Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 22.16
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 22.16
- Language
- English
22.16.1
"had been recovered; that as a further token of his goodness, he had ordered a tent to be pitched for him, at the very door of his own tent of audience; but that His Highness in his turn expected a full confession as to the persons to whom Mir-cassem had entrusted his money; that the bankers to whom he had entrusted his jewels at Banares, had been found out, but that nothing had transpired about those that had received his money in their custody; that it was therefore expected, that he, who had been always admitted to all his secrets, would be so obliging as to point those persons out; the more so as himself had been entrusted with forty thousand eshreffies; and that if the assertion should prove to be true, he (Aaly-hibrahim-qhan) was too honest a man to deny the deposit; and if that sum had been entrusted to another, he might easily point him out, and by such a confidence entitle himself to the Vezir's utmost regard and favour." So strange a declaration was answered by Aaly-hibrahim-qhan in these words: "To this day no one ever put such questions to me, or even hinted any thing of the matter; now that His Highness requests information, I will give him such a one, as I can afford. Nannoo, the spy, for instance, a great friend of Somro's, and one who has ruined so many families, knows much of these matters undoubtedly, and must be informed of the person to whom these forty thousand eshreffies were entrusted." Nannoo being sent for, was confronted with the Qhan;
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but before he could come up, one of the interlocutors present, got up, and going to the gate, sent word to the Vezir, that it was probable that much money was going to be discovered. The others meanwhile were pressing the Qhan, with their questions. That nobleman without being ruffled by their obstreperousness, was answering with calmness, "that every thing, from the cold water office to the office of jewels, had been entrusted to Somro and to the Talingas under his command, together with a hundred thousand eshreffies; and all this doubtless must have been delivered to the Vezir's people, or it must have not." At these words all the eyes were turned towards Nannoo, then standing; but on Nannoo's denying the fact, and objecting, that the whole was groundless, all eyes again were turned towards the Qhan. The latter replied, "If you deny any credit to him whom you pretend to have been a man "of so much consequence, as to have had no secret hidden from him, pray how can you give any confidence to, I know not what light-headed people, whom you acknowledge yourselves as too low, to have had any knowledge of secret transactions? And how can you suppose that such people are capable of sticking to truth." Beni-bahadyr, struck with this reply, got up, and going to the gate of the sanctuary, he transmitted it to the Vezir, without alteration or addition. The Vezir returned this answer: There is no disputing with a man armed cap-a-pie. The match is unequal;
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nor is there argumenting with one who has convicted the master of hardness of heart and perfidy, and the minister of inattention and ignorance. It is a fruitless task, and quite disgraceful. Do then dismiss him with much civility; and let that matter alone.—The conference being ended, the Qhan turned towards Mia-yssa, and represented, that to keep ten or twelve unfortunate people of broken wings and ruined fortunes confined at the entrance of a hall of audience, could not much conduce to quiet their minds. "If your intention be really to oblige your friend," added he, "let me be conducted to your own quarters." The officer, without saying a word, went straight to the gate, and sent in a request to have the Qhan in his quarters, and in his custody; and the request being granted instantly, Mya-yssa carried the Qhan to his quarters, and for a month and-a-half together, (for he was slain soon after) he never abated any thing from the civilities and attentions which he had shewn to his prisoner on the very first day. He did every thing in his power to alleviate his case, and to quiet his mind. As to Mir-cassem, the whole of his property having been traced by the means of the severities exercised upon his women, upon his eunuchs, and upon his other dependants, the whole was confiscated;
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and nothing remained to him, but a few jewels of high value, which he had some time before this event, sent to Nedjib-ed-doulah's country, under the care of a trusty servant of his, whose name deserves to be recorded. It was Sheh-mahmed-ashec; and it was the sale of these that supported the forlorn Prince in his days of distress. There may have been some other small matters besides, which his women by the means of the old ones, their attendants, may have found means to conceal; and that is probable enough, although the enquiry had been so rigorous; but no detail on that subject is come to our knowledge, nor can it be traced at this distance of time with any certitude.
