English
He sent to bis name a letter, purporting falsely to be a reply to his message, to the following effect: “ The letter sent by you has been received; what you have written in respect of your plan to extirpate the Mah¬ ratta freebooters, has met with my approval. It is a very good idea: you from that side, and I from this side, will be on the alert and wait. By every means possible, try and induce them to come this side, and then what is now in the minds of us both will come to pass.” Mahabat Jang sent this message through a courier, in- l SjSafdar Jang was appointed Subadar of Onde by Emperor Muljammad Shah, and in the reign of Emperor Ahmad Shah became Chief Virier of the Empire, on the death of Qamru-d-din Khan. At this time, Afcmad ghah Abdali invaded India several times, and the Rohilla Afghans of Farrukhibid and Moradabad became a power in the land. Safdar Jang appointed as his Dopaty in Oude a Kyet, named Rajah Nnl Rai. (See Seiru-UMutakhenn, Vol. II, Pers. text, pp. 874-875). * Rajah Nnl Rai was a Kyesth. At first he was an obscure servant of Nawab-Vizier Safdar Jang, bnt subsequently rose to the office of Deputy $uba- 3 _ of Oude under the latter. He resided at Kananj. twenty kroh from Far- rukhabad, the Rohilla stronghold Nul Rai ill-treated the Rohillasof Far- rnttabid, who combined and attacked Nul Rai who was killed. ^u-l-lah Kh7n (son-in-law of tf5ji Ahmad) who fought in this war on the side of Nul tP was also killed. The reinforcements sent by Nawab-Vizier §afdar Jang fSee Seirv-l-Mutahherin, Vol. II, p. 876, Pers. text). . b See the aooount of the capture of the Fort of Barabati in Ser, Vol. II, p, 578, Fere. text. 361 strucfcing the latter to proceed by such a route, that he might be intercepted by the Mahrattas and the letter might fall into their hands. This ruse proved a complete success, and the Mahrattas auspecting Mir Habib slew him. 1 * * * * * * .To sum up, for twelve long years the fires of war and slaughter kindled between the Mahrattas and Mahabat Jang, and the Mah¬ rattas did not retire without levying the Chauth. And owiug to Haji Ahmad and Zainu-d-din Ahmad Kljan having fallen, the power of Mahabat Jang was weakened, whilst old age and infirm¬ ity told on his physical vigour. Of necessity, in view of expe¬ diency, and in compliance with the entreaties of Nawazigb Muham¬ mad Khan Shahamat Jang, Mahabat Jang at last concluded a peace with the Mahratta freebooters, agreeing to pay the latter Chauth for the three Subahs, and through the medium of Ma^i^u* d-din Muhammad Khan, nephew of Mir Habib, and $adru-l-Haq Sban, fixed the basis for the terms of peace and the settlement of the Chauth. In lieu of the payment of the Chauth, he assigned the revenue of $Qbah of Orissa to the Mahrattas, and appointed Sadru- l-IJaqto be its Administrator and Governor. 8 After settling this important affair with the Mahrattas, MahSbat Jang regained peace l Mir H&bib, th® inspiring genius of the Mahrattas, and their ‘guide, friend, and philosopher ’ for over a decade,—was at last butchered by Janoji, eon of Eaghoji Bhosla. But after all, however blameless his initial motive might be, it cannot be denied that he met with his desert for his narrow-minded imprudence in fraternising with the Mahratta freebooters, regardless of all religious and national ties. The account ns to how Mir Habib was inveigled into a house by Janoji, and there treacherously murdered in 1166 A.H., is detailed in the Stir, Vol.II, p. 693, Pers. text. The 8eir (p. 692), also states that after a treaty of peace was Concluded between Mahabat Jang and the Mahrattas, Mir Habib ruled over Orissa as Governor, on bohnlf of Mahabat Jang, whilst a Mahratta contingent of troops under a Mahratta officer was stationed at Katak. Mir Habib was succeeded in tho office of Governor by Maslihn-d-din Muhammad Khnn, who, however, enjoyed lees prestige, and regarded himself as a servant of the Mahrattas (Seir, p. 693. Vol. II, Pera. text. 8 There is some difference between the account here and tho acoount in the Setr. From SeiVs account (p. 592), it would appear Mir Habib was tho first person who held the office that is assigned to §adra-l-Haq in the text, after the conclusion of the peace. Tho details of this treaty of peace in 1165 A H are given in the Seir (pp. 690-591). The Seir states that overtures for peace came from the side of the Mahrattas (represented by Mir Habib) who had first been defeated again in 1164 A.H. at Modnipur. As Maliabnt Jang was 362 •of Iriind, and took to travelling and hunting. After ruling for ■sixteen years, he died of dropsy on Saturday, 9th Rajab, 1169 A.H., corresponding to the second year of the accession of Em¬ peror Alamgir II, and was buried in the Khush Ba gh . 