Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c8.s5.13

v1.c8.s5.13

The Nawāb took counsel with his leading Afghān general, Ghulām Mustafa Khān, who undertook to bring Bhāskar and his chief officers to a friendly interview and there massacre them, if he was promised the governorship of Bihar as his reward for the deed. Alivardi agreed, and the plan was matured in strict secrecy. Under Bhāskar there had come this year twenty Marātha generals and two Muhammadans, namely Shahāmat Khān and Alibhāi Qarāwwal. Alivardi sent Rājah Jānakirām (his *diwān*) and Mustafa Khān to Bhāskar’s camp at Dignagar. The two envoys declared that the Nawāb was anxious to end these disputes by paying an annual *chauth* that may be fixed by mutual agreement and that for such a settlement a personal discussion between the two chiefs was necessary. Jānakirām and Mustafa took the most solemn oaths possible for a Hindu and a Muslim respectively that no treachery would be done to Bhāskar’s party if they visited the Nawāb. Then Bhāskar agreed to come and an auspicious day (the second day of the Bengali new-year, 31st March, 1744) was fixed for the interview.