[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin) › [A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa) › 19.2 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.2 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 19.2 - **Language:** English ### [19.2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.1) It must be observed that although the new Sovereign had been opposed nowhere, it was rather through incertitude how to act, than out of any affection to his person, or any opinion of his talents; so that every one had thoughts of availing himself of such a time of trouble. Ram-narain, who in his heart was strongly attached to Aaly-verdy-qhan's family, had already wrote to the zemindars of his province, and namely, to Radja Sunder-sing, and Radja Pahluvan-sing, the most powerful amongst them, to exhort them to join with him in a common effort, calculated to revenge the death of their master's son. But he received no favourable answer from anywhere; and he soon found that his situation, by becoming critical, required a deal of dissimulation, and some apparent compliance with the revolution; for by this time, strong suspicions had arisen in his mind, nor were they totally groundless. One day as he was amusing himself with viewing a seat and garden he had raised, he was informed that Mir-cazem-qhan, who was indeed the Commander of his troops, but who was also elder brother to Mir-djaafer, had suddenly made his appearance at the gate with a great throng of friends and attendants. The Governor, surprised at the suddenness of the intrusion, retired to another set of secret apartments that had a communication with his garden; from thence he sent to complain of the abruptness of so unexpected a visit, and also to excuse his not seeing him at present. ### [19.2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.2) A couple of hours after he retired to his palace, which was in the citadel; where he made several observations on a visit that afforded such a handle to suspicions, both on the visitor's account and on that of his brother. The latter, informed of a miscarriage that might bring disagreeable consequences, sent him two envoys, who had orders to pacify his mind, by every means in their power. The first of these was Mir-sheriff-din, an ancient officer, who after having successively served the three preceding Viceroys, was now a friend of the new Prince. The second was Govind-mul, an agent and friend of Djagat-seat's. The envoys spared no pains in persuading the Governor to remain quiet during the troubles at Purnia; for by this time Hazyr-aaly-qhan supported by Achel-sing, had taken possession of the capital, confined Mohon-lal, who was Deputy-Governor on the part of Seradj-ed-doulah, and seized the money he had under his guard. But Achel-sing, in fact, was at the bottom of all the contrivance; his credit in the province knew no bounds, having been for a length of time strictly connected with Government as lessee of the Districts of Tadj-pûr, Seripûr, Gundvara, and Carangola, in which station he had acquired both riches and a character. The farmers of the revenue, as well as all the military Commanders, had connections with him so early as the first year of Sayd-ahmed-qhan's administration; and the same may be said equally of Hazyr-aaly. ### [19.2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.3) Both passed for men of consequence, and people had contracted an attachment to their persons. And, as on the other hand, the inhabitants of Pûrania are exactly the counterpart of those of Bengal; those tame, cowardly wretches, at all times so crouching and so ready to submit to any one that offers; no one will wonder at Hazyr-aaly's having brought into his views both the troops and inhabitants. But he forgot himself not a little in confining the Deputy, Mohon-lal. It was after that performance, that he marched up to the Mesned of command and independence, and very unconcernedly took his seat in it. That day he appointed Achel-sing, for his Divan or Prime Minister declaring publicly, from thence, that he was the person on whom he had conferred the management of the finances. However, it may be said with truth that he was himself no better than a pageant, and that he acted entirely under the other's guidance. Such an intelligence could not but confound the Prince; who under pretence of a journey to Azim-abad, was really marching against Ram-narain. Fain he was to divide his attention betwixt two objects become equally important; and in the month of Sefur, 1171, just five months after having acquired the precarious sovereignty of Bengal, he quitted his capital, and encamped in the plain, leaving his worthy son, Miren, to command in his stead as his Deputy. ### [19.2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.4) Unfortunately, on the very first days of his march, he chanced in one of his sober moments, to remember Mirza-mehdy, younger brother to Seradj-ed-doulah, a youthful Prince, who had been early decorated with all his father's titles, but who was now under a severe confinement. Straight he sent an order for his being put to death instantly. The report ran then, and it was generally believed, that the unfortunate, innocent, youth had been forced between two of those wooden frames, called taqhtas, where they conserve shawls and other precious goods; and that the ropes having been strained hard at one and the same time, he had been squeezed to death; and it is from that kind of rack, that his guiltless soul took its flight towards the regions of unalterable innocence and eternal repose. It is true that some persons said, that he had been made away with by a strong dose of poison ; but some others, even after having admitted the kind of death we have mentioned, assign for cause, the dissensions that had early risen between the two confederates, Mir-djaafer-qhan, and Radja Dooloob-ram. These dissensions had risen to such a height, that those two men, once such fast friends, could not bear an intercourse, and had already conceived a mortal dislike to each other. ### [19.2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.5) Now it must be remembered that Dooloob-ram had been an eminent Minister, son to a man of consequence, had enjoyed the highest favour of Aaly-verdy-qhan, his master, and was in possession of important offices, and in full possession of a fringed Paleki, a kettle-drum, and other honourific insignia, at