Muntakhab al-lubab 177: [Text, vol. ii. p. 804.] [March of Husain 'Ali Khan.]
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 177
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- English
[Text, vol. ii. p. 804.] [March of Husain 'Ali Khan.]
177.1
At the end of the month Rabi'u-l awwal, at the beginning of the eighth year of the reign, Husain 'Ali Khan approached Dehli and encamped near the Lat of Firoz Shah, two or three kos from the city. There he showed his rebellious designs by ordering his drums to be beaten loudly in defiance; for it is contrary to all rule for (a subject's) drums to be beaten near the residence of the Emperor. Complaining of the Emperor, he entered his tents, and repeatedly said that he no longer reckoned himself among the servants of the monarch. "I will maintain the honour of my race, and care neither for loss of my mansab, nor for royal censure." But the strangest thing was that the heedless Emperor—although he heard the sounds of the hostile drums and trumpets, which rose so boldly and publicly—and although at the sound of the drum other drums in every street and market beat to arms—even then he did not come to his senses. All resolution and prudence was cast aside. Now raging with anger, he rolled up his sleeves (for action), threatening vengeance against the two brothers; now taking a conciliatory turn, he sat behind the curtain of dissimulation, and opened the door of amity upon the face of enmity.
177.2
Rajadhiraj (Jai Singh), who raised his voice in favour of unanimous action and the punishment of the rebels, met with no success. The devoted nobles, of the stocks of 'Arab and of 'Ajam, felt that they had no power of themselves to beat the drums of war and bloodshed, and this was particularly the case with the Mughals, who knew all about the matter. No one had the force to speak a friendly word to him whose head was muffled. At the sight of this change of fortune, of the progress of the rebellion of the two ministers, and of the supineness and want of perception in the Emperor, men lost all heart, and many, taking their cue from him, went to wait upon Saiyid Husain 'Ali.
177.3
Four or five days after the arrival of Husain 'Ali, his brother Saiyid 'Abdu-llah made a statement of his brother's grievances, and said that if Raja Jai Singh, the disturbing spirit, were sent home to his country, and if the nominations to the artillery, and to the office of President of the Privy Council, and the appointments of the Emperor's personal attendants, were made in favour of Husain 'Ali's adherents, and if the fortress were placed under his control, then he would come without any apprehension to pay his homage, and all might be settled to the satisfaction of the two brothers. The poor dull-witted Emperor, unmindful of the deceitfulness of delusive fortune, granted the demands of the Saiyids. He consented to give over the entire control of the appointments to Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, the other Saiyids of Barha, and their supporters; I'tikad Khan and other of his favourites were to be dismissed.
177.4
On the 3rd Rabi'u-l akhir, Rajadhiraj, under an order which did not allow of a day's delay, left Dehli for Amber, his home. * * On the 5th, Saiyid 'Abdu-llah and Maharaja Ajit Singh, with their followers, entered the citadel, and, removing the Emperor's men from the gates, they made their own dispositions, and placed their own men in charge. Of all the great men near the Emperor, none were left near him or near the gates of the fortress, except I'tikad Khan, Imtiyaz Khan, registrar (mushrif) of the Privy Council, whose absence or presence made no difference, Zafar Khan, who, for his complaisance and time-serving, was called, "the pea in every soup," and some helpless attendants and eunuchs. Amiru-l umara Husain 'Ali, with regal pomp and display, mounted his horse, and entered the fort, around which his army, and that of the Mahrattas, had taken post. He paid his homage. After that, a few sad and admonitory words were exchanged. The Amir received the usual presents of robes, etc., with an unwilling heart, and, showing scant ceremony, returned to his abode. On the 8th day of the month the Saiyids for the second time took measures to secure the fort. Kutbu-l Mulk Saiyid 'Abdu-llah and the Maharaja, with their trusted followers and a select force, entered the fortress, and, as before, they removed the royal servants, placed the charge of the gates under their own trusty men, and demanded the keys of the diwan-i khass, the sleeping apartment and the hall of justice. * *
177.5
Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khan went to the distracted Emperor Farrukh Siyar, along with Ajit Singh, and poured forth his grievances. He said, "In return for all our services to you and your ancestors, we have received nothing from you, ungrateful King, but evil thoughts and suspicions and treacherous designs. We have, as proofs of our words, the farmans which you sent to the irreligious Daud Khan Afghan, and other miscreants in the Dakhin, directing them to oppose and slay your faithful servant (Husain 'Ali Khan). * * Our fears and suspicions will not be removed until the control over all the great offices shall be placed in our hands." The bewildered Emperor made some excuses and promises; but the talk went on to a great length, and many bitter and offensive things were said. The Emperor got angry and was unable to restrain himself further. He first said a few words condemning I'tikad Khan, who was in fact the prime cause of the mischief, and then he censured Saiyid 'Abdu-llah. I'tikad Khan made some foolish statements, excusing himself; but both he and the Emperor had lost all control over themselves. Saiyid 'Abdu-llah then interfered, and, abusing I'tikad Khan, he allowed him no retort, but ordered him to be turned out of the fortress. * * All round and about the fortress the cries of strife arose, and the Emperor, feeling his reverse of fortune, went into the female apartments. * *
177.6
That night all the city was full of dread and helplessness. The soldiers of the two brothers were posted fully armed in all the streets and markets, and no one knew what was passing in the fort, or what would happen. Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, Raja Ajit Singh, and their chief supporters, held counsel together, not knowing what the morn would bring forth; but they took such precautions everywhere as seemed necessary. The Mahratta chiefs, Khandu Daphariya, Balaji Bishwanath, Santa, and others, with their ten or eleven thousand men, passed the night under arms, not knowing what would happen, but ready for disturbance and plunder. * *
177.7
Reports of all kinds, false and true, spread abroad. One was that Saiyid 'Abdu-llah had been killed. Other alarming rumours flew about. I'tikad Khan and some other nobles, reckless as to the consequences, were about to take horse and proceed to oppose Amiru-l umara, when the news came of the approach of his cavalcade, and of the banners of I'timadu-d daula Muhammad Amin Khan and Chin Kalich Khan being in sight; for the latter, in his crafty politic way, had left his house to join Amiru-l umara. There was no conflict or struggle with the Mahrattas; for, before things had come to that pass, fourteen or fifteen horsemen, in the service of Khan-dauran, who were called "Blanket-wearers," shot a few arrows against the Mahrattas, when the whole of their force was seized with panic and took to flight. * * The idlers and vagabonds of the bazar and the unemployed Mughals, hearing of this flight, drew their swords and fell to killing and plundering. * * A thousand to fifteen hundred Mahrattas, horse and foot, were killed, including Santa, a chief of note, and two or three other leaders. * * I'tikad Khan, with some of his companions, went into the chauk of Sa'du-llah near his own house, made some attacks, and threw up barricades. But his movement was ill-timed, and, being alarmed at what he had done, he went and surrendered himself prisoner.
177.8
The tumult was still high when the drums proclaimed the accession of Abu-l Barakat Rafi'u-d Darajat, and a declaration of amnesty was also published. * * The people were desirous to get a message sent in by artifice to Farrukh Siyar, and to bring him out of the palace; but they were unsuccessful. The women, the Abyssinians and the Turks, all prepared to fight. At length some Afghans and attendants (chelas), backed up by Najmu-d din 'Ali Khan, younger brother of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and * * some other traitors, entered the palace. After much search, Farrukh Siyar was found hidden in a corner of the roof, to which they got a hint from some of the women. They dragged him out with great indignity. His mother, wife, sister, and other ladies who were near the unfortunate monarch, cried and wailed, and threw themselves at the feet of the Afghans and chelas, beseeching and entreating them. * * At length the conspirators dragged him away from the women, and, having blinded him, they placed him in confinement in a room at the top of the tirauliya in the fort. This was a small and narrow room like a grave, which had been used for keeping prisoners destined for the torture. In this corner of sorrow and grief they left him, with nothing but a ewer, a vessel for the necessities of nature, and a glass to drink out of.
177.9
The troublous reign of the late Farrukh Siyar the Shahid (martyr) lasted for six years and four months, without counting the eleven months of the reign of Jahandar, which were reckoned as part of his reign, and so entered in the royal records.