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(See Maasir-ul-Umara, p. 12, Vol. 3). 1 This Fiscal Provincial Contract under Fidai Khin is also noted in t**e Iqbalnamah-i-Jahangiri, Fasc. 3, Pers. text, p. 291. * In the Iq6alnamah,“ 28th $afar (Sunday) Emperor Jahangir died in the 22nd year of his reign, whilst returning from Kashmir towards Lahore ” He was buried a*. Lahore in a garden whioh had been laid out by his beloved Consort, the Empress Nur Jahan. [See Iqbalnamah, Fasc. 3, p. 294). B HiB titles were “ A?if KhSn A?if Jah,” his name being Mirra Abul Hasan. He was a son of Ttamad-u-dMulnh, and the eldest brother of the Empress Nur Jahan Regam, and he was father of Arjumund Banu Begam alias Mumtaz Mahal, the beloved ^onaortof Emperor Shah Jahan, (whose memory is enshrined in marble by the Taj at Agra). In the 9th year of Jahangir’s reign, he waa appointed to the Man?ab of 8h°sh hatari, and subsequently raised to a haft hazari, and was also appointed §ubadar of the Panjab, and Valdl or Prime Minister. In 1037 A H. when Jahangir on return from Kashmir died on the way near Rajor, Nur Jahan (who espoused the cause of Prinoe Sh-hriyar) wanted to imprison A?if ^an (who espoused Prinoe §h£h Jahan s cause), but Asif Khan conld not be seized or brought back. A?if Bian sent a swi runner, named Benaresi, a Hindn, to Shih J.hin who waa then tn OnjrHt. Shih Jahan qnickly marched out to dgm. where he was “ Emperor, whilst Sltahriyar and other princes were soon imprisoned and made away with. On his accession, Shih J.h.n Bare d,ri E *£ title of '• Eminn.d.danlah, ” and msde him a Sah fm.ori. mcl a w ■ ..jli. ijuof Ai" is a ohronogram died at Lahore in 1051 A.H. which yields the above date. (See Maasir-ul-Umara, p. 151, VoL 1). 209 NEZAMAT OF NAWAB QA8IM KHAN.' When Qasim KhSn succeeded to the Nezamat of Bengal, like his predecessors in office, he devoted himself to the affairs of l It is strange that the Riyai should give such a meagre account of the Administration of Nawab Qasim Khan, the first Bengal Viceroy appointed by Emperor Shah Jahan. Yet this Administration is peculiarly interesting and significant from tho modern stand-point, as the chronicle of this adminis¬ tration contains, for tho first time, a reference to a conflict {no doubt, then ur important) bctweon tho Christian European merchants in Bengal and the Musalman Viceroys of Bengal. To supplement tho account of this Musalman V : -'>roy wivh some additional facts gleaned from tho Maatir.ul • Umam, would therefore be interesting. Qnsim Khan was a son of Mir Murad of Juain (in tho Vilayet of Baihaq) Mir Murad was a loading Sayyid of that place, whence he migrated into the Dakhin. Ho was bravo and a capital archer, and was ongngod by Emperor Akbar to train up Prince Khurram. Ho was subsequently appointed Bakshi of Lahore, in tho 46th your of Akbar’s reign. His son, “ Qasim JjQian ” (this was evidently his title, his aotual name is not given in the Maastr) was a man of culture and litorary habits. Under Islura Khin Q^iRhti Faruqi (Jahangir’s Bengal Viceroy), Qasim Khin servod as Khatanchi or Treasuror- General of Bengal. Islnm Khiin took particular interest in training him up. Somo timea ftor, Qnsim Khan was lucky in getting married to Manijah Bogam, sister of tho Emprcsa Nur Jahan. This matrimonial alliance was a turning point in Qasim Khan’s fortune; ho was Boon advanced in rank and dignity. Tho witty courtiers of tho timo called him “Qasim Khan Manijah.” Ho soon became an associate of tho Emperor Jahangir. Towards tho end of Jahangir’s reign, he was appointed Subndar (or Viceroy) of Agra. In tho first yoar of Shah Jahin’s reign, tho Emperor (Shah Jahiin) raised him to the Manjab of Panjhatari, and appointed him gubadnr (Vioeroy) of Bongal, in place of Fidai Khan. During his stay in Bengal (during Jahangir’s reign), Shah Jahiin