Later Mughals v1.c8.s18.1

v1.c8.s18.1

At the place where he had taken shelter, Jahandar Shah caused his beard and moustache to be shaved off, and changed his clothes. When the night was nearly spent he, Lal Kunwar, and Mhd. Mah (Azam Khan) mounted a small, two-wheeled bullock-carriage (bahal), covered by a canopy, such as women ride in, and started for Dihli. In the morning, about nine o’clock, they reached a village five miles or so west of Mathura. There they sent for food, and until it was found, lay down on the bare earth for a short sleep. They were soon again on their way, and munched as they went the dry bread for which they had begged. Three hours after nightfall on the second night, they reached a village near Sarai Hodal, and here they obtained a little grass for their cattle. Day had hardly risen ere they were again on the road. On the 16th Zul Hijja H. (13th Jan. 1713), after dark, they entered Talpat, a village thirteen miles from Dihli, which had been granted in perpetuity (al taghmah) by Jahandar Shah to Muhammad Mah, who had built there a house and mosque and planted a garden. His servants were still in possession, and thus they were in comparative safety. As they did not wish to enter Dihli in daylight, and they were worn out by continuous travelling, they went to sleep. At dusk they resumed their journey. Muhammad Mah advised his master to avoid Dihli and continue his flight to Multan, where he had friends. Jahandar Shah answered with idle talk. He still relied on Zulfiqar Khan’s oaths and insisted that he must once more see and speak to that nobleman. They reached Dihli in the night of the 18th Zul Hijja (15th Jan., 1713). Lal Kunwar went to her own house in charge of Muhammad Mah, while Jahandar Shah, still covered with the dust from his journey, repaired alone to the house of Asad Khan, Asaf-ud-daulah.*