English
Sirijn-d-danlah hearing of the disloy¬ alty that was brewing in the Purniah Court, deputed Rai Ras Behary (a son of Rajah Janoki Ram and brother of Dalab Bam) to Pnrniah, with a letter to Shaukat Jang, calling upon the latter to make over the Jagirt of Gondwarah and Bimagar (which pertained to the Bengal Nizamnt) to Rai Raa Behary. When this letter was received, tho author of the Seir (who was then gfeankit Jang’s principal adviser) being consulted advised Shaukat Jang to temporise, to treat Rai Ras Behary with outward courtesy, to mobilise troops, and to pass in this wiae till the rainy season was over, when it was expooted by the author of the Beir (who appears to have been in the confidence of the English) the English would also fight against Siraju-d-daulah and that then ghankit Jang s torn would oome to join the winning party. However that maybe, Shaukat did not adopt the above advice, and sent an insolent reply to Siraju- d-daulah, adding that he l Shaukat Jang) had received eanad of the Subdddr of Bengal, Behnr, aod Orissa, that 8irija-d-daulah had forfeited his head by his disloyalty, but that as an act of grace he would be permitted to settle down quietly in some oorner of Jabangirnagar or Daoca. Siraju-d-danlah answered the above insolent reply by at once advancing with his army to Mamhan, together with his Diwnn Mohanlal. Ramnarain from Patna was also ordered to join Sirajn-d-danlah with the Patna army. In this battle which took plaoe between Manihari and Nawabganj, ghankit Jang waa killed through his folly in leaving his entrenched position and marching through marshy gwampa. Sirajn-d-danlah appointed Mohanlal to the office of Fanj- dar of Pnrniah, and the latter left his Bon aa Deputy Fanjdar there. the Bbove deUil8 from the Seir, in order to shew that the war J " ng n0t ° f Sir5 i a - d - daQlah,B seeking, that it formed a pm* of the conspiracy hatched by Mir Jafar, in order to bring abont a revo n ion tj destroy Sirajn-d-daulah’s authority, and that Sirijn-d-daulah had no alternative bat to fight in aelf-defenoe. J * 90 47 368 this reply, which did not satisfy his designs, despatched Diwan Mohanlal, together with other Generals snch as Dost Muhammad Khan, Shaikh Din Mohammad, Mir Muhammad, and Jafar Khan, &c., with a large army, to fight with Shaukat Jang; and he also wrote to Ramnarain, the Subahdar of Azimabad, to march quickly to Purniah. From the other side, Shaukat Jang detailed for fighting Shaikh JahSn Yar and Karguzar Khan, the generalissimo, and Mir Murad AH and others, and subsequently he himself set out and assaulting and sacking and burning Haiatpurgolah returned to Purniah. On arrival at Manihari, Siraju-d-daulah’s army encamped, whilst Shaukat Jang’s army at a distance of one Karoh at Nawabganj entrenched itself. On the next day, Shau¬ kat Jang also arrived and joined his army ; and on the same day, Rajah Ramnarain, the Subahdar of Azimabad, with his contingent of troops, joined Siraju-d-daulah’s army. On the morning of the following day, Rajah Mohanlal advanced with Ins force in order to fight, and unfurled his flag carrying the ensigma of the Mahi Order which he held. Shaukat Jang, on seeing the ensi-niaof th* Mahi Order, fancied that Siraju-d-daulah himself hadloined his army, and wns marching up for tight and so Shau¬ kat Jang advanced also with his army. Shaikh Jal.an Yar dis¬ suaded Shaukat Jang, sayingTo-day the moment for fighting is not auspicious, if it pleases God, to-morrow early in the morn- we shall fi-ht, and whatever is decreed by Providence shall take place.” Shaukat Jang, paying no heed to tins marched up to the battle-field. Shaikh Jal.an Yar was also obli¬ ged to advance with his corps, and whilst fighting bravely e received a gun-shot. Shaikh Abdu-r Rasjud, his brother, and Shaikh Qudratn-l-lah, his son-in-law, together with Shaikh JTiahan Yar, his nephew, as well as his other kinsmen were slain ,, battle field and earned present and future glory. A r e of strife a sword fell on the neck of the horse of Shaikh TahanYar Ind cut asunder its rein, and the horse furiously gal- JahanYar, an ^ from the fie i d . As he had already lopped away WO unds, by the time of his arrival at Bir- received severa ^ criai9 shaukat Jangl himself joining nagar, he expire arrows, and came in front of i„ the fight. a4va™_d, Q _ n ^ .. Come „„ mj Dost Mnhamma ^ Shaukat Jang not con- :X L - 1 tooth. At this time, besides two horsemen, one of whom was Qabib Beg, no one else was with Shaukat Jang. Habib Beg dismount- ing from his horse stood in front of his elephant on the field. As decreed by fate, a ballet from the gun of a servant of Dost Muham¬ mad Khan hit Shaukat Jang on the forehead, and the bird of his soul flew away, and nestled on the branches of annihilation. And Karguzar Khan, the generalissimo