The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.264

v4.c20.264

Muhammad had surrendered to Nādir at Karnāl the keys of his treasury and both the wealth and the jewels of the empire were at the conqueror's disposal, but there remained the levying of contributions from the great nobles, in accordance with the suggestion made by Burhān-ul-Mulk. The traitor was now dead, having succumbed a few days after his return to Delhi to a malignant tumour. He had paid before his death thirty-three million rupees and a force proceeded to Oudh to recover from his nephew and son-in-law, Abu-'l-Mansūr Khān, Safdar Jang, the promised contribution of twenty million rupees. Safdar Jang paid partly in cash and completed the sum due from him with elephants, jewels and vessels of gold and silver. The value of the pearls, diamonds and other jewels taken from the imperial treasury was described as being beyond computation. They included Shāh Jahān's wonderful Peacock Throne, the jewels alone of which, without reckoning the precious metal of which the throne was made, were valued at twenty million rupees.