Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 19.7
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 19.7
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19.7.1
"How should a secret remain concealed, which is talked of in assemblies." The Navvab got timely notice, and mounting on his nalky, he went away; nor did Hady-qhan find in himself daringness enough to execute his scheme. Mir-cazem-qhan, who followed the Navvab, called out to that officer, as he passed by him; but this signal answered no purpose; it only served to inspire suspicions on his own account, and to impress the Navvab with black fears, so that he ceased to resort to the Imam-bara. From that moment his suspicions against Hady-qhan and some others went on increasing; and meanwhile, the scheme which the conjured had in their hearts, having found its way to their tongues, it became a general topic in all assemblies. The Navvab being thereby confirmed in his suspicions, was waiting for further information, when Moluvy-Mustepha shewed him the identical paper, whereon the conspirators had apposed their seals; and even some of them, to save themselves from the Navvab's resentment, and from his son's cruel temper, made haste to join the Moluvi, and to disclose all the names they knew. The matter now had become so public, that Hady-qhan could neither deny, or even excuse or palliate it, although the Navvab gave himself time to determine on the party he was to take. But meanwhile Hady-qhan, who was a man of courage, shut himself up in his house with his friends, and resolved to defend himself to the last extremity. Mir-cazem-qhan's behaviour was different.
19.7.2
With the Word of God in one hand, and his children in the other, he entered the hall of audience, and in the presence of the Navvab and his son, he swore to his innocence upon both, and submitted to the consequences, with which his perjury was threatened, by the sacred book. To remove further every suspicion from his innocence, he had dismissed and disbanded his whole corps, and had brought his dismission of the office of Paymaster, intending henceforward to live in private within his family. All these demonstrations persuaded no man in the city; and the Navvab and his son continuing to believe him guilty, they laid up in store a fund of enmity and rancour against him. Meanwhile an order was sent to Hady-qhan, to resign his office, and to quit the Navvab's dominions. The man consented, put his baggage into some boats, and with a small number of friends, he proceeded over land. But care had been taken for his not going too far; the Navvab's high-born and worthy son who was the acting man in government, had had the precaution to write to the Governor of Radjmahl, and to the Commander of the garrison at Talia-garry, to manage in such a manner as that the man should not escape alive. The Commanders of those two garrisons, which mostly consisted of Afghan soldiers, no sooner saw the order, than they mounted and went out after him. On descending in the valley of Shah-abad, they descried Hady-qhan, who marched slowly along with his boats.
19.7.3
That officer on seeing such a body of armed men, guessed their errand, and took his party in a moment. He ordered all his boats to be sunk in his presence in the middle of the Ganga; and arming himself, he mounted his horse, and with three or four friends that would not quit him, he rushed upon those that sought his life, and after having performed feats of prowess, he left a name worthy of being recorded in history. It is reported that whenever he rushed, the enemy fled by whole troops; nor would they fight him otherwise than by flights of arrows, and by showers of musket-balls. Hady-qhan having done with his four friends a great deal of execution, was wounded in several places, and fell like a brave man, courageously drinking up the bitter cup which was presented him by his destiny. He was buried on the spot close to the mosque of Shah-abad, under a large tree, which now serves for shelter and a pausing place to the weary travellers in the heat of the day. Such was the end of that unfortunate brave man. We must now revert to the thread of our history, and especially to the affairs of Azim-abad where, as soon as the Navvab was departed, Ram-narain resolved to bring under controul the Radja Bishen-sing, Zemindar of Seress and Cotumbah, who after Seradj-ed-doulah's death, had refused to pay any rent to the treasury, and wanted to become independent. The Governor had a good body of troops, and a train of artillery ;
19.7.4
and he was accompanied by Baboo Pahluvan-sing, and his brother, Baboo Set-har-sing, Zemindars of consequence, in the districts of Sahar-seram and Chein-p8r ; two men who had risen to that power by Aaly-verdy-qhan's favour and countenance. But before his departure for that expedition he was pleased to settle a small salary upon me, and to accompany the gift with a message, importing that "the little he could afford now to oblige me, was out of his private purse ; and that he made a tender of it both as a compensation for the damage which my Djaghiry estate must have undergone and as an earnest of the full possession to which he would himself introduce me." As I had neglected to follow Mir-djaafer-qhan, and had declined to accept Mir-cazem-qhan's invitation, I had no other party left, than that of accepting whatever Ram-narain chose to do for me ; especially as I had hopes of being soon reinstated in my estate. The Radja having marched out, I followed him of course, and was joined by my younger brothers. Bishen-sing made some resistance in his mud-forts, and would not submit ; at last observing that the Radja was resolved to subdue him, he was seized with fears, and promised to come to certain terms, on condition that the officers of the army should become guarantees for the safety of his life and honour. That favour having been granted him on the supplications of the officers, the Zemindar came out and made the Radja a visit, in which he brought his affairs to a conclusion ;
19.7.5
giving his son, Narain-sing, a boy of twelve years of age, in hostage for the arrears which he owed, and for the faithful performance of the agreement. It may be remarked that this very Bishen-sing, as well as his father and uncles, with their whole family, had been in times of yore protected and preferred by my forgiven father ; but on our family being exiled out of the province by Seradj-ed-doula, he had been the foremost in seizing the lands, villages, and forts, that constituted my Djaghir, and hereditary estate. He gained some of our Commanders in these forts, and drove the others by main force. But the Commander of the Fort of Aaly-nugur, who was a Radj-p8t-mundiar, and a relation of that ungrateful man, was conserved in his post out of regard to himself, and to his uncle, the Zemindar of Chergam. Radja Ram-narain, who conformably to his promise, had shewn me a great deal of kindness, seemed intent on putting in execution Mir-djaafer-qhan's order, concerning my brother, Naky-aaly-qhan. He spoke much to Bishen-sing on the necessity of his evacuating the forts and lands of my Djaghir, and carried away in hostage his son, Narain-sing, then a boy; he then permitted my brother to go and recover my estate in those parts; and, on his representation, he directed me to get him accompanied by some of the soldiers of my corps. With respect to myself, as he seemed disinclined from parting company with me, I followed him to Azim-abad.
19.7.6
Meanwhile, Naky-aaly-qhan, with his small troop, marched to Rhotass, and forced several forts and villages belonging to me; but could do nothing against the castle of Aaly-nugur, not only as it was of some strength, but likewise as the faithless Radj-poot was encouraged in his insubordination by Bishen-sing, his relation. The matter becoming of importance, I represented my case to Radja Ram-narain, who immediately wrote to Radja Sunder-sing, Zemindar of Sanot, with injunctions to support Naky-Aaly-qhan in his right. I also wrote myself to him on the same subject. The Radja, who was a sensible, equitable man, and who remembered how much my forgiving father had been instrumental in rendering him the principal Zemindar of the province of Azim-abad, thought proper to take in this affair such an active part, as was incumbent on his gratitude; and his interference was of much weight, as Aaly-verdy-qhan, to whom he owed his greatness originally, had enabled him to cut an eminent figure in the province, where he always appeared with the insignia of a kettle-drum, and a fringed Paleky. He therefore wrote a severe letter of reprimand to Bishen-sing, his brother Zemindar; and sent a threatening message to the refractory Radj-poot; so that both these faithless men, fearing the consequences that might arise from an obstinacy which produced threats from everywhere, surrendered the castle to Naky-aaly-qhan;
19.7.7
and this affair being brought to a conclusion at last, the whole district, in question, submitted with pleasure to order and controul.