Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.10
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 25.10
- Language
- English
25.10.1
Whilst that Commander was in cantonments, Umed-el-mulk alias Mir-sheab-eddin, the same who had sown so many troubles in Hindostan by his endless infidelities, and eternal intrigues; and had brought on the ruin of the Empire and even of these very kingdoms, by the revolutions he had caused; at once made his appearance in that city. That wretched, who had projected to ruin the sons of his own uncle, that is, the posterity of Nizam-el-mulk, and to complete the downfall of the remainder of that family (which to this day enjoys great power and great dominions in Decan), was gone into those southern parts with sinister intentions. But the Grandees and Commanders of those countries, who luckily had still in their hearts some respect for their master's welfare, as subjects, and some regard for their own reputation and characters, as soldiers, refused to pay any attention to his intrigues and suggestions; and the man now reduced to straits, as well as unable to find throughout all the cities of Hindostan, or even in all those of Decan, a single spot, whereon he might tread in safety, repaired to Surat, under pretence of a pilgrimage to the glorious Mecca; and he kept himself concealed for a length of time, nor was he discovered but by some jewels of value which he got out for sale. Colonel Godard was obliged to write to the Governor and Council to know their pleasure with respect to this man; and he was at first forbidden to have any connections with him;
25.10.2
but in the sequel, they concluded that an intriguing man is always a shrewd man; and that being acquainted with all the chief men of Decan, as well as allied to the family of Nizam-el-mulk, he might be of some use. Accordingly, they ordered the Colonel to have connections with him, in hopes that at some future emergencies, his abilities and knowledge might answer some purpose in their cause. The General upon this letter, admitted him to his friendship, and gave him a pension for his subsistence. Whilst the Bengal army was yet in Surat, the English interest had been recruited by a new ally. This was Rao Fateh-sing-caicvar, one of the principal feudatories of the Marhatta Empire. He had been invited over by Ragonat-rao, who had engaged him to conclude a written engagement with that nation, in which he was promised to have the whole Gudjrat for himself, under condition of his joining the troops to his English, and of his being assisting in their expedition. The Colonel, after that junction, conceived the scheme of taking the city of Azim-abad-Gudjrat; and about the end of the year 1190 of the Hedjra, he marched out of Surat, and presenting himself before that city, he at first offered the Marhatta Commanders terms of capitulation for surrendering the place; but this being rejected, he in a little time ruined the walls, and took the place by mere force and by assault;
25.10.3
and although it is not customary with the English troops to plunder or to kill after a victory, nevertheless at the capture of this place, there was some plunder made, and some blood shed, whether because the Caicvar, with his Marhattas, was in their company, or for some other reason that has not transpired. This much is certain that some plunder was committed, and possibly some blood was shed. The Colonel having delivered the city and fortress to Fateh-sing-caicvar, and established that Prince's government over it, came out and marched forward, resolved to fight another Marhatta army that had come to the assistance of the garrison. But such brilliant successes having spread the renown of the English far and near, did not fail to suscite in their favour a new ally; and this was a Prince called the Rana of Gohud. In a few days his agents arrived at Calcutta, and offered to join the English, but requested at present a small number of troops. The reason of this negotiation was, that the Rana of Gohud, who had this longwhile disputes with the Marhattas, and was always at variance with them, hoped that as the English were now waging war against that nation, he might avail himself of that new power to snatch from his enemies some districts and fortresses of his which they detained this longwhile; after which, he would be ready to shew his gratitude to his new allies, by proving his zeal for their cause.
