Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c38.s8.30

v3.c38.s8.30

The Coronation anniversary over (23rd March 1784), Afrāsiyāb urged the Emperor to proceed with him to Agra and help in collecting tribute. But the necessary transport could not be got ready for want of money and the depletion of the imperial stores since Najaf’s death. Afrāsiyāb ascribed this delay to Abdul Ahad’s secret obstruction, and he created a scene at Court, abusing the Emperor and the princes and stinting them in their allowances. Weary of his gilded chains, the heir to the throne, Prince Jahāndār Shāh (Jawān Bakht)* slipped out of the Delhi palace in the midst of a violent dust storm on a dark night (14th April) and reached Lucknow (6th May), where he was welcomed by the Wazir and Warren Hastings. Afrāsiyāb and the Emperor in mortal fear of the possible consequences of this political move, wrote to the prince to come back at once and sent Major Browne (3rd May) to Lucknow with letters to all the three to the same effect.