Later Mughals v1.c9.s34: Sec. 36.—Husain Ali Khan's First Audience.
Later Mughals v1.c9.s34
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Sec. 36.—Husain Ali Khan's First Audience.
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On the 4th Rabi II. (23rd February, 1719) Qutb-ul-mulk and his brother Husain Ali Khan were to be received by the Emperor. Qutb-ul-mulk and Ajit Singh repaired to the palace early in the morning, removed all the imperial guards, and substituted men of their own. At three hours after sunrise, Husain Ali Khan set out. First of all came the Mahrattas, their ranks reaching from the entrance of the hunting preserve to the gate of the fortress, their lances (neza) and spears (bhala) reminding the spectator of a waving reed-bed or cane-brake. Following them marched the Nawab and his retinue. Owing to the great crowds, progress was slow and the palace was not reached till close upon three o'clock. On the arrival of the Sayyids in the hall of audience, the few remaining eunuchs and pages were turned out, leaving only the two brothers and Ajit Singh with the Emperor. Husain Ali Khan bowed down to kiss the Emperor's feet, but Farrukh-siyar preventing this act of homage, put his arms round him and embraced him. The Bakhshi offered 100 gold coins and 100 Rupees; and in return received gifts of the usual character. Conversation then began. Husain Ali Khan first brought up the subject of the *farman* sent to Daud Khan, which had been found among the confiscated goods of that noble after his death. Farrukh-siyar declared it to be a forgery; he knew nothing about it. Husain Ali Khan next demanded further concessions. Itiqad Khan and several others must be excluded from Court, and all the offices round His Majesty's person must be made over permanently to the Sayyids and their nominees.*
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∗ Shiu Das, 236, gives the words of Farrukh-siyar's note. Jai Singh's autograph to the Rana's minister (Tod i. 370) conforms generally to the Muhammadan accounts.
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One of the first questions to cross Farrukh-siyar's lips was: "Where is your prisoner, the son of Prince Akbar?" "He is here," replied Husain Ali Khan, "but the Dakhinis object to produce him before they have received Sahu's mother and brother." Accordingly Bandhu, who for over thirty years had been prisoner, was brought out and made over to the Mahrattas. Husain Ali Khan then promised to bring the Prince to audience on the following day, and deliver him over publicly, so that no future doubts as to his fate might arise.† The Emperor and the Bakhshi now pledged themselves anew to each other. Farrukh-siyar took off his turban and placed it on the head of Husain Ali Khan, adding a gift of all the jewels that he was then wearing. Husain Ali Khan accepted only a part of the gifts offered to him. The interview was prolonged until three hours after nightfall, and when the Sayyid had left, all men believed that the strife had been allayed and ill-will converted into friendliness. The courtiers began to extol the boldness of His Majesty and praise the loyalty and good faith of the honourable Sayyids. [K. K. 807.]
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∗ Mirza Muhammad, 450; Kamwar Khan, 190; Khafi Khan, ii. 806; Muhammad Qasim, 232.
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† Shiu Das, 24b, but Warid, 157b, places this conversation on the last two days of the reign. Khush-hal Chand (B. M. 3288, fol. 316b), following the *Masir-i-Alamgiri* (p. 333), calls the younger brothers of Sahu, Madan Singh and Udhu Singh. Kamwar, 199, (1st Jamadi I. 1131 H.) speaks of one only, Madan Singh; and his release is placed on the 1st Jamadi I. 1131, (21st March, 1719). Grant Duff, p. 184, calls Madan the illegitimate son of Shambhaji.
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On the 5th and 6th Rabi II. (24th and 25th February, 1719) Farrukh-siyar sat as usual in the Diwan-i-khas; and all seemed likely to go on as before. The 8th Rabi II. was one of the days fixed in each week for hunting expeditions. Believing that the storm had blown over, the Emperor issued orders to prepare his retinue for that day, intending to go out of the city as usual.* Suspicion arose in the Sayyids' minds that this was a mere pretext for flight to Jai Singh's camp, which was not then very far off. Qutb-ul-mulk at once wrote to the Emperor that on that day, the 8th, Husain Ali Khan craved an audience, for the purpose of delivering the captive Prince brought from the Dakhin, and of taking his own leave before returning to that province. Overjoyed at the prospect of at last obtaining possession of this dreaded rival, Farrukh-siyar countermanded his expedition or, as another contemporary writer maintains, the hunting expedition had been a mere pretext. By this second account, it had been decided that directly the Emperor left the palace he should fall upon the Nawab, whose suspicions, as they thought, would have been lulled by the negotiations, and thus catching him unawares, he would be easily destroyed. A message was sent postponing the audience; but before it reached him, Husain Ali Khan had been warned by a woman in the harem. In his answer, he announced that as the next day had been pronounced exceedingly auspicious, he could not put off the audience, and prayed that the hunting excursion might be countermanded instead. His troops remained on the alert all night; and three hours before sunrise, Rajah Muhkam Singh occupied the Lahori Gate of the palace, where he awaited Qutb-ul-mulk.†
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∗ The days fixed were two a week, Saturday and Wednesday, Shiu Das, 3a. I make the 8th to be a Monday or a Tuesday.
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† Kamraj, Ibratnama, 15b; Kamwar Khan, 190, 191; Mirza Muhammad, 452.