, he leased the governorship of the province to him, and returned to Dehli.
When Nizámu-l Mulk Ásaf Jáh was informed that his son Násir Jang had by his firmness obtained great advantages and victories over the enemy, who fled from before his name like a crow before a bow; that Islám had obtained a new lustre; that the allowances of the many officers and soldiers under him were fixed according to each man's worth; and that he had introduced peace and tranquillity among his subjects, — the fire of ambition and of a desire to assist the wretched enemy, which he had always felt, was rekindled in him. Having obtained leave from the Emperor, he marched with great haste towards the Dakhin, and arrived in a very short space of time at the banks of the Nerbadda. As he had but a very little force with him, he received a reinforcement of one thousand horse from Yár Muhammad Khán, who ruled over the greater part of the province of Málwá. Having crossed the river, he stopped for some time in the city of Burhánpúr, where a dispute arose between the father and son. At last, the latter, who, independent of being sensible and learned, was very dutiful, and a much better man than his father and ancestors, notwithstanding that he had possessed so much influence and power, voluntarily, out of respect to the rights of his father, resigned all concern in the affairs of government, and sat at the gate of the sacred shrine of saint Zainu-l Mulk, where also the remains of Sháh 'Alamgír (Aurangzeb) are interred. As he was a very wise man, had been disgusted with worldly pursuits, and had much regard for works of religion, he withdrew his hand from the pollutions of this world, and attended to the excellences of the next.
Nizámu-l Mulk, who had become old, was so much entangled in the allurements of this unprofitable world, that, although from the time of 'Alamgír to the present he had seen how faithless it had proved to a great number of its followers, yet, through his avarice and ambition, he discouraged his excellent son, and still seeks to injure him, notwithstanding that he must well know the world to be nothing and its votaries nothing.