Bayan-i waqiʿ 2: What befell me after my arrival at Hughli until the death of Muhammad Shah.
Bayan-i Waki', of Khwaja 'Abdu-l Karim Khan (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 2
- Language
- English
What befell me after my arrival at Hughli until the death of Muhammad Shah.
2.1
At this time, in consequence of the weakness of His Majesty Muhammad Shah, and the want of unanimity among his nobles, the armies of the Mahrattas of the south had spread themselves over Bengal; and Hughli fell into their hands. I had occasion to stop at the city of Firashdanga (Chandernagore), which is inhabited by a tribe of Frenchmen. The city of Calcutta, which is on the other side of the water, and inhabited by a tribe of English who have settled there, is much more extensive and thickly populated than Firashdanga. All the different tribes of Europeans have got different names, such as the Fransis (French), Angrez (English), Walandiz (Hollanders), and Partagis (Portuguese). The delightful gardens which the Europeans make, with a number of trees great and small, all cut with large shears and kept in order, as in their own country, are exceedingly pleasing and refreshing. The reason why they have so many gardens is, that a separate family, or one set of inhabitants, lives in a separate house. There is no difference whatever to be observed in any of their manners and customs; indeed, they all live just as they do in their own country. They have churches, too, where they perform Divine service in congregations, and everything else is managed in a similar way according to custom. Many tradesmen and professors of different arts have come from Europe and taken up their abode here, and get occupation in making things, carrying on their trade as they do in their own land.
2.2
A great many of the Bengalis have become skilful and expert from being with them as apprentices. As they excel in other arts and sciences, so also in a military point of view are the Europeans distinguished. This the Mahrattas know well; for although there is so much property and merchandize belonging to commercial and wealthy men of these parts in Firashdanga and Calcutta, and it would only be a journey of two kos from Hughli to Firashdanga, and although the Europeans have no fort, and are so few in number while the Mahrattas are as numerous as ants or locusts, yet, in spite of all this, the Mahrattas see the unanimity and concord that exists among the Europeans, and do not attempt to approach them, much less to attack them. The Europeans fight with guns and muskets; but when the time for using the sword comes, they are at a disadvantage. One great reason of the armies from the south invading Bengal is the fighting of Nawab 'Aliwardi Khan with Nawab Sarfaraz Khan, son of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula. Sarfaraz Khan, after the death of his father, was induced by the temptation held out by his companions to lay violent hands upon and injure Haji Ahmad, brother of this 'Aliwardi Khan, who had been a confidential friend of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula.
2.3
'Aliwardi Khan, too, had been on terms of friendship with Shuja'u-d daula, and was appointed by him to manage the affairs of 'Azimabad, in the office of deputy governor, and was so employed when he marched towards Murshidabad, for the purpose of reasoning with the son of his patron on the impropriety of being induced to oppress and tyrannize over his dependents by the silly speeches of designing men, and with the hope of being able to deliver Haji Ahmad from his difficulties. Sarfaraz Khan was completely possessed with the idea that he was coming with deceitful and dishonest intentions, and marched out of Murshidabad to meet him. An action took place between the two armies, in which Sarfaraz Khan was accidentally killed by a musket-ball fired by one of his own men. His army was scattered. Of his friends and officers, some were killed, others were taken prisoners, and part fled. Now the followers and friends of Sarfaraz Khan say, that 'Aliwardi Khan made use of the false imputation as a means of advancing his own views, and that, though apparently he came for the purpose merely of having an interview and giving advice, in reality his intention was to seize upon the property and take the life of Sarfaraz Khan. At any rate 'Aliwardi Khan became master of the country and treasure, with all the wealth of Ja'far Khan, who had formerly been Subadar of Bengal, and was the grandfather of Sarfaraz Khan by his mother's side.
2.4
The accumulated treasure of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula, and all the valuables and property of Sarfaraz Khan and his servants, fell into the hands of 'Aliwardi Khan, and God alone knows how much it was. By distributing money and behaving with kindness, by keeping on good terms with all, and behaving discreetly, he completely gained over to his cause the hearts of all men far and near. After these events, some of the relatives and dependents of Sarfaraz Khan, who had fled and concealed themselves from fear of being punished and injured, went and took refuge with Nawab Asaf Jah Bahadur Nizamu-l Mulk, ruler of the provinces in the south; and having led the plundering troops of the Mahrattas by the road of Orissa, they caused great injury and misery to be inflicted on the inhabitants, and distressed the rulers of the time. The fire of slaughter was kindled between the two parties, and the lives of many of 'Aliwardi Khan's army and a few of the soldiers of the Dakhin were sacrificed; but, considering the strength and firmness of the Governor of Bengal, neither party can be said to have got the victory.
