Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 4.9
A Translation of the Seir Mutaqherin (Haji Mustafa) 4.9
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4.9.1
This scheme of his having been approved, the officers of Government published a false account of the Imperial order they had received; and the Prince having sent for the Calmuc, put in his hand the Qhylaat, standard, and patent of investiture, and dismissed him with honor and distinction. The man thus provided, put himself at the head of a numerous retinue, with which cortege he arrived at the foot of the mountain, on which Rhotas is seated; and from thence he sent the impostor notice of his errand. But the latter who was constantly upon his guard, and extremely suspicious, would not admit all that cortege, and sent only a permit for the Envoy and two more persons. The Calmuc went up with only one, and whilst the Governor, into whose hands the standard had been delivered, was intent on reading the patent, he gave him a stab with his poniard, and repeated the strokes until the Governor fell down dead, the Calmuc himself with his companion having been wounded in the scuffle. On sight of this, the officers of the garrison fell upon the impostor's followers, killed some, wounded others, confined the rest; and putting the dead man's head into the Calmuc's hands, they sent him back to Feroh-syur, who loaded him with favours. This happened just at the time when intelligence had come of Bahadyr-shah's demise, and when Hossein-aaly-khan was gone on an expedition where he intended to bring to order, and to quiet, some distant parts of his government.
4.9.2
This time of suspense was seized by Feroh-syur; and before any intelligence might arrive of any of the deceased Emperor's children having ascended the throne, he ordered the public prayers at the mosques to be read in Azim-ush-shan, his father's name, published that he had ascended the throne and taken possession, and he wished him a prosperous reign. Having reflected in the sequel on the high nature of his proceeding, and dreading the consequences of his hastiness, he sent a submissive message to Hossein-aaly-khan, the Governor of the Province, by which he excused what had passed, and at the same time desired his attendance, as he had sentiments of the highest esteem for his person. Some days after the Governor returned to Azimabad; but as he did not seem inclined to enter into any connections with Feroh-syur, he was visited by the Prince's mother, who soothed his mind, promised him the disposal of all the affairs of the Empire, and taking to witness her own Coran, which she had brought for the purpose, she protested by God Almighty's Messenger, that he would never repent of such an union of concerns. This interview had calmed the Governor's apprehensions, and entirely gained his heart, when news came of Azim-ush-shan's death, and of Djehandar-shah's ascension to the throne. But by this time the Governor had advanced himself so far with Feroh-syur, that there was no receding with any safety; and he thought it better boldly to push on.
4.9.3
He, therefore, ordered public prayers to be said in the mosques for Feroh-syur, coined money in his name, and displayed to the full the standard of contention and open war with Djehandar-shah. Feroh-syur, in return, made it a point to cement daily his union with him, and to add everyday to his influence and authority. The Governor being now in earnest, assembled the bankers and principal men of the city; and having borrowed from them large sums of money, proportionable to their circumstances, for which he gave bonds signed by the Prince, and payable on his having subdued his enemies, he soon assembled a good army, and on an auspicious day, he set out on his expedition, carrying the Prince at the head of his troops. At the same time he appointed Seyd-ghairet-khan, his sister's son, for his Lieutenant-General in the province; and knowing that a convoy carrying the tribute of Bengal, was on its way to Ilah-abad, he wrote to Abdollah-khan, his brother, to entreat his seizing so fair a prize, which, however, he was to reserve entirely for the Prince's use, unless he might want some small part of it for his own necessities. This convoy was under the charge of Shudjah-khan, son-in-law to Djaafer-khan, Viceroy of Bengal. Abdollah-khan no sooner received the Prince's order thereon, than he stopped it, converted part of it to the use of his troops, but kept the remainder for his brother's occasions.
4.9.4
He also reviewed the artillery of the citadel and province, and pitched upon a number of pieces that were to compose his train. Whilst he was pushing his preparatives with vigour, Djehandar-shah, informed of his rebellion, had given his government to Radji-mahmed-khan, whose lieutenant, Seyd-abdol-ghaffar-khan, a man of character, had orders to expell Abdollah-khan; and he had been furnished for that purpose with twelve thousand horse, and a quantity of artillery, Abdolla-khan, who had been all this while expecting his brother with the Prince, confounded at their non-appearance, and not thinking his small force a match for the Imperial troops, had shut himself up within his citadel, after having sent one-half of his people to harass the Imperialists. These troops of his which hardly amounted to seven thousand men, cavalry and infantry, were commanded by his three younger brothers, Noor-eddin-aaly-khan, Nedjm-eddin-aaly-khan, and Sei'f-eddin-aaly-khan, to whom he added his own Major-General and Paymaster, the Baqhshy Abdol-mohsen-khan, a man of resolution, born at Bidjapoor in Dccan, but originally of Nedjef-esh-reff. Seyd-abdol-ghaffar, who had as good an opinion of himself as he had a small one of those three young men, turned their rear, and pushing to the citadel, he besieged it in form, after having sent word to the Governor, that he had left his nephews behind, because he had no inclination to play with children.