25.10.4
The Governor had too much wisdom and knowledge, not to perceive the utility of an alliance with a great Prince who had money, troops, and dominions; who could afford so much local knowledge of the countries and affairs of the Marhattas upon whom his dominions bordered; and who offered himself to the English as a guide; for his country became of course a new conquest, that cost him nothing. So that the Governor looking upon such an event as a favour from above, sent to his assistance Captain Palmer, with three regiments of Talingas. This officer was accompanied by Tefez-zul-hossein-qhan, who had once been tutor to Mirza-saadet-aaly, second son to Shudjah-ed-dowlah, and was now sent in quality of an agent from the Governor, to gain the Rana's heart. The two envoys being arrived at Gohud, took possession of the castle, under pretence of lodging themselves; and under the mask of friendship and a visit, they kept him prisoner and surrounded by their forces. But before we continue the history of that expedition, we must take a view of some other parts of Decan. In consequence of the necessity of some affairs of my own, and of the tyranny exercised by destiny, I was obliged to make an application to Calcutta, and of course to take a journey to Bengal; and it was in the year 1194. On my arrival at Moorshood-abad and at Calcutta, I learned with a little more detail what concerned the Decan, from the principal men of those cities;
25.10.5
and as I was actually writing the rough draft of this book in that journey, I used to insert occasionally in it, whatever I heard worth notice and credit. It amounts to this: That the Grandees of the Court of Poona and Satara, who now govern the dominions of the Sahu Radja and of Ram Rajah, finding the English bent on the destruction of their Empire, had united together, and had invited over, on one hand, Fateh-sing-caicvar, who had already joined the English; and on the other, the sons of Rago-bhosselah, who from Aaly-verdy-qhan's time, had ever been at peace with the rulers of Bengal, and had now by the means of Mr. Elliot's and Mr. Anderson's embassy and negotiation, renewed that peace and entered into a new treaty of friendship and amity with Governor Hushtin. These were now called upon by dint of threats to unite with the others; and they agreed to an union of concerns at last. It was about the middle of the year 1194, at which time Colonel Godard had already discovered Fateh-sing-caicvar's defection; and as he found, on the other hand, that the rainy season was coming, he became tired of a kind of warfare that had no end, and served only to render the difficulties and necessities of his army greater and greater. With this view he returned to Surat. That city was only a few days journey. But the enemy eternally hanging on his rear, it cost him full forty or fifty days fighting, to cut his way through an hostile country;
25.10.6
and this he did with a deal of steadiness and activity. At last he arrived in that city, where he put his troops into quarters of refreshment. But whilst he was preparing all the necessaries for commencing early another campaign, Fateh-sing-caicvar, who had got so easily and so cheaply possession of the Gadjrat, but had now become envious of Colonel Godard's prosperity, put himself at the head of his own forces, and took his station in the districts which originally had been in his possession. Whilst such a change was taking place in Gadjrat, Chimnadji, another Marhatta General, who was nephew to Rago-dji-bhosselah, having listened to the instigations and menaces of the Ministers of Poona, set out with a good army from the Great-Naigpoor, his capital, and marched towards Djagennat and Cateck. There he took up his winter quarters, whilst his agents were now repairing to Calcutta, and professing amity and friendship to the English cause. The Governor, who did not trust altogether to their professions, opposed an army of English to the Marhatta army in Cateck; and stationed troops besides at all the passes in the mountains, where those enemies had used to pour into the provinces of Bengal and Bahar. These troops had orders to oppose force by force, should they make any motion that way. But as Haider-naic is now going to cut so great a figure in our history, it is proper to part with our subject for a while, in order to give some account of that extraordinary man.
25.10.7
Haider-naic originally was a Commander in the service of the French in Decan, in which he commenced by serving as a Naic, which signifies a Commander of ten or fifteen men. By degrees he rose to the offices of Djemaat-dar, Soobadar Comidan (Commandant,) which last is the highest title of command to which one can attain amongst the nations of hat-wearers. What appears very singular, is that notwithstanding that superior station, the surname of Naic stuck to him ever after. In the sequel he served the Radjahs of Decan, made himself a character, and acquired much power; and becoming famous little by little, he was taken into the service of the Radja of Malavar, where in a little time he fell out with that Prince's Divan, who according to the custom of that country, disposed of the revenues and expenditures of that Prince, and directed all his Councils absolutely. Haider-naic, who despised that Minister's pusillanimity, as much as he confided on his own valour and talents, had the boldness to fall upon him in broad day-light, and to kill his rival; after which he took possession of his office. From that day he acted with an absolute sway in every thing, but still with the policy of leaving the Radja alive, and in his usual employment. That Prince is still alive; and whenever his keeper thinks is proper, he is produced in public as an ancient relic; at which time he never fails to pay him every mark of respect and veneration.
