Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 25.3
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 25.3
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25.3.1
It was in that same year that we were frightened in Bengal by an earthquake. It was so violent, that nothing equal to it can be remembered these forty or fifty years past. It happened on the 27th of Shevval, in the same year that Mahmed-reza-qhan conferred the Divanship of the Nizamet to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, who had laid him under such a load of essential services and obligations. At the same time, he sent Lieutenants of his Fodjdary office all over Bengal; for instance, Nezer-baki-beg, of Balqh, was appointed to the Lieutenancy of Azim-abad; a man who comported himself with so much moderation and benignity, as to render his person equally agreeable to the English gentlemen, and to the nobles and people of those parts. He even acquired such a good character, that no complaint was ever preferred against him. So careful was he that no injury and no harm should be offered to the people entrusted to his care. It was remarked on this occasion, that Mahmed-reza-qhan, having this year offered some rudeness to many of Mubarec-ed-dowlah's favourites, and disobliged that Prince greatly; the latter so far from affording them assistance and protection, did not even forbid such an incroachment upon his own independence. The Deputy dismissed likewise Qhadum-aaly-qhan, a nobleman in many respects resembling his father, Qhadum-hossein-qhan, and who after the eunuch Aitbar-aaly-qhan's dismission, had for somewhile acted as absolute Director of Mubarec-ed-dowlah's household.
25.3.2
Mahmed-reza-qhan, who had taken umbrage at his influence, had cavalierly dismissed him from his office, without his master's having even attempted to utter a single word in his behalf; although there were promises enough and conventions, and much attachment between the master and the Minister. Mahmed-reza-qhan was likewise guilty of some other stresses of authority, which drew upon him a general blame. It must be observed that the times were now become so corrupt, that every man in Mubarec-ed-dowlah's household was addicted to infidelity and malversation, and had it in custom to reckon as fair booty every rupee which he could embezzle out of his charge. So much liberty could not please Aaly-hibrahim-qhan's reserve and strictness, who being a stranger to the family, would neither plunder himself, nor suffer any others to plunder. This gave a general offence; and people turned Mahmed-reza-qhan's mind so effectually, that those infinite obligations which he had so often acknowledged, slipt out of his memory; and at last a breach took place between them. And as originally there was but little resemblance or similarity between their respective tempers, the instigations of envy were sown in a favourable soil, and soon grew up to a great head, so as soon to effect a lasting breach. "The candle where the wick smokes yet will easily catch fire again."
25.3.3
It was at first a sort of vague insinuations against that honoured Qhan, which being often mentioned amongst his dependants, soon took an air of complaint, and at last degenerated into formal reproaches. Mahmed-reza-qhan was often heard to use these, and the like expressions: "Gentlemen, I have no genius for making verses; nor do I roll my turbant, or wear my clothes as the Hindostanies, that I may pretend to enter into any comparison with them with regard to genius and taste." All these expressions glanced at Aaly-hibrahim-qhan's way of living. Indeed it must be acknowledged that this noble person has received the gift of making his turbant, and of wearing his clothes, with a taste and an elegance peculiar to himself; and in that he has been endowed by nature with a felicity of genius, and an amenity of manners that render him the admiration of the high as well as the low. One of his many talents is the faculty of uttering often extempore verses; and as Mahmed-reza-qhan acknowledges himself destitute of those talents, it follows of course that the equality of temper and the elegance of action and speech, so conspicuous in the Qhan, were taken up as a matter of indirect reproach upon himself. He broke forth at last, and dismissed him from his office.
25.3.4
It happened at that time that Banny-begum, third daughter of Rabia-begum, and a woman of a vicious life and shameful inclinations, having in imitation of the great folks of Hindostan, formed into a band, some of her slave girls, joined to a number of other loose women, which she had taken in her pay, she got them instructed in the arts of dancing and singing, and often amused herself with their performances. This woman, who was of a shrewd and intriguing turn of mind, undertook to seduce Aaly-hibrahim-qhan ; so that she laid a snare to bring him into disrepute. Under pretence of making him some return for the obligations under which he had laid Mahmed-reza-qhan, her brother-in-law, she adopted him for her brother, and as she was not restrained by those scruples which always have their weight with women accustomed to live veiled and immured ; and she had never made any difficulty of shewing herself to most people, unveiled ; she commenced giving entertainments to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, and appearing always in his presence, and that too unveiled. As there were always in these entertainments some particular favourites of Mahmed-reza-qhan's, as fully envious of that nobleman's reputation, as their master himself, every thing was straight reported to him ; and matters went no further for a time ;
25.3.5
when the Princess observing that one of her girls had made an impression on the Qhan's heart, offered her to him, adding that she was a girl of her's, and that she made him a present of her person. The other guests, as well as the favourites of that artful woman, who were all of the complot against the Qhan, having observed scruples in him, made it a point to encourage his timidity. "What harm is in that?" said they. "Is not the girl her property? Her mistress transfers it to you. What can be then the cause of so much precaution and so many denials?" It must be observed that in those days Moorshood-abad wore very much the appearance of one of Loth's towns; and it is still pretty much the same to-day, few people caring to look at their honour, or at that of others. Nay, the wealthy and powerful having set apart sums of money for these sorts of amours, used to shew the way, and to entrap and seduce the unwary, the poor, and the feeble; and as the proverb says: So is the King, so becomes his people; these amours got into fashion. Doubtless some poor and virtuous people must have preserved vestiges of modesty, and must have resisted the general corruption of manners; but most of the Grandees and rich men, on whom you could cast your eyes, were enslaved by this vice. "Every hem on which I could thrust my hand, proved soiled with dirt. "Do you see that lofty mountain yonder? Behind it is a desert plain."
25.3.6
Although the Qhan was a man of great sense, and naturally averse to such kinds of intrigues, yet he lent a willing ear to the devil's suggestions, that enemy of mankind; and on the intreaties of the Princess, he sent (at least so it is reported) two or three times for the girl, on her mistress's repeated intreaties, or at least, they imputed that foible to him. This was soon known, and soon was laid hold of, as a sufficient cause for a breach. The Navvab parted with him; and in public Derbar, or in full Court, he drew up narratives of that proceeding, as having dishonoured his house and family, and rent the veil that covered their chastity; although in reality such a publication tended only to dishonour it still further; but he had his motives in that. For he was fearful, lest the English should find fault with him for parting, on so easy terms, with a man to whom he confessedly owed the highest obligations. This at least is what occurs to feeble minds like mine; for otherwise such a conduct is incomprehensible. Be it as it will, the Navvab having introduced the subject more than once at his levee, and always with a deal of acrimony, he at last (this was the 16th Sufur, in the year 1191) dismissed Aaly-hibrahim-qhan from his office; and the same day he carried his eldest son, Behram-djung to the palace, and got him installed in that office by Mubarec-ed-dowlah, who honoured him with a rich dress of honour, called Qhylaat.
25.3.7
Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, on this intelligence, which he received with a deal of ease and tranquillity, retired to a corner of his house, and from that time intirely abstained from going to Court or making visits. But notwithstanding that retreat, such was the opinion entertained of his probity and disinterestedness, that although his revenue was but small, and his usual temper seemed altered by his disgrace, yet he lived in the utmost honor and estimation; and the public opinion on his account ran so strong, that his house became a rendezvous for the high and low.