1 Siraju-d- daulah, who was his heir, then mounted the masnad of Nizamat. now 75 years old, and physical ailment and infirmity had 6eized him, and as the war between him and Mahrattas had been protracted to ten years, and as the chief Afghan pillars of his-State had revolted against him, and as the peo¬ ple had suffered indescribable miseries during this long struggle, Mahabat Jang accepted the overtures of peace, which was concluded through the interven¬ tion of Mirza Salih (on behalf of Mir IJubib and the Mahrattas) and Mir Jiifar (on behalf of Mahabat Jang). The terms of peace were : (1). Mir liabib becoming a servant of Mahabat Jang should on behalf of the latter rule as Deputy Governor over Orissa. (2). The revenue of Orissa should be assigned by Mir abib for the pay of Raghoji Bhosla’s Mahratta army of occupation. (3). That over and above the revenues of Orissa, twelve Inks of rupees should be annually paid by Mir Habib to Raghoji Bhoslah (presumably from the revenues of other provinces), on condition that Ragboji’s troops should not raid the dominions of Mahabat Jang. (4). The river Sunamukhia (or Subarnarikha) near Jalisar (Jalasore), was to form the demarcation-line of the boundaries of Orissa and Bengal; Meduipur at this time beiDg separated from Orissa and annexed to Bengal. . I The author of the Seir (who was a connexion of Mahabat Jang) praises up the memory of Mahabat Jang. (See Seir, Vol. II, pp- 609-611). He states that Mahabat Jang abstained from pleasures, was regular in his prayers, abstemious in habits, and methodic in business, lie slept little, and passed most of his time in attending to State affairs, or in the company of scholars and savaiits whom he held in high esteem. He had only one wife, to whom he was greatly devoted. He was a splendid general and a far-sig statesman. When Mo ? tafa Khdu, his Afghan General, and his relatives Shahamat Jang and §aulat Jang used to press Mahabat Jang to fig drive out the English from Calcutta, Mahabat Tang used to reply : 6 o?t Khun is a military man, and therefore he is always eager for war,““to be”constantly in need of his services. What evil have the English idore me, that I should wish evil to them ? The (Mahratta) fire on land is not yet extinguished; and if the fire is extended to the sea, who will quench (Seir p. 611, Vol. II, Pers. text). Despite the Sc,Vs panegyric, ,t seems tome that AH Vardi must forfeit his claim to bo regarded as a far-sighted states , a vitv of the fact that his treacherous and violent conduct towards hi. masters and benefactors inaugurated in Bengal an era of violent treachery . serious disintegration, andthat his example quickly reacted on ot era . hTand higrands on back in the same coin. In this connection one pald him and h>8 gr>o ^ ^ ? called Jbrat . t . Arbab Bar may lead an interesting ^ contain® (meaning's Moral for people with eyes') each sentence of which * 363 NIZAMAT OP NAWAB SIRAJU-D-DATJLAH. When Nawab Ali Yardi JThan Mahabat Jang passed to the le¬ gions of eternity, Nawab Siraju-d-daulab, son of Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan Haibafc Jang, and maternal grandson of All Vardi, who from before had been declared heir-apparent by Ali Vardi KljaD, and whom Ali Vardi Khan had in his life-time placed on the cushion of the Nizamat, and to whom Ali Vardi with ali the grandees of the court had paid homage and offered presents—as¬ cended the maenad of the rnlership over Bengal, Behar, and Orissa Siraju-d-daulah exhibited insolence and arrogance, which are the worst of attributes, and are displeasing to God. At that time, owing to certain reasons, Ghasiti Begam, widow of Nawazish Ahmad Khan Shahamat Jang, who resided at Mutijlii), resolving to oppose Siraju-d-daulah, appointed Mir Nazar Ali, who was her servant and was bound to her by ties of various favours and obli¬ gations, to be the commander of her vauguard, and Nawab Bairam Khan to be generalissimo of her army. Then the B§gam of Mahabat Jang, and Jagat Set, as an emissary of Siraju-d-daulah, went to Ghasiti Begam and gave her assurances ; and so the latter refrained from hostility, whilst Nazar Ali fled, and Bairam Khan talcing refuge with one of the generals fell into disgrace. Siraju- d-daulah’s army arriving captured Ghasiti Begam, together with all her effects. The Begam saw what she had never seen, and heard what she had never heard. Siraju-d-daulah’s army rased to the ground her buildings and her palace, and unearthing her buried treasures carried them to Mansurganj. Owing to Siraju-d-dau¬ lah’s harshness of temper and indulgence in violent language, fear and terror had settled on the hearts of everyone to such an extent, that no one amongst the generals of the army or the nob I emeu of the City was free from anxiety. Amongst his officers, whoever went to wait on Siraju-d-daulah despaired of life and honour, and whoever returned without being disgraced and ill- treated offered thanks to God.