Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.17
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 4.17
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4.17.1
After having been carried thus far by a digression which we thought we owed our readers upon the Sycs, it is but natural that we should revert to the thread of our history, especially as the dissensions at Court carried a most threatening aspect, and seemed to presage infinite ills to the whole Empire. We have already related how it had been agreed between the two rival contending parties that, on Emir-djemlah's quitting the Court, Hossein-aaly-khan should repair to his post in Decan, and how his departure had been delayed on some particular accounts. At last, after having accomplished all his views, that Viceroy set out, but not without repairing first to Court, and telling the Emperor and his confidants, plainly, "that if, in his absence, any thing should be attempted against his brother, the Vezir Abdollah-khan, His Majesty might rest assured that he would quit everything, in order to be again in the Capital within twenty days, at most." This open threat having only shewn to the Emperor, how powerful the Viceroy thought himself, he was no sooner gone, than the Ministers dispatched letter after letter to Daüd-khan-peni, Governor of Güdjrat, an Afghan of an illustrious pedigree, who had acquired such a high character in those southern countries by his great bodily strength and his heroical prowess, that he was revered in all that tract, and held in the highest esteem with the rulers and generals of the Marhatta Empire.
4.17.2
Those letters brought him the patent of the government of Bürhanpür added to his own, with orders to repair thither at the head of his army, it being on the high road to Decan, and to demolish Hossein-aaly-khan and his troops, by any means in his power, after which he would of course succeed him in that Viceroyalty, then become vacant. On the receipt of these instructions Daüd-khan, who made but little account of his enemy, repaired to Bürhanpür, where he without hesitation assumed all the state of a Viceroy of Decan. This intelligence having been soon conveyed to Hossein-aaly-khan, the latter wrote to the Afghan that, "as he (Hossein-aaly-khan) was actually invested with that Viceroyalty, it was but proper that he, Daüd-khan-peni, should come to pay his respects to his superior, and shew himself ready to execute his commands, this being so very conformable to the rules of service; else, he had better repair to the Emperor's Court at once, without giving so unjustifiable an example to those refractory countries, and rendering himself guilty of proceedings that could end in nothing but in disturbances and dissensions." This letter having not made the least impression upon Daüd-khan, he came out of Bürhanpoor, and encamped in the plain fully resolved on a vigorous opposition.
4.17.3
He at the same time invited over a number of Marhatta Generals, who had become Crown-servants, having been decorated with grades and commands of honour and emoluments, such as, of five and seven, thousand horse, so early as the reign of Bahadyr-shah. The most considerable amongst these was Bimba-sindiah, who enjoyed the whole territory of Aorengabad in lieu of his pay. All these came and remained encamped with Daod-khan until the twenty-fifth of Ramazan, at which time Hossein-aaly-khan appeared at the head of twenty-six thousand horse, the only ones that were able to keep pace with him, but all veteran troops, accustomed to be led to success and victory under his command. This happened in the fourth year of Feroh-syur's reign. The Viceroy being arrived within sight of the enemy, endeavoured to reclaim that haughty imprudent Afghan, by sending him several very inviting messages, but finding him deaf to all remonstrances, he thought only how to reduce him by force. He, therefore, ranged his army in battle array, mounted his elephant, and marched down upon the enemy. The latter did the same on his side, after having placed on his front a body of Afghans, all his countrymen, every one of whom thought himself equal to a Rostem. The battle proved obstinate and bloody. The valorous on both sides, pressing upon each other, as in the Day of Judgment were rushing forward, regardless of every thing but how to engage amongst the foremost.
