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Later Mughals v2.c14.s27: Sec. 53.—Sarbuland Khan's Preparations for Occupying Gujarat.

Later Mughals v2.c14.s27

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English

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Sec. 53.—Sarbuland Khan's Preparations for Occupying Gujarat.

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When sometime early in March 1725 the bad news first of Shujaat Khan's and then of Rustam Ali Khan's defeat and death became known at Dihli, the new governor Sarbuland Khan was urged to complete his preparations more rapidly and take possession of his Government at the very earliest date.

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For the seven or eight months since his appointment he had been loitering sometimes in the neighbourhood of Dihli, sometimes near Rewari or Kot Putili. The supposition was that His Majesty in person would take the field; but this project, if ever entertained, never took practical shape. He was now given a subsidy of one kror of Rupees, of which fifty lakhs were paid at once and the balance was promised in monthly instalments of three lakhs each. Maharajah Abhai Singh Rathor of Jodhpur, Chattar Singh of Narwar, Gandharb Singh, and the Maharana were directed to assist. Muhkam Singh Khatri, formerly the principal officer under Sayyid Husain Ali Khan, who for the last four years, ever since the defeat of Sayyid Abdullah Khan had been out of employment deprived of title, rank, or pay, was re-invested with the rank of 6000 (5000 horse), the title of Rajah, and a jagir of two krors of dam. He also received a cash advance of two lakhs of Rupees. A number of Barha Sayyids were also restored to the service and ordered to Gujarat. Najm-ud-din Ali Khan, younger brother of Abdullah Khan, who had been in prison for five years, was restored to his old rank, appointed governor of Ajmer, and ordered to join Sarbuland Khan. Other Barha Sayyids appointed were Saif-ud-din Ali Khan, a younger brother, Shujaat-ullah Khan, Muhammad Khan, Shah Ali Khan, Sayyid Nijabat Ali Khan (a nephew of the Barha Wazir), altogether between twenty and thirty leaders of the Barha with their troops came to the capital and were despatched to Gujarat. In the end of Rajab (30th = 13th April, 1725) Sarbuland Khan left Dihli on his way to Agra, but he only went two or three short marches and halted at Tilpat, 13 miles from the capital, and there he remained until the end of Shaban (29th = 12th May 1725). In Ramzan (May-June) he was only at Faridabad, but the Emperor's macebearers who had left him encamped on the bank of the Jamuna, reported that he was now proceeding stage by stage to Agra.

Events in Ahmadabad.

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In April 1725 Hamid Khan heard that Sarbuland Khan would soon start from Dihli. But the rainy season was about to commence and the Mahrattas, as usual, retreated to their own country. Hamid Khan extracted a promise from them to return to him the instant the rainy season had ended. Meanwhile Ali Muhammad Khan, agent for the new governor, quitted the city under the protection of Abdur-rahim Babi, whom Hamid Khan had just appointed *faujdar* of Kari. Then he proceeded on the invitation of Salabat Muhammad Khan Babi to Viramgaon. Here letters were received from Sarbuland Khan calling for frequent reports of Hamid Khan’s doings and all the city news. Ali Muhammad Khan subsequently moved to Radhanpur under the protection of Jawan-mard Khan Babi. Hamid Khan’s officials began to lose their hold on the country. At Pattan Qazi Ilm-ud-din gave out that he had been appointed *faujdar* of that place and ousted Hamid Khan’s nominee. The same thing occurred at other places. In September Hamid Khan sent out his tents with the avowed object of collecting tribute (*peshkash*) from the zamindars in the direction of Jhalawar, and under urgent orders Salabat Muhammad Khan and Jawan-mard Khan left their stations and joined him.