[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Dark Ages](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages) › [Mughals (1526–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal) › [Later Mughals (1707–1857)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later) › [Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirīn](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin) › [A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa) › 33.8 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.8 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 33.8 - **Language:** English ### [33.8.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.1) Shudjah-ed-dowlah in his own temper was slothful, negligent and careless, but so valorous that, with that single quality of his, he found means to contain the Zemindars and the other refractory people with which his dominions abounded; so that his Government was always respected. He was exceedingly fond of the company of women, without being attached to any, and addicted to every kind of pleasure, without exception, save, however, that of drinking wine. Nevertheless there appeared no impudence in his character, and no contempt of decorum in his behaviour. He had such an abundant fund of goodness, liberality, and benignity, as made him connive at trespasses against his interest, and rendered him ever ready to forgive the guilty. He governed quietly his dominions for three or four years, when the Abdali-king, at the instigation of Mir-sheab-eddin, now styled Umad-el-mulk, invaded Hindostan, and marched directly to Shah-djehan-abad. This was in the year 1170. That Minister's intention was to join an army of Abdalies to an army of Rohillahs and Bangash Afghans, who being inveterate and sworn enemies of Shudjah-ed-dowlah's father and family, would be glad to embrace any scheme for entirely demolishing and ruining that rising power. This league, however, did not intimidate Shudjah-ed-dowlah. ### [33.8.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.2) Without being dismayed by the threatened storm, he stood his ground so well that he was left to himself, as we shall relate as soon as we shall have dispatched some matters relative to the Western parts of Hindostan. We have left Mir-mannu nearly absolute Viceroy of both Multan and Pendjab. He resided at Lahor, where having mounted his horse to take an airing, he went out of the city, and put his horse on a gallop, when he was suddenly seized by a fit of apoplexy, which ended at once in a palsy that stopped him short; so that all he could do was to continue his voyage into eternity. This event is recounted in a different manner by a person in his service, who was very familiar with him. He says that Mir-mannu was encamped, and that he took horse to look at the troops of one of his Commanders, encamped within a short distance, where he sat down to a dinner. The entertainment proving sumptuous, and consisting of a great variety of precious dishes, he tasted of every one. In the evening, he got upon his horse to go home, and put it to a gallop; and he was actually galloping when finding something that pained him within, he alighted, stretched himself upon the ground, and in a few moments expired. The Abdali-king hearing of this sudden death, conferred the Government on Mir-mumen, son to the deceased, and as he was yet a child, he recommended him to his mother together with the whole country. ### [33.8.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.3) It must be observed that the deceased Governor, keeping always a great army on foot, and being engaged besides in a variety of heavy expenses, which the revenues of the country could not support, he had betaken himself to the expedient of oppressing and squeezing the body of farmers, as well as the people in general. But his credit was so strong at Court, that there was no carrying any complaint against him; and on the other hand, it being a standing rule amongst the Syks to support each other at all events, numbers of people who could find no redress any where, and were driven to so much despair as to cry famine, famine, about the streets, very naturally recurred to that fraternity, where they were sure of finding some resource. The whole business of admission seemed to consist in putting on a blue coat, letting the hair grow all over the body, and repairing in shoals to Guru-Govind. From that moment they became Syks, and were entitled to the protection of the whole body, and looked like men freed from all their miseries. In this manner this sect or fraternity, which was already in vogue, having turned out to be a sure resource against oppression, it grew to an immense number; especially at this time, when the government of a country involved in troubles was to be managed by a woman; and as that sex is destitute of strength of mind, the disorders and troubles continued to increase. ### [33.8.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.4) Her Ministers commonly availed themselves of her retired life and immured circumstances, to render such an account of their respective departments, each in his own way, as served only to perplex and confound her understanding. Hence the tenants and farmers became more oppressed than ever, and shoals of people flocking to the Syks, these people grew exceedingly numerous, and commenced talking high to the Officers of Government. The nobility and principal men of the country, who looked at these desertions with both amazement and disdain, made it a point to stand aloof, whilst the eunuchs, the freed men of the seraglio, and a variety of homely born vile men, took possession of all the affairs. Things were in such a state when the young Mir-momen departed his life, and then the Government fell into the hands of Qhoadja-musa-ohrari, his brother-in-law. But as Becari-qhan, who had acted as Prime Minister under the deceased Viceroy, wanted to render himself master of the Government, and he had been intriguing with that view, the Governess, who was informed of his intentions, and was already incensed against him, commanded his attendance within the seraglio or sanctuary; and as soon as he was within the gate, she got him surrounded by a number of stout women, who put him to the cudgel so severely that he expired under the operation. ### [33.8.