A History of the Mahrattas v1.c25.52

v1.c25.52

On the assassination of Raja Rugonath Dass, Sulabut Jung, who was at Hyderabad, sent for Syud Lushkur Khan and Shah Nuwaz Khan, the ablest and most popular men under his government, who were then residing at Aurungabad. Both were inimical to the French, the former secretly, the latter openly; both, however, had latterly endeavoured to obtain the good opinion of Bussy, whose influence over Sulabut Jung was already paramount. By Bussy's advice Syud Lushkur Khan was raised to the office of Dewan, and Shah Nuwaz Khan was made Soobehdar of the province of Hyderabad. Syud Lushkur Khan was intimately connected with the Mahrattas, and secretly favoured the cause of Ghazee-ud-deen. When positive accounts reached Sulabut Jung that Ghazee-ud-deen was on his route to the Deccan, Syud Lushkur Khan had the address to persuade Sulabut Jung and Bussy, that by his resigning his situation as Dewan and pretending to go over to the Mahrattas, he should be able, from his influence with many of their chiefs, to induce a great number of them, either to join Sulabut Jung as allies or to remain neutral in the quarrel. Shah Nuwaz Khan was accordingly appointed to act as Vizier, whilst Syud Lushkur Khan proceeded to the residence of Janojee Nimbalkur at Kurmulla.¹ On the approach of Ghazee-ud-deen the Peishwa moved towards Burhanpoor. Syud Lushkur Khan and Janojee Nimbalkur had an interview with him, at which Syud Lushkur Khan, as if the envoy of Sulabut Jung, began by stating that his master had received letters from the Emperor, from which it appeared that Ghazee-ud-deen was merely to proceed to Aurungabad, settle the government in his own name, appoint his brother deputy, and return to Delhi. The Peishwa, however, perfectly understood that he intended to join Ghazee-ud-deen, and wished to obtain his support; but, however desirable it might be to have a fit minister at Hyderabad in his own interest, he was sensible of the abilities of Syud Lushkur Khan, and doubtful of what might be his conduct when he obtained power. He nevertheless wrote to Ghazee-ud-deen respecting these overtures. The letter was referred to his ministers, Syud Ashkar Khan and Mohummud Anwar Khan, who, dreading Syud Lushkur Khan more as a rival than an enemy, desired the Peishwa to detain both him and Nimbalkur, and bring them on to camp.² When the whole army, joined by the Peishwa and the Moghul troops from Burhanpoor, who declared for Ghazee-ud-deen, arrived in the neighbourhood of Aurungabad, it Sept. 12. amounted to one hundred and fifty thousand men.