Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c9.s2.1

v1.c9.s2.1

The terms were at last settled and 13th January was fixed for the ceremonial presentation of the Afghān chiefs and their retainers. During the Court held for the purpose, there was an immense and boisterous crowd of three to four thousand Afghān soldiers fully armed, under Shamshir Khān, in the street leading to the palace, while the Audience Hall (*Chihil satun*) was thronged with another band of 500 Afghāns under Murād Sher Khān, who had come first and who after presenting his followers one by one, told them to take leave of the governor in order to make room for Shamshir Khān’s men. At this farewell ceremony, one Abdur Rashid Khān, according to their preconcerted plan, stabbed at Zainuddin with his waist-dagger, but his hand shook so much from nervousness that the weapon had no effect. Then Murād Sher Khān started up and with one tremendous blow of his sword cut Zainuddin into two from the shoulder-blade to the pelvis.