Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.13
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 19.13
- Language
- English
19.13.1
"really submitted and joined you; and which would likewise "render the Bengal army more cautious of advancing to the "assistance of a man that had already surrendered." To all this he answered, that Mahmed-c8li-qhan was the master. On this answer, "I proposed that he should impart the advice to that General." He replied, that as the General never asked any advice of him, so he had not the least inclination to obtrude any upon him. At these words I lost my temper, and could not help saying, that, "if such was the case, then honour and "character would suffer, and be gone; nor would they leave "behind in their stead, anything but repentance. Since your "Highness," added I, "would not choose to be hearty in this "affair, you ought to have taken no share in it at all." To all this he answered by some angry words, and I remained silent. The next morning being the day appointed for Ram-narain's rendering his homage to the Prince, I went in my father's company to the hall of Imperial audience, and had a full view of the whole ceremony. At last news came that the Radja was arrived, and in a private conference with Mahmed-c8li-qhan; at the conclusion of which, he would be conducted to the presence by that General himself. This intelligence put me upon proposing my advice to Munnir-ed-doula, and to some others. But every one excused himself upon his want of influence. Whilst I was speaking, Mahmed-c8li-qhan himself was descried, walking slowly with the Radja at his side.
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He left him at the outer door, and having advanced forwards, and made a profound bow, he took his post as Vezir, at the Prince's left hand; after him stood Byram-qhan, Medar-ed-doula, and Yahia-qhan, with a few other noblemen that had come with the Vezir. My father in his right of Paymaster-General, stood at the Prince's right hand, and immediately after him stood Munnir-ed-doula, then myself; next to me a number of noblemen and Generals of the Prince's Court. The General on getting in his place, commenced mentioning Radja Ram-narain, and making his eulogium. "He is" said he, "a Gentoo very intelligent, and of a conciliating "mind. He speaks Persian grammatically, and, there appears so "much sense and wisdom in everything he says, that I have "made him my Divan, and my Deputy at Ilah-abad." The Prince, whether from having heard of my proposal, or from his own good sense, answered in these very words : As you have been so very little time together, how does it happen that he is become your trusty man at once ? On this Medar-ed-doula answered, by passing a general encomium upon the Radja's fidelity, and upon his attachment and zeal to the Imperial service. At these words Mirza-issac, intent on cutting some figure at any rate, broke forth and enumerated anew all his good qualities ; and he went so far as to pledge himself for his fidelity and his submission to the Imperial pleasure.
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These noble persons, gained by two or three thousand rupees spread amongst them with some other presents, had lent a willing ear to the Radja's ambiguous promises, and to his general professions, and of course, were now unanimous and profuse in his encomiums. This was very natural ; but what could be the reason why neither the Prince, nor the General, nor anyone well-wisher to their cause, had ever thought of putting this plain question to the Cashmirian ? Suppose that the Radja, after returning into his fortress, should refuse to come out again, (as in fact he did) you that pledge yourself for the man's fidelity and submission, how shall you make him perform his promise, or bring him out again ? This man has been faithless to his master ; and you, a Cashmirian, pretend to pledge yourself for his zeal and attachment ! "Where the eagle is losing its feathers, "What can be expected from its starving young one ?" Whilst the envoys were passing encomiums on Ram-narain, he was already come into the presence, where having been made to bow in a manner which he had never seen in his life, he advanced with limbs trembling, and lips dried up by fear, near to the throne, where Medar-ed-doulah laying hold of his hand, which was full of Eshruffies, made the Shah-zada accept his nuzer and his homage. Immediately after the General mentioned the Radja's zeal and submission, and supplicated that a qhylaat might be put upon him. The Prince complied with the request ;
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and the Vezir having carried Ram-narain into an adjoining tent, put the dress of honour upon him, and adorned his head with a circlet, and an aigrett, remarkable by Phoenix's feathers ; such as is worn by the Imperial Princes. Radja M8rly-dur having refused to be of the party, only two persons more received a qhylaat ; and it was Ahmed-qhan-coreishy, and Mustepha-c8ly-qhan, who were both with the Radja, and had bowed to the Prince. Being all dressed in that manner, they all returned to the presence ; but the Radja, who had always acted as a master, and who had never been subject to any constraint, was confounded at the respectful posture he was obliged to take, and at the repeated bows he was directed to make, at every word spoke to him — he was overcome with heat and fatigue, and quite astonished at what he beheld. However, as soon as he had returned to himself, and found time to breathe freely, and to recover from his fatigue and surprise, he doubtless reflected in his mind, on that air of wretchedness and misery that pierced through all the flimsy gaudiness which was intended to disguise the Prince's condition, and that of his famished courtiers. The misery of what was styled the Imperial army, struck his senses forcibly ; and he repented heartily of his coming. It is true, he did not utter a word of all that ; but I comprehended very well his sense of it, from his humbled looks, the colour of his complexion, and from the whole cast of his features ;
19.13.5
he wished himself gone, and out of the clutches of those famished vultures. A moment after, the General took his leave, and carried the Radja to the head-quarters, from whence, he had the folly to let such a game escape out of his paws, and to dismiss the man with all the ease imaginable. He had been lodged in a tent apart, but close to that of Mahmed-c8ly-qhan's ; and he had hardly commenced to breathe freely, when Mirza-m8suvi, one of those who had been dispatched in company with Medar-ed-doulah, to bring him from the city, was sent to him with a message in these words ; — The Government of Azim-abad has been bestowed on the man you know, (meaning Mirza-hassen, younger brother to Mahmed-c8ly-qhan), and you have been yourself appointed Divan to both the Governments of Azim-abad and Ilah-abad ; for which I wish you joy. This particular has been affirmed by persons of great credit ; who add, that Mirza-issac, who happened to come in at that particular moment, and to be joined to Mirza-m8suvi in the same commission, could not help expressing his surprise at the numerous improprieties of the message. Both the envoys excused themselves, and respectfully represented, "that such a message was not yet of season; and that they were certain it would never produce any good at all." But these objections having answered no other purpose than that of putting the General in a passion, he sent one of his guards to bring the Radja;
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and on his coming in, he informed him of the dispositions that had been made. The man very wisely inclined his head in token of consent, congratulated the new Governor on his promotion, asked his protection, and then took his leave and went to his tent. In the evening he sent a trusty man (it was Mahmed-afac, the cutwal of Azim-abad) to inform the General, he was going to town to refresh himself. The General answered: "You may; I wish you a good journey." At these words, some persons present repeated to him the advice I had given; but he heard it with detestation, and said, that it was downright treason; nor was any such matter stipulated in the treaty. They answered, "that they proposed no harm at all; but that it was not stipulated neither, that he should return to his castle." At these words, the General's indignation rose to a height; he refused to listen to any thing more on that subject, and added this remark: Let him return to his castle, as much as he pleases. Where is the man daring enough to stand the brunt of my unsheathed sabre? "A blind man having by chance stumbled on an opportunity,— "Made nothing of it himself, nor would let others put it to some profit."
19.13.7
On the Radja's coming out of the tent, a person, upon an elephant, received him into the chair, by the General's directions, and he offered to carry him to the city. The Radja consented; but after having gone a few hundred paces with him, he excused himself on his being, as a Gentoo, forbidden drinking water in the same place with a Mussulman; and calling for another elephant of his own, he got on his back, and drank water; and then pushed forwards with all the speed which fear and anxiety could give him.