Later Mughals v1.c6.s25.9

v1.c6.s25.9

Just before sunset on the 25th February 1712, Prince Rafi-ush-shan the third son left his quarters at the mansion of Ali Mardan Khan in Lahor with the intention of visiting the Emperor. Kamwar Khan met his retinue in the sands of the Ravi and asked for orders in certain matters. After a word or two the Prince said there was then no time. Kamwar Khan returned to the ruin of which he had taken possession as his abode. Evening prayer was in progress when a camel-rider brought a verbal message from Sandal Khan, head eunuch (nazir) to Prince Rafi-ud-darjat, then with his father, ordering Kamwar Khan to join him with some of the Prince's men. Taking forty or fifty well armed men, Kamwar Khan made all possible haste towards the imperial camp. On reaching the river bed, they saw torches approaching. It was the Prince's retinue. One of the troopers rode up and told them that the Emperor had been laid up for over a day with swelling of the spleen. Prince Rafi-ush-shan had reached the Emperor's quarters about sundown. The eldest Prince Muizz-ud-din Jahandar Shah, came out of the enclosing screens (gulal-bar) in a state of the greatest consternation and bringing his litter (nalki) close to that of his younger brother said, "The time of departure." Rafi-ush-shan turned back and sent a letter from his own quarters by the hand of a eunuch asking what His Majesty's wishes were. Bahadur Shah wrote on the letter with his own hand that the Prince should hurry home to his own house. "There", said the trooper, pointing with his hand, "there is the Prince coming, with his retinue." As they were talking, the Prince arrived, and Kamwar Khan asked for orders for himself and his men. The Prince directed them to go home, and in the morning it would be known how matters stood. [Kamwar.]