'Ibrat-náma, of Muhammad Kásim (Elliot & Dowson, extracts)
Translation of ʿIbrat-namah (ʿIbrat-nāmah)
- Language
- English
- Date
- 1877 CE
- Translators
- Henry Miers Elliot, John Dowson
- Extent
- 3 passages, 591 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)
Contents
Text
1
[The exaltation of the Saiyids ('Abdu-llah and Husain 'Ali Khan) exceeded all conception, and passed the bounds of description. They became envied by many of the nobles, and their names were upon every tongue. Mir Jumla on his part never lost an opportunity of making malicious insinuations and charges against Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and he especially complained that the Saiyid, in pursuit of his own pleasure, had left all the control of business in the hands of Ratan Chand, who had a maw as insatiable as the nethermost hell for swallowing gold and silver. Against the younger brother Amiru-l umara Saiyid 'Ali Khan, it was alleged that his bearing was proud and haughty, unbecoming in a subject. By such insinuations the mind of the Emperor was poisoned. Khan-dauran was ostensibly intimate and friendly with the two brothers, but he considered himself one of the most trusted counsellors of the Emperor. He was never absent from Court night or day, and whatever entered his mind, whether exalted or low, pleasant or unpleasant, he imparted to the Emperor. * * It was often proposed that the two brothers should be seized in the Emperor's private council chamber, and committed to close confinement.]
2
[The chief nobles having, according to practice, attended the Emperor to his tents, were returning to their own quarters. Amiru-l umara Husain 'Ali, unmindful of the designs of his enemies, proceeded to his tents in a palki, escorted by seven or eight of his attendants. Muhammad Amin Khan, Sa'adat Khan, and some other of the conspirators, were with him. Muhammad Amin resorted to artifice, and pretending to be faint, he wished to lie down on the ground. He was brought round by means of rose-water and musk. Thereupon he directed that they should bring to him Haidar Kuli Khan, the commander of the artillery. They ran to fetch that crafty partner in the conspiracy. At this time there were only two or three of the attendants and valiant brothers of the Saiyid near his palki. A man named Haidar Beg, from the station of Muhammad Amin, accompanied by several Mughals, came forward complaining of Muhammad Amin, and desiring to present a petition. * * The attendants wanted to take the petition from his hands, but he would not allow them. The Amiru-l umara kindly told them to let the man approach. Haidar Beg advanced to present the petition, and as the Amir took it, the assassin drew a dagger from his waist, and stuck the Amir in the side, so that he rolled out of the palki, and his blood spurted over the bystanders. He called out, "Will no one come to my aid?" and as he lay with his bowels protruding, he cried, "Bring me a horse, I will ride." A youth of fourteen years of age, named Saiyid Mir Khan, son of the Amir's elder brother Asadu-llah Khan Bahadur, was walking near the palki, and as soon as he saw what was passing, he cried out, "Some rascals are killing the Nawab!" Then he attacked Haidar Beg fiercely with his short sword, and wounded him in two or three places, stretching him dead upon the ground beside his victim. The other Mughals attacked the youth, and slew him with many wounds. The murdered Nawáb's head was then cut off, and carried to Muhammad Amín Khán, and those who bore it expected great rewards in fulfilment of the promises made to them.]
3
[The Mughals at length so worked upon the Emperor by their importunities and artifices, that he consented to the poisoning of the Saiyid.]