Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.4
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 4.4
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- English
4.4.1
These manoeuvres of the Sycks, as well as the tumult in the Cathedral, I have mentioned upon the faith of a letter which Amin-ed-döula, of Sambal, had written to his children, and which I have found at length in the papers of his secretary. The latter says, that the Emperor incensed against the Doctors that had excited the tumult which had cost the reader's life, had ordered some of them to be thrown into a prison, and some others to be sent to the fortress of Gvaliar. Sometimes after, the Emperor having felt a slight indisposition of which no one suspected the ill end, at once fell into a swoon, in which he suddenly departed from this world, to hasten to a corner of the mansions of eternal mercy. It was the 19th of Muharrem, about two hours before night. The Prince Azim-ush-shan, who happened to be present when the Emperor fell into a swoon, finding himself unable to stand such a spectacle, had quitted that spot, and retired to his own camp, after having recommended to Amin-ed-döula to tarry a few hours more, in order to bring him a sure intelligence about so mournful an event. So that as soon as the Emperor expired, that nobleman had repaired to the Prince, and had informed him that his father was no more, and that all was over. The Prince wept bitterly; but Amin-ed-döula having dried his tears with a handkerchief, bid him stand up, and take his party instantly, as not a moment was to be lost.
4.4.2
"Ascend the throne," said he, "at once, and order the Imperial kettle-drums and music to strike up immediately;" and this being complied with, the few courtiers that chanced to be at hand, made haste to present their Nazers according to custom, and wished the Prince a long, happy reign. At this very time Amin-ed-döula with Naamet-ollah-khan, and some others, represented that Zulficar-khan, the Generalissimo, as well as Hamid-ed-din-khan, who were both inimical to him, were actually busy in fitting up the imperial body, and would be taken up with that ceremony as far as the grave, and of course could afford a precious delay, in which they both might be seized and secured. The Prince seemingly unmoved by so important an advice, answered, "that the Imperial honor would suffer from such a hasty indecent proceeding; and that for his own part he trusted solely to his own right, and to God Almighty's assistance; the more so, as after all, Zulficar-khan could do but little." This answer struck his advisers and well-wishers dumb; and they said in a low voice: "May God turn this into some good!" In fact, the Prince was guilty of an enormous oversight, and that too, at the very threshold of his throne. Nevertheless, Naamet-ollah-khan, of his own motion, went away directly, and putting himself at the head of a numerous brigade of his own, he marched straight to the imperial paling;
4.4.3
where having found the generalissimo already gone to his camp, and in the middle of his troops, he returned to the Prince, after having missed his blow. It must be observed that Azim-ush-shan had always borne a great sway in his father's life-time, under whom he had acted as his Lieutenant-General, whether in signing papers, or in dispatching business; and as the whole household, to which he commanded, as grand-master, was devoted to him, he had found no difficulty in taking possession of his father's treasures, and ascending the throne; a step which had afforded some assurance and some satisfaction to the troops in camp. But this was not the case of all. Numbers that looked more narrowly into the matter, were apprehensive of troubles and much bloodshed; so that whoever could provide himself with a carriage or a beast of burthen, made haste to send his family with his best effects into Lahor, during the whole night, whilst others went within the the Imperial paling and took their abode there. Whilst all this was going forward, the Physicians, Sadyc-khan and Hekin-el-mulk, together with Mehabet-khan and all the Ministers of State, as well as all the Crown officers, went in a body to pay their homages to Azim-ush-shan. They were led by Shah-nevaz-khan and Hamid-eddin-khan. On the other hand, Rostem-dil-khan and some others acknowledged Qhodjistah-aqhter.
4.4.4
But Zulficar-khan, the Generalissimo, who did not like this Prince, and was upon bad terms with Azim-ush-shan, repaired to the eldest son, Muezzeddin, and asked him whether he had any commands to lay upon him? "None at all," answered the Prince, "at least at present, for I have neither money nor troops, having added to the Imperial army whatever I could bring together, when I came to join my father. But I intend to retire into my Government of Multan, where I expect to collect forces as well as the means of appearing again upon the stage of the world, at which time I shall act as fortune shall point out." The Generalissimo disapproved of such a dilatory party, offered money, troops, and artillery out of his own private stores, and proposed to join immediately both Qhodjistah-aqhter and Refi-al-cadr, by which junction they would disperse Azim-ush-shan's party, after which it might be time for the three brothers to consult together about further measures. This proposal was not relished by Muezzeddin, who trusting but little to the Generalissimo's promises or power, desired him first of all to go and find his two brothers.