2.5
As the rainy season was approaching, the Dakhini troops were in anxiety about returning; and so, having abandoned the contest, they turned their faces southward, laden with spoil, the amount of which is beyond my power of description. 'Aliwardi Khan, from fear of war, pacifying the nobles and the Emperor by means of presents of cash and valuables, requested that the subadarship should be given to him; and he exerted himself with great activity in reducing the provinces to obedience. Nevertheless, the Mahratta troops, who were fond of good living, and well experienced in everything good or bad, established themselves on the frontier, and came yearly committing their ravages. At last, after fighting and quarrelling, and after much deceit had been practised, they came to an agreement on this point, viz. that the province of Orissa should be made over to the Mahrattas in exchange for the fourth share of the revenues of Bengal, which in the language of their country is called chauth. 'Aliwardi was to keep the rest.
2.6
Bengal is an extensive country and fertile, and produces a large revenue. The climate, however, is very damp, on account of the quantity of rain that falls and its proximity to the salt sea. The inhabitants of that district, like those of Kashmir and Mazandaran, live chiefly on rice. On the 1st of the month Muharram, in the year 1156 a.h., I left Murshidabad, after a sojourn there of seven months, and as I was afraid of the Mahratta troops, which were scattered over that part of the country, I crossed the river, and set out in the direction of 'Azimabad (Patna), by way of Puraniya and Tirhut. Although the inhabitants of Puraniya suffer under chronic disease from the unhealthiness of their climate, yet, as the Nawab Saif Khan, brother of Mir Khan, keeps his district in complete order and discipline, they are free and untouched by other calamities. The city of 'Azimabad (Patna) is a well-populated and clean place, and the waters of the Ganges and Jumna, and all the canals of the district round, collected together, flow by the city, and then take their course through Bengal to the great ocean. The Europeans here have built good houses, and are engaged in commerce. The leaves of the betel-tree are very good here, and they carry them hand by hand to distant places. The rice, too, of 'Azimabad is more tasty than that of Bengal, and the rich men buy it and eat it.
2.7
For some time the health of the Emperor had taken a turn for the worse, and pressing letters were frequently written to the physician, Nawab Hakim 'Alawi Khan, to come with all haste. We set out from 'Azimabad together, and passing by Benares, Allahabad and Farrukhabad, we arrived at the royal city of Shah-Jahanabad on the 10th of the month Jumada-s sani, in the year 1156 a.h., and rested from the troubles of wandering in the jungles and measuring the desert. The governors of provinces and the officers of police in Hindustan were not in any way wanting in the hospitality and politeness, kindness and attention, that they showed to the Nawáb Hakim 'Alawi Khán, on account of his great natural talents, learning, and great fame, in which they followed the example of the magistrates and rulers of the Kings of I'rán, Rúm, Arabia, and Yaman, and they exerted themselves to the utmost to please him.
2.8
At this time the súbaddár or governor of Alláhábád was the Nawáb Amir Khán 'Umdatu-l Mulk, pillar of the State, and this appointment of governor was not pleasing to him, nor was it according to the Emperor's commands; but to please Nawáb Kamru-d dín Khán Wazír-i 'azam or prime minister, and Nawáb Asaf Jáh Bahádur, he had on this pretence sent him a long way from the Court. For Amír Khán was a wise and intelligent man, and was every day setting the Emperor against the Nawáb Kamru-d dín Khán and the Mughal and Túrán nobles. By the force of his observations, and excellent judgment of character, he was gaining his object; so they banished him from Court on pretence of giving him the súbaddárship of Alláhábád, which had been settled upon him for some time.
2.9
After the lapse of a certain time, this Khán adopted a wonderful expedient. He sent to Court Nawáb Abú-l Mansúr Khán (Safdar Jang), who was commander-in-chief (Sáhib Jang) of the 'Irání troops, and able to oppose the Túránís, from his province of Oudh. He himself repaired thither (to Court) also, and having given the appointment of commander of artillery (Mír-átish), from which Nawáb Saiyidu-d dín Khán had been ejected, to Safdar Jang Bahádur, he managed, according to his former custom, to succeed in all his objects by means of his eloquence and subtlety of address. But one day, Thursday, the 23rd of Zí-l hijja, in the year 1159 a.h., one of his own servants, with whom he had a dispute of long standing, as they were in the public hall of audience near the Jálí Gate, wounded him in the side, and sent him to eternity.