Later Mughals v1.c8.s14: Sec. 14.—Farrukh-siyar Arrives at the Jamuna.
Later Mughals v1.c8.s14
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Sec. 14.—Farrukh-siyar Arrives at the Jamuna.
v1.c8.s14.1
From Khajwa, where we left him, Farrukh-siyar marched on the 3rd Zul Qada (1st December, 1712) to Qasba Kora. Here he halted for a day, forty horses from Azz-ud-din's fugitive army were brought in, and a visit was paid to the shrine of Shaikh Badi-ud-din. The next marches were Alamnagar (5th), Dohar (7th), Jophra (8th), Sapoli (10th), Nadhaya (11th), and the town of Makhanpur on the 12th. On the next day visits were paid to the shrine of Shah Madar,* and gifts were distributed there and at the tombs of other holy men. On the 15th (13th December, 1712) they moved to Makrandnagar, where Ali Asghar Khan was created Khan Zaman and made a *Bakhshi* in place of Azam Khan. The next three days were spent in reciting prayers at the tombs of holy men at Rajgir and other places round Qanauj. On the 19th they moved to Jalalabad thence to Sikandra (20th), Rangpur (21st), Amipur (22nd), Basantpur (23rd), Kalyanpur (24th), Etawa (25th), Fazilabad (27th), Kharsana (28th), Sarai Murlidhar (29th), Shukohabad (1st Zul Hijja), Firuzabad (2nd), Alinagar (4th), and Itimadpur (5th). This last named place is three miles from the left bank of the Jamuna, and lies five miles north-east of Samugarh. [*Ijad*, 82*b*.]
v1.c8.s14.2
∗ Makhanpur is 34 m. n. w. of Cawnpore, Thornton, 342. Shaikh Badi-ud-din, known as Shah Madar, died 18th Jamadi I. 840 H. (29th November 1436.)
v1.c8.s14.3
Here they learnt that Jahandar Shah had reached Samugarh and had seized all boats up and down the river for a distance of eighty or ninety miles. But not a sign of his further advance could be detected, nor did there seem any chance of their being able to cross the river themselves in order to force on a decisive battle. Therefore, on the night of the 5th Zul Hijja (2nd January 1713), it was resolved to send a capable messenger to Jahandar Shah. This man was to point out to him that they had come a journey of three months' duration, he, one of seven days only. Why then should he hold back and delay the final battle? Let him cross at once and meet them in the field. An answer was awaited until the following day. The envoy then returned and reported that he had been taken before Jahandar Shah and had repeated his message. The only answer received was 'It is well! it is well!'. When he passed the river they cried to him 'You see the bridge, you see the bridge,' but so far as he could find out, they neither meant to cross over themselves nor allow their opponents to cross. [*Ibid.* 88*b*.]
v1.c8.s14.4
On the 7th (4th January 1713) Farrukh-siyar moved his camp some six miles to Sarai Begam.* Here welcome news was received of treachery at work in Jahandar Shah's army. Ubaidullah, Shariyat-ullah Khan (afterwards Mir Jumla), who had been with Azim-ush-shan at Lahor, had intended to return to Bengal and rejoin his patron's son as soon as possible. On his way down country he had been detained at Agra by the officials on the river bank and had not been allowed to continue his journey. At this time, when Jahandar Shah arrived at Agra, Shariyat-ullah Khan, at the peril of his life, opened secret negotiations with the Mughal leaders, Chin Qilich Khan and Muhammad Amin Khan Chin, and by his persuasion these men agreed not to fight when the day of battle between the two claimants to the throne should arrive.*
v1.c8.s14.5
∗ Query, the Sarai Hazam of the *Indian Atlas*, sheet 50, nine miles west of Itimadpur.