25.10.8
After his establishing in this manner his authority over the Malavar, he thought proper to march to the assistance of Nizam-aaly-qhan, son to Nizam-el-mulk, Sovereign of the Decan, who having fallen out with the English, and with Mahmed-aaly-qhan, Viceroy of Arcat, had marched at the head of an army, and given them a great battle, in which he was assisted by Haider-naic, with his person and a body of troops. But the English having obtained the victory, Nizam-aaly-qhan in despair of his defeat, obstinately remained on the field of battle, resolved rather to perish in the field than to survive his defeat. It was at this moment he was descried by Haider-naic from afar, who being informed of his despair and resolution, galloped up to him, and made use of force and violence to turn his elephant about, and to make him quit the field of battle. Nizam-aaly-qhan consented at last, but told him that it was under condition that he (Haider-naic) would provide for his obtaining his revenge of that defeat. The other promised it; and really after having spent some time in making his preparatives, he turned about, and fell on the English; or else, he let Nizam-aaly-qhan depart, and then in a few days he turned about, faced the English again; but was defeated and obliged to fly for life. Either from some particular emergency, or from the concourse of destiny, he was obliged to turn his back, and to return to his own country.
25.10.9
But the English, bent on his pursuit, arrived in his dominions, where they took, one after another, whatever fortress opposed their passage; and after having established contributions in the country, they used to proceed forward. These many sieges having given him time to collect his resources, he quickly repaired to a strong fortress of his, deposed there most of his baggage, and having taken out of it as much provisions and ammunition as would serve for some days all his troops, he turned about, and by rapid marches, he fell suddenly upon the English, and gave them a great defeat. But as the vanquished army continued in a body, and after having been drawn up in battle array, wanted to renew the combat, he at once disappeared from before them, without their being able to know any thing of his motions ; and having marched by roads which nobody suspected, he suddenly made his appearance before Mendradj (Madras), which was empty of troops, and where there were no preparatives made against his coming ; and he surrounded it on all sides. The Governor and principal men seeing no resource at hand, set open the gate of amity, went to meet him, and made a treaty with him, by which the troubles ended by a peace. But this peace having afforded some repose to Haider-naic, he returned to his own country, and diligently employed himself in disciplining his troops, and in providing every implement necessary for war and conquest.
25.10.10
After a length of time had elapsed, a dispute arose between the Marhattas and himself, in which he was shamefully beaten, and obliged to fly to his country, where he soon repaired his losses. The Marhattas meanwhile overawed by his superiority of genius, and intimidated by his art of finding resources, united with Nizam-aaly-qhan, and undertook to demolish his power, and to ruin him totally. For this purpose they joined twenty-five thousand horse of their own, to some thousand more, which Nizam-aaly-qhan had sent them under the command of Cala-qhan-dhonsa; and they made an irruption into his dominions. Haider-naic finding that he could not stand against such a force, abstained for a whole year from encountering the enemy. But yet he constantly kept at the distance of some miles, without losing sight of him, unless he sometimes chose to make a stay ; and then he was always provided with such a numerous body of pioneers, and such an immense artillery, as enabled him at any time to fortify a good post, and to tarry there ; nor did his enemies dare to attack him in such a fortified camp. Nevertheless with all this good countenance, he wisely concluded that in time, his country would be ruined by such a warfare ; and he sought his safety in a treaty of peace, by which he gave a deal of money to the Marhattas, to Nizam-aaly-qhan, and to the latter's General, Cala-qhan; and in this manner he extricated himself from his difficulties.