[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) › 33.9 # Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 33.9 A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 33.9 - **Language:** English ### [33.9.1](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.1) Meanwhile the Vezir was retired to his private apartments having with him only three or four persons, as Nedjib-qhan, Radja Nagur-mull, and Kishen-chund. A little after, Nedjib-qhan went away. My father waited without, anxious to render his resignation acceptable, and to get rid of so disagreeable an affair; when at once twenty or thirty troopers of the Brigade Sin came to the curtain of the private apartment, and exclaimed against their officers, complaining of their being reduced, for want of both arrears and pay, to a starving condition. Soon after, these men were joined by some more; the appearance of which caused the harcaras or messengers at the gate to write a note, and to send it in by an eunuch. The Vezir after having read it, got up in the undress in which he then stood, and was going out. My father stopped him short, and represented that it was not proper for him to go out. I shall certainly go, answered the Vezir; I want to speak to them and appease the tumult. My father said nothing, but finding him resolved to go out, he joined him. The Vezir raised the curtain, spoke to them, and informed them, that they would be paid as soon as their corps should be reviewed. By this time those troopers had gathered to the amount of two hundred men; and trusting to their numbers, they had surrounded the Vezir, and were speaking insolently to him. ### [33.9.2](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.2) My father mixed with the crowd, and represented to them that the man they were insulting, was their resource in a day of need, and their Lord, the person that would hear their complaints if they had but the patience to speak quietly. The remonstrance did not avail. The men had come too well tutored to listen to any reason. One of them having torn away a button of jewel which the Vezir had at his Nima; the others, as if by signal, tore away his clothes to pieces; and his turbant fell off at the same time. Bare-headed as he was, they drew him on foot along the streets and lanes, and carried him to their camp. Meanwhile the Vezir's troops, amazed at what they saw, were at a loss what to do. As the Vezir's last hour was not come yet, the officers of the mutinous Brigade came into the tent, excused what had past, and desired him to put on the clothes which his servants had brought after him. The Vezir incensed, listened to no advice, and addressing them with all the foul language he could muster, he cried out: "You rascally pimps, (and this was his expression) if you intend to kill me, kill then, and make haste; for you will certainly be killed yourselves to a man; else, if you intend no killing, what do you mean by all this insolence?" Whilst he was speaking, a message came from the Emperor to the seditious. It was delivered in Turkish, to this purport: "Instead of confining the Vezir, you ought to bring him to me: I am the proper person; ### [33.9.3](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.3) and if you want only your arrears, I take them upon myself." The Vezir who, amongst several other languages, understood the Turkish very well, becoming still more angry, broke out in fury, "No messages, no messages to these rascals; do you, rascals, make haste; go on with what you intend." The officers, without minding his language, supplicated him to accept their submission, and to mount an elephant, which was brought for that purpose. The Vezir mounted, when one of these officers, whose name was Hassen-qhan, the Decanian, getting up behind in the Qhavvass, took up the fly-driver with one hand, and the sun-screen with the other, and continued waiting on him until the Vezir landed in his lodgings; and so soon as the Vezir had alighted, he likewise alighted from behind, and went away. The Vezir being landed, took his seat upon his Mesned, where crowds came to make their bow. In a moment, he asked where was Hassen-qhan, and being told he was gone, he sent after him, and got him brought back with his elephant. On his being come, the Vezir got upon the same elephant, and sent a general order throughout the army to kill and plunder the men of the Brigade Sin, wherever they might be found. In an instant, those numerous hungry Rohillahs of Nedjib-qhan, who as well as the other troops, waited only for the order, fell upon them, and made them disappear from the camp, — men, horses, tents, and all. The troops continued plundering and massacring the whole night. ### [33.9.4](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.4) Some few, who threw themselves instantly upon their naked horses and fled, escaped alive; the rest were all put to the sword. Nor could a single man of them be heard of afterwards. As soon as this execution was over, the Vezir who had taken umbrage at the Emperor's supineness on this occasion, returned to the city, where having recruited his troops and stores, and left the Emperor in the hands of some trusty friends of his own, he took with him the Imperial Prince Aaly-goher, (now reigning under the name of Shah-Alem,) and marched towards Lahor, resolved to re-annex those countries to the Empire of Hindostan. This Minister, who was naturally impetuous and fond of dispatch, and had also a knack at sowing troubles and raising disturbances, set out with a numerous army, in which he had taken care to have all the Grandees of the Court, as well as the Prince Aaly-goher, and he seemed to be only hunting by the way, but yet was shortening his distance every day; and meanwhile he had managed in such a manner, as to have gained over to his party the famous Adina-beg-qhan. He was already arrived at Lodiana, within fifty cosses of Lahor, when being thoroughly satisfied with that man's fidelity, he by his advice sent to Lahor a body of troops, under the command of Seyd-Djemil-eddin, who was likewise entrusted with a letter and a message to the Begum, relict of Mir-mannu, his uncle. He requested she might vouchsafe to send him her daughter, a Princess betrothed to him long ago. ### [33.9.5](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.5) The Begum, pleased with the request, sent her daughter with great pomp and magnificence, gave her a suitable dowry in jewels and money, and got her accompanied by a full household of eunuchs, tents, and every requisite for a voyage. The Vezir on his side sent his own uncle at the head of a large body of horse, and a cortege of principal officers to receive her at a distance; and they brought her to camp, where a full household and a proper set of tents had been provided for her reception, and where she was visited by her husband's aunt. The Princess's mother being by this time perfectly well pleased with her match, and quite easy in her mind, the Vezir dispatched Ybad-ollah-qhan, the Cashmirian, a trusty Commander of his, with a number of good troops, together with Seyd Djemil-eddin himself, who had orders to join by the way some cavalry of Adina-beg-qhan's. The distance was of forty or fifty cosses, (a hundred and twenty miles); and all this being gone over in one day and night, without hardly stopping to take breath, at day-break they got within Lahor; and going to the Palace where the old Princess was yet asleep, and unsuspicious of what was managed, they sent eunuchs to wake her, and putting her in a close chair, they carried her to their camp, without Lahor; from whence, after taking one day to refresh, they returned to the Vezir, encamped at Lodiana. This Minister no sooner saw her alight, than he paid her a respectful visit and asked her forgiveness; ### [33.9.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9.6) and after giving the Government of Lahor and Multan to Adina-beg-qhan, under a clear rent of thirty lacs a year, he returned towards the Capital, seemingly happy and satisfied with the success of his journey. But the old Princess was extremely angry and uneasy all the way, giving abusive language to her guards, and making nothing of crying aloud, both to them and to their master, "That the indecent and unjust manner with which she had been used, would end in an infinity of troubles that would at last ruin his family, and the Capital itself; that the families of the highest nobility, involved in one common ruin with the poorest citizens, would experience merciless pillaging, and rapes and disgraces innumerable; that the Empire, as well as the Capital, would be overset and ruined, and know, (would she add crying with all her might,) that all this is not far off. You shall see the Abdali-king in this Capital within six or seven months. Look, he is coming! All the noble families, ancient or modern, will be involved in one common massacre; no Sheh, no Seyd, will be spared; all, all slaughtered!" And, in fact, matters came to pass just as the old woman had said. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9](https://indike.org/pramana/in.darkages.mughal.later.siyar-al-mutaakhkhirin~en-mustafa.33.9) · Pramāṇa