Shaikh Bahadur Narnuti, Abu Turab Khan, Murad Sher Khan, nephew of Shaikh Jahan Yar, Shaikh Murad Ali, disciple of Nawab Saif Khan, Mir Sultan Khalil, the archer, Loha Singh JJaznrl, and Mir Jafaru-l-jo, <fec., displayed gallant bravery, and tasted the potion of death on the battfe-field. Siraju-d-daulah had advanced to Akbarnagar (Raj- mahal), when the tidings of victory arrived ; and he ordered the music of victory to strike up. He also caused the adherents of Shaukat Jang, such'as were captured, to bo punished in various forms. Rajah Mohanlal confiscating fifty-one elephants, and horses, and camels, and other treasures of Shaukat Jang, and leav¬ ing his own son as Deputy Governor of the Faujdari of Purniah, returned. When Sirajn-d-daulab, after the fall of his cousin, arrived in Murshidabiid, the chess-board of time presented a new game. Of the English, who had been routed by Siraju-d-daulah in Calcutta, and whose treasures worth several laks had been plundered, some escaped and fled to an island. 1 Theuce they sent messages to Eng- 1 The Beir (Vol. II, p. 6331, Pers. text), states that aftor his flight, Mr. Drake, the Chief of tho English factory in Calcutta, together with a number of other English officers, proceeded to Madras, in Arcot Province of the Dakhin. Then Clive had just retired after fighting against tho French on behalf of Salabat Jang (son of tho late Asif Jah), Nazim of the Dakhin, who had bestowed on him many favours and also tho title of §nbat Jang. Then Mr. Drake, witEother Englishmen, who had fled from Calcutta held a conference with the Englishmen in Madras factory, and it was deoided that Clive, together with the English refugees from Bengal, “ should proceed to Calcutta and by every meant that they thought desirable, should try to renew the fonndation of the Factory in Calcatta. If by negotiations and by payment of money thiB objeot could be attained, well and good; if not, force might 6s resort¬ ed to. Then Clive, together with other Englishmen, embarked on a ship from Madras, and reached at the mouth of the river Hugh. As the English Chiefs were very wise, brave, well-informed, and experienced, they made overtures of peace to Siraju-d-daulah, begged that Ur. Drake'e offence might be pardoned by the Nawab, and offered to pay the Nawab several laks of rupees, in case the Jatter granted'them permission to re-build their Factory as before in Caloutta. Sira* 370 1A And- other ports, and in a short time obtained reinforce¬ ments. After some months, the English chiefs, under the coitN mand of Sabit Jang (Olive), with thirty thousand men, arrived on ships of war, obliged the garrisous of the Nawab’s outposts to> take to their heels, and fought with Rajah ManikqJjand. The Rajah suffered a heavy defeat. The English advancing to ifogll, rased its fortifications with the cannonade of their artillery^ and the Faujdar of that Fort fled. Siraju-d-daulah, on getting news of the English victory, set out for Calcutta from Mnrsbidabad, and encamped in the garden of Karhatl, in the suburbs of Calcutta The English made a night-attack. The next day, Sirajn-d-daulah not having the boldness to advance, and outwardly proclaiming the conclusion of peace, marched back anxiously to Murghidabad. After arrival in Murghidabad, Siraju-d-daulah found that all the Nobles and Generals were disaffected. Foremost amongst them was Mir Muhammad Jafar Khan Bahadur, from whom the office of generalissimo had been transferred to Khwajah H&di All and who hfyi shut himself up in his house. Siraju-d-daulah plac¬ ing large batteries in front of Mir Jafar’s palace was ready to blow him up, and ordered him to quit the City. Mir Jafar ten¬ dering excuses and apologies, secretly set about making warlike preparations in self-defence, and tampering with the Bhaliah Gene¬ rals and Commanders and with Jagat Set. 1 Ratifying their con¬ spiracy by mutual oaths and promises, Mir Jafar sent seoretly Amir BSg, who was one of his confidential adherents, with letters jiV-d-daulah who wns very foolish, and whose courtiers were still more foolish, was unaware of the bravery and wisdom of the English race ; so that no one from fear of inonrring the Nawab’s displeasure, communicated to the Nawa the English message containing overtures of peaoe. Matters being thus delay* , and being in the meantime apprised of the discontent amongst the Bengal nobUt, Clive resolved to fight, and fought against Manikghand, Nawab s Governor of Calcutta, who fled.” I Besides Mir Jafar who was the soul of this consp.raoy, some other prom I.enC persona, like Caleb B.m (.on of Janoki Bam) *-■■* "J" Becram (widow of Nawazish Muhammad Khin, son-in-law of Ah Vardi pmj, were active colleagnes of Mir Jafar in this conspiracy. Qhurti Began, help. Mir Jafar with the State treasures that she had seoreted.