Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s1.6

v1.c14.s1.6

Ali Muhammad was believed to have left fabulous wealth. Safdar Jang appealed to Qāim Khan’s cupidity and ambition and sent him an imperial *farmān* appointing him *faujdār* of Rohilkhand. Qāim Khan at first hesitated to accept this dangerous office but was persuaded by his favourite officer, Mahmud Khan Afridi (the *Bakhshi.*) He sent Muazzam Khan (the brother of his Bakhshi) to the Ruhela leaders asking them to vacate the imperial territory they had usurped and not to oppose him in taking charge of his office. In return he assured them the possession of *jāgīrs* sufficient to maintain 5,000 soldiers. Hāfiz Rahmat the regent replied that as the Afghāns had conquered the country when the Emperor could not, he would acknowledge no master but the Emperor, and that it would be proper for Qāim Khan to decline the office as his appointment had originated with the wazir who had taken all power out of the Emperor’s hands. When Qāim’s envoy resorted to high words, he was turned out of Aonla in disgrace. Qāim Khan had sent some flags of his own with orders to set them up in Barily and other towns as badges of his authority; the Ruhelas planted them upside down in derision. (G-i-R. 29, Imād. 44.)