Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 12.18
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 12.18
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- English
12.18.1
Then I wish you to carry them thither, that I may hear what they think of it. It is a most magnificent one. The real meaning of the order having been fully comprehended, the Mirza carried the two noblemen into the tent, where in a few words he informed them of what was going to happen, and exhorted them to be ready and upon their guards. A moment after they all came out again, and said to the Viceroy that the tent was perfectly beautiful, and fit for such a General; by which expression, the Viceroy understood that they approved of the contrivance, and would perform their part in it. All this while the Viceroy was sitting in state, and waiting for Bha-sukur, and receiving every moment information of his approaching. But whilst that General was advancing to the gate of the tent, a small number of persons of distinction, both out of curiosity and to do him honour, approached it at the same time; and even the Viceroy's driver brought his elephant within the yard of it, and took post behind his master, but close to his head. At this moment about fifty officers that preceded Bha-sukur, having alighted, came within the tent, all armed; and this precaution of theirs was coloured by the pretence of their being intended to swear to the performance of the articles of agreement, which they would do upon their sabres. Amongst these were two-and-twenty Commanders of eminence and character;
12.18.2
the others were amongst those persons called Amnics in India, who on the others advancing, advanced likewise, but stopped within the tent-yard. It was at this moment that Bha-sukur, alighting from his mare, came within the tent, holding Mustapha-qhan's hand by the right, and Djanki-ram's by the left. A cohort of his officers which were close upon his back, now spread on both sides of him, all armed and all with their hands upon the hilt of their sabres; and another body shut up his rear, every one of them with a look, ferocious, and a threatening aspect. This was the moment which the two negotiators seized to disengage themselves. They both quitted the General's hand, and excused themselves on being obliged to go away for a few minutes. By this time he had advanced within three-quarts of the length of the yard; when the Viceroy asked in an audible voice which of those eminent officers was the Valorous Bha-sukur-pandet? And having been answered by Mirza-hekim-beg, who pointed to him with the finger, as did many others who had been stationed there for that purpose, the question was repeated. Three times did the Viceroy ask the question, and three times was it answered by pointing with the finger; and now Bha-sukur drawing near, the Viceroy commanded his people to fall upon those free-booters. But as none of the by-standers had been prepared for the intended scene, they all stood aghast with surprise, and motionless with amazement.
12.18.3
However, this was not the case with Mir-cazem-qhan, who having asked what were his commands, was answered with a repetition of the order in a firm tone of voice. Instantly that Commander drew. Ber-qhordar-beg and some others drew likewise, and all ran straight before them; whilst five or six officers of Mutapha-qhan's, all as stout and as brave as himself, chancing to come in, drew likewise on seeing sabres drawn, and all together rushed on the Marhattas. Mir-cazem-qhan, being the foremost of all, closed with Bha-sukur, and at one stroke felled him to the ground. This seemed a signal for the engagement. The Marhattas, although unprepared, drew on their side instantly, and engaged the Mussulmen, but with so much vigour, that the action became at once furious, bloody, and doubtful. Heads and arms were flying about, and numbers falling every moment; so that the multitude of persons of distinction that had come as spectators, seeing blood running in streams, forgot in a moment their characters of professed bravoes, and retreated from that scene of confusion and slaughter. At this very moment the tent-walls having been suddenly let down, Mutapha-qhan, who just had time to cast a glance at the engagement, put spurs to his horse, and ran to put himself at the head of his brigade, with which he fell like lightning upon the Marhatta army, then ready drawn up; sending word to his master, at the same time, to mount immediately and to run to his assistance.
12.18.4
The latter, whilst a furious engagement was taking place at twenty yards from him, where every one intent upon the adversary before him, minded no one else, was standing upon his Mesned with his bucler on his arm, and his sabre drawn; nor had he any more than a few men about his person at that moment. These intreated him to get upon his elephant, and this was what he intended himself; but one of his slippers could not be found. I must have my other slipper, said the Viceroy, before I can lay my feet upon the bare ground. And pray, screamed out a voice, is this a time to look out for a slipper? No, indeed, replied the Viceroy, it is not; but were I now to go without my slippers, you would not fail to-morrow morning to say, that Aaly-verdy was in such a hurry to get out of the fray, that he left his slippers behind. At last the slipper was found out, and he mounted his elephant. By this time the Marhattas to a man were all dispatched. When on his elephant, he looked round, and asked where was Mustapha-qhan, he was told that he was fallen upon the Marhatta army in expectation of being supported by His Highness in person. Still he would not move, but asked for the ravager's head, that he might be satisfied of his being dead; he was repeatedly told he was; and the music played already by his order; but still he would not move until he could see the head.
12.18.5
At last it was brought him, and having tarried a little more to ascertain its identicity, he then ordered his elephant forwards, and marched briskly to come up with the enemy. He went on without stopping, until he reached Catwa, where the Marhatta grand army had been encamped. But not one Marhatta could be found there. The reason was, that that they had no officer of rank among them, as the general officers, on seeing Bha-sukur resolved to go to the interview, had made it a point to accompany him to a man. So that they had all been dispatched to a man, save one, however, whose name was Rhago-caicvar, who unmoved by Mustapha-qhan's insinuations, and by Bha-sukur and Aaly-bha-caraol's intreaties and example, had remained without the tent at the head of his men, promising to pay a visit to the Viceroy the next day, as soon as Bha-sukur's visit should be over. This man on the first noise he heard within the tent, spurred his horse, went to the camp, and taking up with him every part of Bha-sukur's baggage, he fled with his troops, and could not be overtaken; and although he was attacked repeatedly by all the Zemindars and all the peasants in his way, and he lost a number of men in his retreat; yet it must be acknowledged, that it is to the presence of mind of Caicvar, that a vast number of Marhattas were indebted for the good luck of having emerged from that whirlpool of slaughter and destruction, and for having reached the benign shore of salvation.
12.18.6
It was in this manner, that the mighty army of Bha-sukur's was in one day annihilated; and what escaped the edge of the sword, fled in the utmost confusion out of the confines of Bengal and Oressa, and at last reached their own country in the most wretched condition. Aaly-verdy-qhan after this expedition returned to his capital, not only without losing a single man, but also with such an addition to his character, as raised him both in the minds of his troops and of his subjects, who admired their being so suddenly delivered from those merciless ravagers; nor were the troops less pleased with their unexpected success. And as an acknowledgment for their alertness in executing his commands, he made them a present of ten lacks of rupees. After this, he sent an account of the affair to the capital, and supplicated the Emperor to raise Mustapha-qhan to the dignity of Djung, and to bestow additional honours on every one of those who had exerted themselves so strenuously in the engagement of the tent; for instance, on Mir-djaafer-qhan, who on the very onset received a large wound, and yet continued fighting; on Fakir-ollah-beg-qhan; on Haider-aaly-qhan, and on some others. The Emperor on hearing the supplication, complied with its requests, bestowed on Mustapha-qhan the surname of Babr-djung, or Tiger in Battle, with a variety of honours and insignia; and the title of Bahadyr or Valiant, on every one of the persons mentioned to him.
12.18.7
To Aaly-verdy-qhan in particular, he bestowed the surname of Shudjah-el-mulk, or the Valiant of the Kingdom, and sent him a suit of clothes from his own wardrobe, with a sabre, a poniard, a horse, and a variety of jewels.