a time, when Mir-djaafer-qhan, actually convicted of malversation and infamous management in his then office of Paymaster-General, was obliged to look out for a shelter, under the Minister's wings. A service of that consequence deserved, in the Gentoo's opinion, very high acknowledgments ; for it was acknowledged as such, by all the officers, and all the soldiers of the army. No wonder then that he should now prove too high-minded, to bear Mir-djaafer-qhan's assumed superiority, and too incensed, to submit to his sway ; so that his discontent and indignation had prompted him to take measures for releasing Mirza-mehdy, whose person was to be sent him secretly by some men that had it in custody, and whom he had gained underhand. Be it as it may, Mir-djaafer, who somehow had suspected the probability of such a management, and who was thoroughly sensible of all that could be performed by a man ; who to his immense personal property joined an unbounded influence over the hearts of all the troops ; resolved to be beforehand with him, and he without hesitation, dispatched an order for murdering that youth, whose innocence and beauty drew tears from every eye. ### [19.2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.6) This order had been entrusted to Miren, that virtuous son of his, who after having signalised himself anew, by shedding so much innocent blood, and laid up thereby, as he thought, an abundant stock of ease of mind, for his own occasions, now abandoned himself to all kinds of excesses ; and as he imagined that with the title of Shahamet-djung, which he had so much longed for, and had now assumed, he had likewise inherited all the other qualifications of the late Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, who had always borne it, he modelled his household accordingly, took in his service all the officers and servants that had belonged to that much regretted nobleman, and therefore appointed Hadjee Mehdy, for his Superintendent of the hall of audience, and Radja Bullub, a Bengalee of Djehan-ghir-nugur-dacca, for his Prime Minister. But whilst he was new-modelling his household in that manner, there arose under his very eyes, a man whose fortune became prodigious. This was Qhadum-hassen-qhan, the very man who had lately cut so conspicuous a figure, in driving away the disconsolate mother of Seradj-ed-doula's. He boasted assiduously of his being related to Mir-djaafer-qhan, although in reality he was no relation of his in any degree; for he was born, not of Mir-djaafer-qhan's sister, as married to Seyd-qhadem-aaly-qhan, but only from a Cashmirian wife of his, whom the latter had likewise married; ### [19.2.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.7) and this was all the foundation of a relationship, he now so loudly claimed, styling himself his nephew, and never mentioning the new Prince, but by the appellation of his Mamoo, or maternal uncle. But although his relation to the new Sovereign was so very slight and groundless, he was very much related to him in other weighty respects. He was nearly of the same age, extremely addicted to voluptuousness and profligacies, and above all, had an invincible inclination to some particular species of unnatural lusts, to which the two friends had taken an habit from their earliest youths, and which the two friends practised reciprocally; living mostly together, and frequently retiring together. However he was superior to his Mamoo in other respects. Quick-sighted in matters of account and book-keeping, thoroughly skilled in the arts of making money, ready-handed enough at quarrels and frays, and above all, deeply conversant in all the secret subtilities and contrivances of non-conformism, and unnatural practices, which last were his peculiar taste and particular turn of mind; and as on the other hand, he had been long enough in the service of the late Sayd-ahmed-qhan, to have acquired thereby a competent acquaintance, not only with whatever concerned the finances of the country, but also with the inlets into the province of Poorania, and with its strong and weak sides; so he thought himself well-qualified for a Governor; and he accordingly requested the government of that country. ### [19.2.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.8) "He "reminded Mir-djaafer-qhan of the activity he had exhibited in serving him with his person, in his disputes with Seradj-ed-doula (although in reality it was he that had escaped by taking shelter under Mir-djaafer-qhan's protection, as Seradj-ed-doulah had got information of his cabals, and wanted to punish him according to his deserts), he represented, I say, to his friend, that now that fortune had bestowed upon him so much power, and such extensive dominions, he hoped he would allow him to better his fortune in that little corner of Púrania, a favour which after all would not be bestowed on a stranger." This representation being made at a time when Mir-djaafer-qhan had set out on purpose to chastise the revolted of Púrania, and to quiet the troubles of that province, could not fail of being listened to, especially as Qhadum-hassen-qhan, who was master of much ready money, and had furnished himself with a nobleman's equipage, had offered to quell the troubles of that province, at his own charge and peril, provided he had the government of it, and was assisted with a small force. ### [19.2.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2.9) The old Navvab, who had been at all times indolent and averse to labour, but who now detested the very thoughts of it, on finding himself fated to taste of the sweets of sovereignty, no earlier than in the evening of life, was glad to rid himself of such an out-of-the-way expedition, the more so, as it interfered with his intended scheme against Azim-abad, which last he thought much more important. He therefore bestowed on Qhadum-hassen-qhan the investiture and qhylaat of Púraniah; and Mir-cazam-qhan, an ancient Commander of Aaly-verdy-qhan's time, was ordered to attend him with his corps, and to obey his commands; this officer who was a man of character, and a little related to me, the poor man, had cut so great a figure at the battle in which Shaocat-djung lost his life, that the new Navvab desirous to win his heart, had augmented his brigade, and had bestowed upon him the Paymastership of several other corps. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.19.2) · Pramāṇa