Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c7.s4.9

v1.c7.s4.9

After the destruction of Rājah Harnand, Ali Muhammad’s power rapidly extended over the entire Barily district and parts of Murādābād, Hardoi and Budāun. The unprincipled wazir, instead of punishing this open outrage upon his master’s Government and slaughter of his own agent, thought it better to secure such an ever-victorious chieftain’s alliance in his coming contest with his rivals of the Irāni party at Court. He made terms with the Ruhela, accepted his promise of an annual tribute and the hand of his daughter for his eldest son, and secured for him an imperial rescript appointing the usurper as the lawful governor of Katehr, henceforth named "the land of the Ruhelas." The net result was that "the Ruhela power, as represented in the person of Ali Muhammad, spread gradually westwards from a few parganahs in Budāun and Barily (districts.) About 1740 (1741) he managed to annex the bulk of Murādābād." (Bijnor Gazetteer, 348.)