Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 22.14
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 22.14
- Language
- English
22.14.1
It was during my stay at Hossein-abad, that I heard of Mir-cassem's having been arrested by Shudjah-ed-doulah's order, and confined; so that I shall faithfully relate this event in the same manner as I had heard it related afterwards by Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, who cut a great figure in that whole transaction. It must be observed, that Mir-cassem, who had promised to pay eleven lacs of rupees per month to the Vezir, and had been hard pressed for payment at the siege of Azim-abad, of course wanted to get out of the grasp of a man who gave him no rest and no respite on that subject; and he once sent the following message to him, after having reflected for a while on some expedient to extricate himself: "I conceive that you ought to send me towards Bengal and Morshood-abad, to the end, that by establishing contributions, I may distress the collectors set up by the English, and prevent their fixing their government in these countries; an operation, which may be thoroughly performed with ease, as their force is now very small, and they cannot afford to defend all their possessions; and, as I am thoroughly acquainted with those parts, and am remembered still there as one that has commanded, I have, to all appearance, a better chance for performing this service than any one of your dependants." This message was sent by the channel of Aaly-hibrahim-qhan. The Vezir heard the whole of it, and, What! broke he forth, if Aaly-djah should not come back again? What is to be done?
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Aaly-hibrahim-qhan answered, "That such a conjecture could not but be groundless, as Aaly-djah "had no other place of shelter, and no other resource than the gate of the Vezirial palace." This answer did not pacify the Vezir. He spoke like one that had conceptions and suspicions of a high nature, although quite foreign to the subject; but at last he added, That if he chose to be surety for him, and to remain as an hostage, he had no objection to the scheme. Aaly-hibrahim-qhan replied, "That he had no objections to his remaining as hostage, but not for the payment of the promised money. That, as to the last article, whenever Aaly-djah should establish contributions all over the country, he, Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, would not fail to press him for the payment of the money; nor would he prove dilatory in sending to the Vezirial treasury whatever would be transmitted from thence." Not so. Sir, — not in this manner, interrupted the Vezir. "Then," replied the Qhan, "it shall be as your Highness shall please. But, if that chance to be the case, people will naturally ascribe to your Highness whatever good or whatever ill may result from this affair; nor will they fail to charge on your Ministry, and not on Aaly-djah, every disgrace, if any, that may chance to happen. That Prince has done every thing in his power to get to the gate of your palace, which he thought would afford him an asylum against his enemies, and a comfortable retreat, after all his toils.
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The question is now, how to contrive some expedient that may conserve unsullied, both the honour of command, and the lustre of dominion, and may again bring the water to its bed." This discourse seemed to make an impression on the Vezir (which he endeavoured to smother, although he was not endowed with much power of dissimulation;) and he answered, That he would appoint some other person for that business. The Qhan replied, "That he wished for nothing more than for what might prove fittest for attaining the intended purposes, and would best conduce to His Highness's welfare." One would think that the proposed scheme was of importance enough to engross the attention of a man who was marching to the conquest of Bengal; nevertheless it was soon forgotten by a Prince immersed in his pleasures; and the Qhan returned to Mir-cassem, to whom he made a faithful report of the whole conversation.
22.14.4
Whilst this forlorn Prince was labouring to extricate himself from the difficulties of his situation, his steward, Mir-suleiman, had already parted his concerns from those of his master's; for he had by this time made matters easy to himself, by coming to an understanding with Mirza-behll, the Vezir's ancient tutor, and with Beni-bahadyr, his Minister, as well as with the principal persons of that faithless Court; and meanwhile, by changing his garment, and putting on a Fakir's garb, he had contrived to get himself out of his master's way, and to secure a retreat. Mir-cassem hearing of that retreat, went to see him, and he engaged him to retake his apparel, and to do duty as usual. But as the poet has it: "How long to ward off a discontent that constantly furnishes a real subject?" Most of those subjects of discontent arose from the steward's appearing to be in so close a connection with his master's adversaries; and as the latter in conversing with his friends, used often to complain of his infidelities, and to say openly: I have seen to-day on Beni-bahadyr's turband a serpitch, which I remember to have recommended to my steward's care—I saw yesterday, on such a one's finger, a valuable ring which I had worn myself, and which was entrusted to Mir-suleiman's care. Such and the like discourses being regularly reported to the man, rendered him fearful of the consequences that might ensue from an inquiry into his endless infidelities.