4.4.5
Zulficar-khan returned directly to his own camp, where having assembled what money and effects he thought necessary, he sent the whole to Muezzeddin, repairing at the same time to the quarters of the two other Princes, whose hearts he gained at the first interview, after having made them agree to an equal division of the treasures and effects of the late Emperor.
4.4.6
All this while Azim-ush-shan, surrounded by Crown officers, and by the courtiers and generals attached to his party, was sitting on the throne in full possession of the Imperial honors, but resolved to fall on whoever should venture to attack him. He surrounded his camp with a ditch, planted his cannon round, and for a few days waited the event, in hopes that the other pretenders, having no money, their troops would disperse of themselves, or come over to his camp. But as fortune was not on his side, it happened that the very reverse of all that came to take place ; for Zulficar-khan, after having performed a service that seemed above all reward, invited the Princes to join together ; and this being agreed to unanimously, they repaired with him to Muezzeddin's camp, where they formed him a court worthy of the Imperial splendour. This happened in the 1124 year of the Hedjrah. The next day, they marched to attack Azim-ush-shan, and a royal battle was fought ; but as destiny was against him, in a little time his troops were defeated, and they fled on all sides ; but what is singular, is that Azim-ush-shan's body could not be found, notwithstanding all the search made for that purpose. This event was related in the following manner : — The first day, there was a slight attack from the enemy ;
4.4.7
but as if they had changed their minds, they contented themselves, for seven days together, with firing showers of cannon-ball into Azim-ush-shan's camp, from which they were answered in the same style. On the seventh day, Naamet-ollah-khan and Aziz-khan, with Radja Mohcum-sing the Cahtri, and Radja Radj-sing the Djatt, came in a body with Shah-nevaz-khan at their head ; and they represented to that Prince, that as his enemies were not yet grown so numerous as had been apprehended, it was possible to attack them, and to disperse their troops, by sallying upon them at once, and coming to hand-blows. For all answer, the Prince desired them to wait a little, and with this order they were obliged to comply. The Prince hoped that as the Djatt Churamon, and the Bandjarras, had so beset the roads, that no provisions could reach the enemy's camp, the latter would soon be obliged to disperse for want of daily food. Whilst he was so much inclined to dilatory measures, he took none to gain the hearts of his troops. Extremely sparing of those treasures he had found ready under his hand, he looked like one anxious to carry them to the other world with him. With such a scheme in his head, no wonder that whenever any bolder advice was proposed, he was sure to mar it, by answering those very words of his — wait a little more.
4.4.8
On the eighth day, Zulficar-khan, having fetched from the city of Lahor, several large pieces of cannon, got them planted on a raised advantageous ground, from which they were incessantly pouring showers of large balls into Azim-ush-shan's camp; and as in order to bring up the cannon, the enemy had set open the road to Lahor, the troops of Azim-ush-shan, already exceedingly disgusted, availed themselves of that opportunity to put themselves out of the reach of a heavy fire, by retiring from the rear of his camp. This state of inaction having highly disgusted the two Gentoo Radjas, they repaired to the Prince at the head of their troops, and represented to him that "as there were no means left to tarry in his camp, and they would put up no more with the eternal taunts of the enemy, they were resolved to fall upon them with their own men, whether they should be supported or not, being determined on taking their chance." To this animated remonstrance the Prince made no other answer than this — wait a little more. The two brave Gentoos shocked at such a reception, vented their indignation in expressions of reproach, and with one and the same breath, they sallied forth, and fell sword in hand upon the enemy. As these did not expect such a sudden attack, they were surprized and gave way; and the two Princes, after performing wonders, and passing through the enemy's ranks, penetrated as far as the battery in question, of which they took possession.
4.4.9
This was the time to support those brave men; but so far was the Prince from any such exertion, that he sent his Aid-de-camps abroad to reprimand and bring back some commanders that had sallied forth of their own accord. This moment of suspense having been observed by the Generalissimo and Rostem-dil-khan, they made a brisk attack upon the Gentoo Princes, who received them with great bravery, and a sharp engagement took place; but the two Gentoos, overpowered by numbers, having fallen mortally wounded, their men lost courage, and fled towards Lahor, at the very time that a brave Afghan, called Suleiman-khan-peni was coming to their assistance with a thousand horse of his nation. He came just in time enough to lose his own life by a musquet-ball, and his body was sent to the city by the victors.