The Army of the Indian Moghuls: Its Organization and Administration c24.18

c24.18

His hands bound together by Ḥaidar Qulī Khān’s shawl, ‘Abdullah Khān was brought before Muḥammad Shāh. Saluting him with a “Peace be upon you”, the emperor said “Sayyad! you have yourself brought your affairs to this extremity”. Overcome with the disgrace, ‘Abdullah Khān answered only “It is God’s will”. Muḥammad Amīn Khān, unable to contain himself, leapt from the ground with joy, and exclaimed “Let this traitor to his salt be confided to this ancient servitor”. But Khān Daurān, in respectful terms, intervened. “Never! never! Make not the Sayyad over to Muḥammad Amīn Khān, for he will at once slay him in an ignominious manner, and such a deed is inadvisable. What did Farrukhsīyar gain by the murder of Zu,lfiqār Khān? Let him remain with Ḥaidar Qulī Khān, or be made over to the emperor’s own servants”. The prisoner was accordingly made over to Ḥaidar Qulī Khān, along with Najm-ud-dīn ‘Alī Khān, his brother, whose wounds were so severe that he was not expected to recover. Ḥāmid Khān, Turānī, was also taken a prisoner and brought, bare-headed and bare-footed, before his cousin, Muḥammad Amīn Khān, and Khān Daurān. The wazīr calmed his fears and assured him of being tenderly dealt with. There were many other prisoners, among them the chief being Sayyad ‘Alī Khān, (brother of Abu,l Muḥsin Khān, Bakhshī) and ‘Abd-un-nabī Khān.