Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s2.6

v1.c14.s2.6

All Farrukhabad now lay prostrate at the wazir’s feet. But his agents abused their power, and by their greed and insolence galled the spirit of the proud and martial Afghān race, so that in six months Safdar Jang’s rule was swept off the country. Qāim’s mother was kept in detention at Qanauj for realising the balance of the promised money. She escaped through the devotion of a hereditary clerk (munshi) of her husband’s house, named Sāhib Rāi. This man gained a place in Naval Rāi’s society and got his signature, when deep in his cups, on an order for her release. The time was midnight, but the order was immediately presented and the lady was conveyed by fast travel to her own people at Mau Rashidabad. Here she set herself to rouse the Afghāns by sending her veil to the headmen of different villages and appealing to their sense of honour and love of liberty.