22.14.5
He therefore quitted his master's quarters, and going into Shudjah-ed-doulah's camp, he took up his abode in Mirza-behll's quarters, and in those of Aaly-beg-qhan, who was a principal General of the Vezir's. Six days after this retreat of the steward's, a high worded message came from the Vezir, on account of the monthly payment due by Mir-cassem. The latter excused himself on his impotence; but, having at the same time added some complaints against the Vezir, he widened the breach, which was already gaping open. Not but some of his friends, and especially Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, had more than once objected to his uttering complaints in that strain. But they were faithfully reported to the Vezir, by the means of Mir-abbs, and some others, who being yet in the number of Mir-cassem's friends and favourites, thought of preparing for themselves a place for shelter amongst the Grandees of the Vezir's Court, although they often joined themselves in those complaints, and seemed to encourage them. These complaints now afforded the Vezir a pretence for breaking with Mir-cassem; his intention having all along been to get rid of the promises he had made that fugitive, and to set aside the safe conduct he had given him. Matters at last came to an open rupture. He sent Mir-cassem word, That the Emperor required of him the balances due to his treasury upon the revenue of Bengal; and talked of sending enforcers of payment;
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and that it was therefore incumbent upon him to devise some means for giving him satisfaction as quickly as possible. Mir-cassem, on hearing a message so abrupt, sent Aaly-hibrahim-qhan to make some representations to the Vezir; and the envoy, after having presented Mir-cassem's respects, added in his name, "That his master, when he had risked every thing, and given up every thing, to open a passage to the gates of the Vezirial palace, had looked upon that measure as the likeliest to put an end to all his toils, and to procure him some ease for the future; in which view he had not been sparing of whatever fortune had still left in his power; but that now his means were exhausted. Nevertheless, that if His Majesty was pleased to form pretensions upon him, it would be easy to clear them at once, by ordering Beni-bahadyr to examine the accounts; when, if any balance should appear as due, Aaly-djah would do the impossible to come up with it; but that if the pretension should prove to be groundless, then his master would hope every thing from the interference and protection of His Highness." This message, although delivered with that respectful politeness, and that soothing tone of voice, which were so natural to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, seemed to raise the Vezir's irascibility of temper. What business have I with all that? screamed he. It is an affair between the Emperor and him. And who is Beni-bahadyr to interfere in it? As to my own part, I inform you that tomorrow I go a hunting.
22.14.7
But the Emperor is the master. Doubtless he will do what he shall think proper. Aaly-hibrahim-qhan concluding, from these words, that there remained no hopes from that quarter, made his report to his master accordingly; and the latter, who upon any alarm or difficulty, used always to consult that nobleman, now asked him his advice. The other answered in these words : " If there be money in your treasury, there is " no doubt but that satisfaction must be given to the Vezir ; but " if there be none, I see no other part for you, than that of " quitting your tents, and sitting without, after having sent a " message to the Vezir to inform him, that you had come to his " dominions for an asylum and for protection, and still looked up " to him for protection and favour; and that at present your person, consort, family, and property, with your remaining effects " were entirely at his disposal ; all which His Highness might " use, as he in his wisdom and goodness might think proper." This was Aaly-hibrahim-qhan's advice, but some thoughtless people that surrounded Mir-cassem, made additions to it ; and the latter listening to their suggestions, thought proper on the morning of the eighth of Zilhidj, in the year 1177, to quit his tent at day-break, and to take his seat on a common mat, spread on the outside of it. He had quitted not only his Mesned, but also his apparel, and he had on now only a shirt, and a Fakir's cap, without either a turbant, or any thing else.
