Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c36.s9.9

v3.c36.s9.9

After Shafi had left, Latāfat Ali begged the Emperor to permit him to summon his own contingent into the fort through the river gate which was not yet occupied by Najaf’s men, and clear the fort of the usurpers by opening musket fire on them. While the Emperor, as characteristic of him, was hesitating to make a decision, crowd after crowd of Ahad’s partisans gathered on the river bank and filled the sandy plain below the fort as far as the eye could go. Shah Alam worked himself up to a high rage; he put his armour on and taking a bow in his hand issued from the harem on a portable litter, surrounded by the princes and eunuchs, vowing to expel Najaf’s men. But by the time he reached the Diwan-i-am his courage had evaporated; his cowardly followers advised him to go back lest the opposite side should fail to show the respect due to royalty. He therefore returned to his bed room, the tumult died out, and mediators again began to pass to and fro. Najaf Khan continued till sunset seated in that mosque and humbly asking for permission to take Ahad out of the fort, and the Emperor as persistently refusing.