Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.1
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 19.1
- Language
- English
19.1.1
Ram-narain, Viceroy of Azim-abad, submits to Mir-djaafer-qhan — The Author's family greatly disappointed — Hazyr-ally, slave to the former family, seizes the province of Pùrania — Mirza-mehdi, a child of fifteen, youngest brother of Seradj-ed-doula, is barbarously put to death by Mir-djaafer-qhan's order — Qhadum-hassan-qhan, a very strange character, sent to Pùrania, expells Hazur-aaly — His conduct — His behaviour to an innocent astrologer — Ram-narain manages so as to put himself under the safeguard of the English Government — The Author recovers his Djaghir, or family estate — Shitab-rày makes his appearance on the stage of the world — Mir-abdollah, a gentleman of the Imperial family of Persia — Wretched administration of the Navvab's, and of his son — The troops, headed by two principal officers, conspire against him — The conspiracy is discovered and severely punished — Mir-cazem, an officer of importance, enveloped in the punition — Several illustrious but defenceless women sent into a loathsome confinement — The Navvab's detestable conduct renders Seradj-ed-doula regretted — Radja Sunder-sing, one of the most zealous friends of a revolution, is accidentally killed — The Imperial Prince, Aaly-goher, undertakes an expedition against Bengal — Is strongly recommended by his mother to our author's father, Hedaiet-ally-qhan — Mahmed-cùli-qhan, Lord of Ilah-abad, joins the Prince — Ram-narain tampers with the two parties — Our author rendered suspected on account of his father, justifies his conduct — The author sent on an embassy to the Shah-zada, or Imperial Prince — Faithless proposals of our author's rejected with indignation by his father, and by the General of the army — Azim-abad besieged by the Shah-zada — The siege raised on the report of the arrival of the Bengal Army, and of Mahmed-cùli-qhan's having been circumvented by his kinsman, Shudja-ed-doula — The Shah-zada joined by the Frenchman Moosie-Lass — Mahmed-c8li-qhan's army waylaid and stripped by his kinsman's troops, and his person confined — Resolute behaviour of an officer who stands upon his defence;
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his noble character — The refractory Governor of P8rania is reconciled, by the interposition of the English — Second expedition of the Shah-zada's in Bengal — The Shah-zada hearing that his father had been murdered ascends the throne under the title of Shah-aalem — He beats Ram-narain in battle, but misses Azim-abad — He marches forward to encounter the Navvab of Bengal and Colonel Clive — Beats the Indians, but is beaten by the English — Camcar-qhan detaches himself from the Shah-zada, to fall by stealth upon M8rsh8d-abad — Is prevented by the old Navvab and a body of English — The Navvab orders an officer of character to be blown at a gun — The refractory Governor of P8rania wants to join the Shah-zada — Azim-abad assaulted twice, is succoured by Capt. Knox, who makes a successful sally, and then with a handful of men attacks and beats the Governor of P8rania — The Colonel and Miren arrive — The latter is killed by the lightning. The deplorable death of Seradj-ed-doulah, by transferring the sovereignty to another family, had not put an end to the troubles of the country. Mir-djaafer-qhan, who had been his General and kinsman, now became his successor, and was everywhere acknowledged with an unanimity which doubtless had something very surprising for him as much as for others. One of his first cares was to write to Radja Ram-narain, Governor-General of Azim-abad. The letter contained an invitation to submit to the revolution that had taken place;
19.1.3
and it was therefore filled with many promises and many kindnesses. This letter produced all the effect expected from it. The Gentoo at a loss how to act on so sudden an intimation, thought it best for his own interest to acquiesce for the present. In a few days he received an order to set at liberty Mirza-gholam-aaly-beg, son to Doctor Hekim-beg, and to send him with honour to Court. The poor man, who had been dragged back from Arvel, by Seradj-ed-doulah's order, and expected nothing but what was sinister, from Court, was very much surprised at a polite letter the Radja wrote him on the occasion; and he set out immediately for M8rsh8d-abad. As his humour and character were much akin to that of Mir-djaafer-qhan's, he was received with affection, and treated with so much distinction and regard, that he came soon to eclipse all the courtiers and favourites. But meanwhile, the news of such a revolution had flown to Banaress, where it soon became public that Mir-djaafer-qhan had been transported half asleep, from his bed-chamber to a throne; and that he already enjoyed the Sovereignty in full. Such a piece of intelligence could not fail to cheer up the spirits of our family, which was then in that city.