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A number of his friends and acquaintances, without attending to time or place, had quitted their own apparel likewise, and, to the number of twenty, had put on a few coloured clothes, like so many Fakirs ; and in that condition they became a spectacle to the whole army. Intelligence of this change being carried to the Vezir, he was alarmed ; and he concluded that Mir-cassem's turning Fakyr in his own camp, and on the Day of the Sacrifice, would greatly redound to his disgrace, and mar the purpose for which he destined that fugitive. Directly he sent his General, Aaly-beg-qhan, to administer some consolation to him, with many excuses for his yesterday's message, and to endeavour to pacify and quiet his mind. This apology was sent both in the Vezir's name, and in that of his mother, who went by the title of the Navvab Begum. Aaly-beg-qhan, who was a well spoken eloquent man, although one that spoke boldly and without scruple, commenced by blaming his master highly, and by casting high reflections upon him; after such a preamble, he apologised in his and in the Princess's name for the impropriety of the last message, and worked so powerfully on his mind by the sweet persuasion which flowed from his lips, that Mir-Cassem altered his notions; but as he had not much of that readiness of delivery, and that elegance of speech, so remarkable in Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, he sent for that nobleman immediately. The latter had never approved a change of dress;
22.14.9
but yet had thought it incumbent upon him to alter his own likewise, both to avoid any reproach from Mir-cassem's friends, and to parry the invidiousness of a comparison of dress, should he appear in his usual apparel. Little inclined, however, to go all the lengths of a Fakir's garb, he contented himself with putting on a simple shirt; and taking down his usual turbant, he put on a pointed cap, round which he carelessly rolled up a coarse linen; and in this garb he followed the messenger. But on finding Mir-cassem exactly in the garb in which he had been reported to be, he took his seat, hung down his head, and remained silent, without uttering a single word. After some moments of silence, Mir-cassem himself opened the matter by these words: My Lord-qhan, the Navvab-vezir wants you. You must go. At these words, Aaly-hibrahim got up, and was going to follow the General. And pray, broke forth the latter, do you intend to go to Court in that garb to the Vezir of Hindostan? "I will by all means," answered the other; "and if my master's affairs are come to this, that such a garb should befit him, how can I object to it for my ownself? The sight of Aaly-hibrahim in that garb, affected the Vezir; he spoke to him with the utmost kindness, asked the reason of Aaly-djah's having altered his dress, and apologised for the abruptness of his message. "The " Emperor, said he, had mentioned something to me. I repeated " it to Aaly-djah.
22.14.10
The message required an answer, and not a " change of dress; which by its cap and shirt should redound to " my dishonour, and render me odious through all the world!" The other with a downcast look, and an air of dejection, answered, " that Aaly-djah having always looked up to the Vezir's palace, " as to his place of shelter and consolation; and His Highness " having shewn a disregard to his concerns in not protecting him " against the Imperial message; that Prince had naturally concluded that he had nothing further to hope from His Highness, and " had therefore quitted the world, like a man without resource." At these words, the Vezir without making any answer, beckoned to Beni-bahadyr, and bid him talk with Aaly-hibrahim-qhan. On this command, the two Ministers retired to a corner, but in the Vezir's presence, and commenced conferring together. On Beni-bahadyr's endeavouring to fix some balances on Mir-cassem, Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, with the greatest sweetness of temper, and the most elegant flow of language, repelled every one of his shafts, and shewed irrefragably that no balances could be due by his master. The conference took up a whole hour, when the Vezir interrupted, and asked whether nothing was determined yet? No, answered Beni-bahadyr, for the dispute is managed by two able antagonists.
22.14.11
Upon this the Vezir rose, and going into a qhass-tent, that had been prepared to shelter him from the heat of the weather, he beckoned to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, and repeated the same arguments that had been brought forward by Beni-bahadyr; and Aaly-hibrahim-qhan returned the same answers. The Vezir paused, and added that the method made use of by Aaly-djah, would greatly redound to his (the Vezir's) disgrace, and to his bad renown. It is not his fault, answered Aaly-hibrahim-qhan; as he despaired of all protection, he has quitted the world, and has acted in a manner suitable to his circumstances, in a manner worthy of himself; let your Highness, on your side, act in a manner worthy of your ownself. "I understand," said the Vezir; "do you go directly, and I follow." Aaly-hibrahim-qhan was making his report to Mir-cassem, when the Vezir himself appeared. He humbled himself, made many apologies, excused the past, and requested his laying down his Fakir's garb, and his re-assuming his usual dress immediately. Mir-cassem having answered that such a request proved a matter of pride to him, directly complied with the Vezir's pleasure; and one would have thought that all this disagreeable affair had been put an end to, and quashed for ever.