4.9.5
This sarcasm which was faithfully reported to those young men, put them upon recommending themselves to that General's good opinion. With this view, they fell upon his rear, as he was on full march; but their troops, which besides being all new levies, were greatly inferior in number, fell into confusion on the first on a set, and were losing ground every moment. This was no sooner perceived by the three young men, than resolved not to survive a defeat, they joined some of those that yet stood their ground to a body of Seids of Bar, personally attached to them; and stretching the feet of boldness and despair through the field of battle, they fell on the enemy like so many famished tigers of the wilderness, and were performing exploits worthy of being recorded in history. Fortune seemed to take side with the young heroes; one of those violent winds, common in that season, arose at that very time, and blew such clouds of dust and sand into the very faces of the enemies, as blinded them entirely. Unable to resist its violence, and still less to distinguish the friend from the foe, they fell into confusion, and became incapable of listening to command, or of keeping their ranks.
4.9.6
This being perceived by the young heroes, they redoubled their efforts, killed Abdol-ghaffar's brother, and were pushing with fury forwards, when a rumour having arisen in the enemy's troops that their General had been slain, it made such a discouraging effect, that even those that stood bravely their ground, fell off and retreated. From that moment the confusion and flight became general, and the proud Imperialist General received a shameful defeat; for Djehandar-shah's fortune was now upon the decline. This victory could not fail of raising the spirits of Feroh-syur's party, but it affected Abdollah-khan in a very different manner; his younger brother, Noor-eddin-aaly-khan, a young man of the greatest hopes, lost his life in it, and in his first campaign, drank of the cup of the martyrdom, and went to join the choruses of his brave and pious ancestors. Abdollah-khan, obliged to order the military music to strike up, was at a loss how to conceal his grief and tears upon the loss of such a hero whose eulogium he pronounced "The Cup of gladness in his hand, with his brother's corpse, on his shoulder."
4.9.7
The loss of this battle having given the Emperor some suspicions about the event of the war, he thought it proper to try what policy could perform; with that view, he sent a dress of honor to Abdollah-khan, applauded what he had done, and added a confirmation of his government. But it proved in vain; for Feroh-syur was already at Ilah-abad with a numerous army, in which they reckoned a number of Generals of character, for instance, Saf-shiken-khan, Ahmed-khan-coca, Muezzeddin the Cossa, alias Ghazi-eddin-khan, since Ghalub-djung, and Qhoadja-hassen, since QhandoSran. The two brothers, who were the soul of all that multitude, having made choice of a favourable moment, invoked the souls of their pious and brave ancestors, and set out full of spirits, on an expedition that already promised so much. This intelligence having been soon conveyed to the Emperor, he resolved to send his son, Yezzeddin, at the head of a powerful army to oppose Feroh-syur on his march. But in fact this young Prince himself was under the care of Qhadja-ahsen-khan, brother to Cocaltash-khan. This nobleman who enjoyed the grade of five thousand horse, was then raised to that of seven with the effectual command of so many; and the whole management of the expedition, as well as the safety of the Prince's person, was recommended to his care. After his departure, the Emperor dispatched Chin-kylydj-khan with orders to reinforce the army with his body of troops.
4.9.8
The Prince, after many marches, having advanced as far as Kedjwa near the Ganga, heard that the two brothers were in full march to fight him. This piece of intelligence stopped him short; and although he was so vastly superior to them both in numbers, (for he had above fifty thousand horse) and in artillery, he did not think himself a match for the enemy, but chose to entrench himself. His perturbation already great, became still more glaring, when he heard that the enemy was drawing near by continual marches. On this intelligence he betrayed, as well as his General, every mark of trepidation and pusillanimity. But when Abdollah-khan drew nearer and fell acannonading his camp, which he did for a whole day, he could contain himself no longer; and his General being as much out of his senses as himself, they sallied together at the back part of the camp, after having loaded themselves with as much gold and jewels as they could, and at the beginning of the night they took flight together, leaving their army, camp, artillery, baggage, jewels, and military chest to be disposed of by the enemy, who as yet knew nothing of the matter. But the army was soon informed of there being neither Prince nor General-in-chief; nor could any party be taken in such a singular evenement; for the officers and grandees in the camp disagreed with each other, and could come to no final resolution amongst themselves, but passed the whole day in disputes.
4.9.9
On the evening, the enemy got intelligence of the state of things, and rushing without order into the Imperial camp, they plundered it so leisurely, and found in it so much booty, that vast numbers of people that had never had an assured subsistence, now enriched themselves for the remainder of their lives. Notwithstanding all that plunder, there remained still a vast deal of wealth, which together with the artillery, was seized for Feroh-syur's use. This prince tarried a few days to give some rest to his army, whilst Yezzeddin in his flight towards Ecber-abad, fell in with the corps commanded by Chin-kylydj-khan. This General shocked at so flagitious a conduct, made use of force and violence to stop the Prince, who wanted absolutely to fly farther; and he obliged him to wait in his camp until the Emperor should send orders.