4.17.4
In a moment it commenced raining heads, which dropped like hail from the clouds raised by the inflamed sabres, and streams of blood pouring down from the hands of so many heroes in fury were drenching the dry thirsty earth. How many bodies, hitherto accustomed to all the conveniences and delicacies of a luxurious life, found that day their bed on the bloody hard ground, and how many heads streaming with blood, did colour the point of spears, like so many full blown roses, fixed on their stalks! The ponderous earth eternally shaken by the incessant roaring of cannon, seemed to have assumed a motion like the heaven, whilst heaven itself confounded at the appearance of so many blood-drunk warriors, stopped short, and stood motionless, like a lumpish clod of earth. Daüd-khan had given orders to his conductor to carry his elephant close to that of Hossein-aaly-khan's as soon as he could descry him. But meanwhile Hiramon, a valorous Gentoo, who commanded the Afghan's van, had pushed as far as the enemy's artillery, where he was making a great slaughter, when he was himself given for food to the famished sabres of a body of Seids of Bar, who threw themselves in his way, and killed or wounded every one of those that had followed him. But this loss did not divert Daüd-khan from his design; he was eagerly pushing forward amongst a body of officers mounted like himself, amongst whom he towered out as terrible as the man on the elephant mentioned in the Coran.
4.17.5
He was seeking his rival everywhere, being preceded by three hundred stout Afghans, who armed with battle-axes, were hewing down every thing in their way. This formidable body struck a panic in the enemy's ranks. It was there that fell the bravest of the Viceroy's army — Mahamed-yüssüf, Commander of his artillery, as well as Rostem-beg and Bessalet-khan, both at the head of their troops which were mowed down by shoals, and now returned their acknowledgments to their masters by torrents of their blood. Aalem-aaly-khan, with Qhan-zeman-qhan, and a number of persons of distinction, were wounded there grievously. The Afghans making their way with such a slaughter, Daood-khan at last found himself against Mir-mushreff, an ancient General personally attached to Hossein-aaly-khan. He was armed Cap-a-pie, and looked like one cased in iron. Daood-khan, mistaking him for the Viceroy, cried out who he was himself, and said, What for do you keep concealed behind your muffler, like a woman? Up with your visor, man, that I may see who you are. Daood-khan said this out of contempt, because that Afghan never wore but a djama of muslin on the day of battle. He said, and putting an arrow to his bow, he with an unerring aim, lodged it in Mir-mushreff's neck. That officer fainting with anguish and loss of blood fell down from his haodah, to which he just held by one of his hands.
4.17.6
In this situation Daood-khan's driver, making a stout use of his iron-crook, gave him on the back two or three blows, so well conditioned, that the nobleman remembered them for the remainder of his days; and several years after, on recounting all this detail, he could not help carrying his hand to his back, and saying that they were severe blows, indeed, and that he felt them still. Whilst this terrible execution was taking place, Mir-mushreff's elephant-driver seized this opportunity to part the two beasts, and as he hung still by the hand, a report spread throughout the whole army that he was slain; and this report only increased the panic. And now the Afghan drawing near Hossein-aaly-khan's elephant, people thought that all was over, and numbers fell off their ranks, whilst others fled in earnest. A signal discomfiture was going to ensue, few choosing to stand by their General but a body of men of note, who resolved to perish rather than to forsake him. Matters grew critical, and the confusion as dreadful as that of the Day of Judgment, when a musquet-ball, as if by express order, struck Daood-khan in the forehead, killed him outright, and changed the morning of his life and glory into an everlasting evening. The driver seeing his master without any sign of life, turned his elephant about, and fled with those that sought to avoid the edge of the pursuing sabre.
4.17.7
At sight of this, Hossein-aaly-khan ordered his military music to strike up in token of victory and rejoicing, and sending his people after the Afghan's elephant, which was soon overtaken, he ordered his corpse to be fastened to that animal's foot, and dragged throughout the whole city of B8rhanp8r. It may be asked what has become of Bimba-dji and his Marhatta Cavalry, of which we have said not a word. And the answer will be short. The man, like a true Marhatta, contented himself with scampering about at the beginning of the action, and then remained motionless like any common spectator; so that when he saw that victory had turned towards Hossein-aaly-khan, he galloped over, and presented him his Nuzur as did all his officers. And all this while his Marhattas having broke in the enemy's camp, were plundering every thing they could lay their hands upon. Nevertheless, there still remained much booty for the victorious army; and the whole of Da8d-khan's equipage, money, horses and elephants were seized for the Viceroy's use, a small part of which only he vouchsafed to send to the Emperor, and that, too, after a length of time.