Later Mughals v1.c9.s32.1

v1.c9.s32.1

Husain Ali Khan was approaching nearer and nearer to Dihli. He left Burhanpur on the 22nd Muharram 1131 H. (14th December, 1718) and Ujjain on the 4th Safar (26th December, 1718), having crossed the Narmada by the Akbarpur ferry. The embassy of Ikhlas Khan, who had met him near Mandu, had been unsuccessful in arresting his march. Then by letters from Barqandaz Khan, *faujdar* of Gwaliyar, and from his own agent at Court, he heard of the renewal of friendly intercourse on the 26th Muharram 1131 H. (18th December, 1718), between the Emperor and Qutb-ul-mulk. Publicly, he received the news with the remark that if His Majesty had no longer ill-will to them, they had no other object left than to serve him loyally; after he had seen the Emperor and settled certain matters, he would return to the Dakhin without delay. The Dakhin officials, on leaving Aurangabad, had been told that they would be dismissed at the Fardapur Pass; on reaching that pass, they were ordered to come on to Burhanpur. At Burhanpur, much to their disgust, their continued attendance was enjoined. Thus, when the news of a return march to the Dakhin spread from tent to tent throughout the camp, all men received it with joy and looked forward to speedily seeing their homes again. But, in a day or two, persons in the confidence of Husain Ali Khan divulged the fact that privately he had expressed the opinion that this was only a new plot hatched by Farrukh-siyar, that it was absurd on the face of it; had they never heard the saying: "When was a secret kept if it was told in an assembly?" A wise man could perceive the only possible result, namely, if they fell into the clutches of the Emperor, their lives would be forfeited; but if they get hold of him, his escape was hopeless. [M. M. 433, K. K. 799.]