22.16.5
Whilst Mir-cassem was consuming his days in the dungeon of a reverse of fortune, his unworthy steward, Mir-suleiman, was coming out from the corner of infamy, with Solomon's ring at his finger; and not content with becoming a favourite of the Vezir's, he turned out informer, and gave his new master advice: "that Yaacob-qhan, the Commandant of the troops in the fortress of Rohotas, as well as Sahomul, the Governor of it, were both dependent on him, as men that owed their fortunes to him; he added that the seraglio and wealth and effects lodged there, were thoroughly known to him, (Suleiman) as having been lodged there by himself; and that if the Vezir were pleased to issue some orders, he had a scheme ready by which that fortress with all its dependencies and contents might be brought under his power, and be annexed to his dominions." As the Vezir himself had a turn of mind for such adventurous expeditions, he very much caressed Mir-suleiman on his project, and gave him such letters as he desired; some to Rahim-qhan, Governor of Saharseram, on the Vezir's part; and some to the principal persons of that district, besides those to Yaacob-qhan himself, and to Sahomul, who commanded in Rohotas. Mir-suleiman, trusting to the former connections which he had with the Governor and Commandant, and to the important services which he had rendered them (ties which after all are never minded by the man of the world, but at the moment of need), arrived at Rohotas, with all his letters.
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Just at this very time it happened that Major Monro, a King's servant, who had been appointed by the Council of Calcutta to the Command-in-Chief of the English forces, was just landed at Azim-abad, from whence he had wrote me by the channel of Doctor Fullarton, "That if I could contrive to put the fortress of Rohotas in the hands of the English, I would entitle myself to their friendship and gratitude." Upon this intimation I applied to Radja Sahomul, a man who had the greatest obligations to our family, (our Djaghiry estate forming the territory of that fortress) and I informed him, "that it was not in the nature of things that the English should not prevail, shortly, and shortly should not overthrow and ruin the Vezir, and his confederates; that it was incumbent upon him therefore to examine the respective circumstances of both parties, and to take his resolution betimes; but in such a manner, by all means as not to deliver the fortress to his master's enemies, and still less to a traitor, who had trampled on every thing sacred amongst mankind." Sahomul, who was a shrewd man, having examined my proposals, together with those of Mir-suleiman's, soon took his resolution, and he desired me to manage in such a manner, as that an officer with some English troops might be sent to those parts; and whilst he kept Mir-suleiman in suspense, he put in my hands a paper, containing his requests, and the conditions on which he was willing to surrender the fortress;
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desiring me to return it, signed and approved by the English Commander. This paper having been transmitted to Doctor Fullarton, the Major returned it, signed and approved; and I put it in the hands of Sahomul, who, on Captain Goddard's approaching from Ticary with a force, surrendered the fortress, with all its contents. Mir-suleiman, informed that an English battalion of Talingas was coming, comprehended what was the matter; and making the best of his way to the Vezir's army, he represented the whole transaction to that Prince with the most dismal colours; nor was I without great apprehensions, lest some body of cavalry should come from thence to carry me off, or to do us some great mischief. I entertained therefore some thoughts of retiring to a place of safety; when Sahomul, who soon had fallen out with Captain Goddard, and was now upon the worst terms with him, represented to me that not one of the stipulated conditions had been observed with him; and that as he had been evidently and greatly injured, I must repair to Azim-abad with him, to represent his case to the English Rulers. I had already applied myself to Doctor Fullarton for leave to repair to Azim-abad; and having got from thence a safe conduct, I shewed it to my father, to whom I represented the danger of his remaining at Hossein-abad in such a time of trouble and confusion, I advised him therefore to let me depart;
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and to answer all the enquiries which the Vezir might make on my account, with some excuse framed to this purport: "That "Gholam-hossein-qhan was indeed his son, but a son quite independent, who was these many years in connection with the English, and for whose actions he would not be responsible." I added, that such an excuse would prove valuable in case the Vezir should prevail ; and as to myself who would be then with the English, I was resolved to take my chance with them, and to share their fate ; but that, if the English should prevail, no danger would result to my father from their victory ; so far from it, that my attachment to them would be productive of some obligations and some return. After having settled this matter with my father, I took Sahomul with me, and went to Azim-abad. Major Munro was already returned thither, and it was there I learned some particulars relative to the conduct he had held with regard to the mutiny which happened amongst the Talingas stationed in the District of Sarun. These men, quitting at once their station upon some discontent, had deserted into Balvant-sing's country, and had also carried away their Captain, who, however, had found means to get out of their hands ; but they had met at last with a condign punishment for their desertion.
22.16.9
I heard also, how the Major had marched against the proud Vezir, and how the negotiations between this Prince and the English had ended in nothing but a complete defeat, which they gave him, and which demolished him totally. All these particulars I got a full information of, and they shall be mentioned in the following sheets.