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.5) A short time had elapsed since this event, when Qhoadja-abdollah-qhan, son to Abdol-semed-qhan, that ancient victorious Viceroy of Lahor, having found means to seize and confine the Governess, contrived likewise to obtain from the Abdali-king, the patents of the two Governments. But Feraman-qhan, who had brought those patents to Lahor, having commenced acting with authority, and plundered and ruined numbers of people, the new Viceroy who did not like his presence, and was also teased by the troops, who became clamorous for their arrears, found it was out of his power to satisfy their demands; so that to save his life and honor he fled from Lahor, to the disgrace of all Government. In such a confusion of all order, the Governess found means to re-assume the command, and having been in a little time put under confinement by Qhoadja-mirza-qhan, who had been one of the principal Commanders in her husband's army, the troubles at last subsided, and a compromise took place between her and that officer. Troubles in All these troubles and commotions having been faithfully reported to the new Vezir, Mir-Sheab-eddin, now styled Umad-el-mulk, he conceived the design of recovering the provinces of Pendjab and Mültan from the dependance of the Abdali-king. Without imparting his scheme to any one, he set out with Alemghir, the Emperor of his appointing, and encamped at Badely, at some distance from the city. ### [33.8.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.6) He intended also to bring to order and to reduce to submission the officers of the corps marked with the letter sin, who, availing themselves of the need the Vezir had stood of their service in his disputes with Abul-mansür-qhan, had extorted from his hands all the Districts of the Qhalissah-office, and all the best demesne lands about the city, as a security for their pay and arrears; they had besides assumed airs of importance, and proved unruly and refractory. With this view he sent for my father, and after appointing him Fodjdar of Ser-hend, Taneser, and Pani-poot, with some other districts of the Qhalissah, he advanced to the latter town. As the negotiation for recovering these lands from the officers of the Brigade Sin, had been carried on by Kishen-chund, a Gentoo; Radja Nagurmull a Hindoo, who became exceedingly jealous of him, sent for the principal officers, all men highly discontented, and he informed them that Seyd Hedaiet-aaly-qhan, that is, my honoured father, who commanded in the Districts snatched from their hands, was a man of property, from whom, by a proper application to the Vezir, they might easily get an advance of two lacs of rupees upon the rents of those Districts, a sum that would go a great way in discharging their arrears; and that in case he should not consent to that advance, he undertook to find a man that would pay it down, on condition of his being put in possession of those Districts. ### [33.8.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.7) The officers accustomed this longwhile to speak in an imperious style, and inconsolable at their being deprived of such productive Districts, swore to stand by each other, and the next day they sent their agents to the Vezir with the proposals. Meanwhile, my father, who had been informed of the turn which this affair had taken, and was unwilling to accept the condition, sent his resignation by the channel of the above Kishen-chund, whom he followed soon after to the Vezir's quarters. That Minister, after having passed a couple of hours in giving a public audience, in which he transacted business with my father, with Seif-eddin-mahmed-qhan, with Nedjib-qhan, and with Nagur-mull, and some others, was getting up to retire to his private appartments, when he was stopped by the Brigade agents, who by Nagur-mull's management had joined together in informing him that the Brigade Sin wanted a large sum of money in part of their arrears. The Vezir, without seeming embarrassed, answered that he had no objections, but that the corps must be reviewed first. The agents, sensible that no penmen would dare to form difficulties in a day of review, consented, and they only requested that some Mutsuddies might be appointed to review their corps. The Vezir, on hearing these words, turned towards Nedjib-qhan, and directed him to review the Brigade; to which that officer consenting, he immediately sent orders to his son, Zabeta-qhan, to pitch up a tent in an open spot, and to review the Brigade. ### [33.8.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8.8) The agents, surprised, found that the time was come for some great discovery, it being understood that these two officers were not men to be either tampered with or overawed, being themselves officers of high character, and at the head of several thousand horse. Straight they dispatched a messenger to their constituents, for the purpose of advising them to be upon their guard. The others finding that they would be ruined by such a review, conceived that there was no other expedient for escaping a discovery, than that of exciting a sedition and a mutiny; inconsequence, they excited their most ferocious men to take the lead. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.8) · Pramāṇa