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As we had been exiled by Seradj-ed-doulah's order from his dominions, and we had left behind houses, possessions, and a Djaghir, or landed estate, such a revolution seemed to us a favourable opportunity for our returning to a city that had become our home, and to which we were attached by a variety of ties. But ambition seemed likewise to have a share in our eagerness. We had been at all times, and from our very childhood, intimately acquainted with the new Sovereign, as well as connected with his family; he had at all times shewn the sincerest attachment, and the most respectful regard for my illustrious father; insomuch, that whenever he had any occasion to take a journey to Mbrshbd-abad, it was always he that paid me the first visit; nor was it returned but several days after, when I had seen my house cleared of the crowds of visitors; nor did his son, Miren, behave less respectfully. This young nobleman, out of regard, doubtless, to some years which I had more than him, made it a point to abstain from smoking his hocca in my presence. As to the father, he had such a predilection for my younger brother, Naky-aaly-qhan, that he seemed to be his companion, and the partner of all his pleasures. Nor was it easy to conceive a stricter union than that which seemed to subsist between these two bosom friends.
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No wonder then, if on the first intelligence of so mighty a revolution, my brother should have conceived that all this power, and all this sudden flow of wealth, were articles in which he could claim a share; and he reckoned, that the least object he could now aspire to, would be the office of Deputy-Governor of Azim-abad. Full of these high-flown notions, he wrote the new Sovereign a respectful letter of congratulation; and taking his father, brother, family, servants, dependants, and effects, with him, he made haste to embark for Azim-abad, sensible that now was the time to reap the benefit of his late connections. But I, who knew that his late friend was now a high-seated Sovereign, that touched the firmament with his forehead; who felt the comparative inferiority of my station and rank; and who was thoroughly apprised of Mir-djaafer-qhan's character (a man incapable to remember of past obligations, or to mind rights of old date); and who was abundantly sensible that his garden would never afford a flower of good smell; I, who knew the man completely, was far from being so sanguine; and I thought it more prudent to tarry some time more at Banaress, and to act with more propriety and circumspection. My shyness was disapproved; and my younger brother soon found himself landed at Azim-abad.
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But this arrival having been notified to the new Prince by the Governor of the province, the latter soon received a letter, full of reprimands and bitter reproaches, for what was styled the Governor's supineness; and it conveyed a peremptory order to send back to Banaress the new arrived folks, without delay, and without fail. This letter opened Naky-aaly qhan's eyes; then indeed he repented of his hastiness. Luckily for him that Mir-cazem-qhan, elder brother to the new Prince, was these many years in Ram-narain's service, both as Paymaster and Commander of his troops. He was a plain man, with very little brilliancy in his character; but who, however, (and justice is due to every one) seemed very valuable on other accounts, being a good-natured man. My younger brother, who thought this man's acquaintance of some resource, paid him a visit, in which he informed him that he had just received, by a chopdar, or mace-bearer, of Ram-narain's, an absolute order from the Prince to return forthwith to Banaress. This intimation affected the good-natured man; and it produced the following message to the Radja-Governor: Sir, I inform you, that these noblemen are my friends; and that I consent to share their destiny, whatever be their chance. If therefore, you turn them out of Azim-abad, you must think of turning me out of it too. Ram-narain returned a respectful answer; in which "he excused what he had done, on the plea of necessity;
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and "added, that he also had the honour to be an acquaintance and "a friend of those noblemen, and would have never sent so bitter "a message, had he not received an express order from Court." This answer having not satisfied the good-natured man, he backed his request by a note, in these words : Sir, my brother knows not what he is about. I take the matter upon me. Pray do not give yourself any further trouble on that head. The Radja did not reply ; but the good-natured man, in the effusions of a feeling heart, took pen immediately, and wrote to his brother whatever came uppermost in his mind ; so that the Prince finding himself reprimanded by his elder brother, desisted from his pursuit. It was just at this conjuncture I chanced to arrive at Azim-abad, but it was to give some umbrage to my younger brother, who became fearful lest the Prince's ill will, and the Governor's injunction, might be renewed on my occasion. Finding how uneasy he was, I desired him to give himself no trouble on that head, as I would, myself, give the Governor notice of my arrival ; adding, that if I received his leave, I would stay ; else, that I would instantly return. After saying these few words, I wrote a short note to Ram-narain. This was immediately answered by a polite letter, in which he not only gave me leave to remain, but expressed a desire to see me. I, therefore, paid him a visit, and this was followed by some others, but at great intervals ;
19.1.8
making it a point to live retired with my mother and my brothers. And things went on smoothly enough, until a report spread, that Mir-djaafer-qhan had quitted his capital, and shortly would be at Azim-abad. This journey, or expedition of his, was on account of the umbrage he had taken at the revolution that had lately taken place at Purania ; where one Hazyr-aaly-qhan, who from a slave-boy to Sayd-ahmed-qhan, had become a man in favour with his master, and a Superintendent of his hall of audience, was now availing himself of the influence which he had in the country, to seize the government of it. This man, in confederacy with Achel-sing, who had been Divan to young Shaocat-djung, had laid his hands upon the son of Mohon-lal, whom he confined ; and he had set up his ownself for lord of the province. Mir-djaafer-qhan, therefore, was coming, both to quell that insurrection, and to take possession of Azim-abad.