had becomo personally apprised of the oxccssos practiced by tho Christians (Portuguese, obviously) resident in tho Port of Hughli. For in¬ stance, Shah Jahan had como to know that those often took unauthorised leases of adjoining pargannas, oppressed the tenantry of those pargannas, and some¬ times by tempting offers, converted them to Christianity, and even sent them to Parang (or Europe). Further these Christians (Portuguese, obviously) carried on similar malpractioes even in pargannas, with which they had no connection. Further, these Christians, under the pretext of carrying on trading transactions, ad in the beginning established some ware-houses whioh they had gradnally and clandestinely, by bribing local officers, converted into large fortified buildings. In oonsequence, the bnlk of the trade whioh had found its way, hitherto, to tho old Imperial emporium at Satgaon, was diverted to the new port of Hughli. In consideration of the abovo cironm- atancea, the Emperor ghih Jahan, whilst sending QSsirn Khan to Bengal 27 210 administration, and to the putting down of disturbances. In the sixth year of Shah Jahan’s accession, he marched against the Christians and Portuguese who had become insolent in the port of Hughli, and after fighting expelled and defeated them. As a reward for this service, he received favours from the Emperor, but he soon after died. -o- NEZAMAT OF NAWAB ‘AZAM KHAN. •• •• After this, Nawab ‘Azam Khan 1 was appointed to the Nezamat of Bengal. As he could not properly discharge the as his Viceroy, pave the latter instructions to expel the foreign Christian (Portuguese) traders from tho port of Hughli. Accordingly, in the 4th year of ghah Jahan's reign, Qusim Khan sent his son ’lnaitullah Khan in com- pany of Allahvar Khan and other officers to Hughli, and he sent also by the sea routo vid Chittagong another company of troops on a fleet of vessels from the Imperial Naivarah or Fleet stationed in Dacca, so that the Portuguese might not escape by water, giving out at the same time that tho expedition had as its objective Hijli. These besieged Hughli, and after tho fighting was protracted to three months and a half, succeeded in storming it, and in expelling the Christian (Portuguese) traders from it. 2,000 Christians # wore killed in the fighting, 4,400 were taken prisoners, and 10.000 Indian captives that were in the hands of the Portuguese ■were released, and 1,000 Musalman soldiers got killed in the fighting. Three days after this victory (in 1041 A.H.)Qisim Khin died of disease. He built the Cathedral Mosque at Agra in Anguh Khin bazaar. (See p. 78, Vol. 3, Maastr- Ul A’zim Khan's real name was Mir Muhammad Baqir, his titles being < Iradat Khan," and subsequently “ A'zim Khin." He was a Sayyid of Sava which is in 'Iraq. On arrival in India, ho was appointed Faujdar of S.alkot and Gujrat, through tho interest taken in him by A?if Khan M.rza Ja far, who married to him his daughter. Then he was presented to Emjwror Jahangir, who gave him (on the recommendation of Eminu-d-daulah A?if Khan) a g . Mansab and the office of Imperial Khansaman. In the 15th year of Jahangir 8 reign he was appointed Subadar (Governor) of Kashmir and next Mir Baggi under tho Emperor directly. On Shah Jahin's accession to the throne, Shh Jahan raised him to the rank of Pa, jhatari, and also to the office of wter of c Diwan In the second year of Shih Jahan’B reign, he was sot to f rm P the Revenue Administration of tho Provinces in tho D.fchin. In the ttnrd Tlr “e reooivtd tho title of " A'zim Khin,- and wan employed by the Emper¬ or for ohastising Khin Jahan Lodi and for the conquest ' kingdom in tho Uakhin. Thongh ho succeeded m Leo, and though ho stormed the fort of Dharwnr, h.s semoes m the 211 duties of a Governor, the work of administration fell into confu¬ sion. The Assamese, making an incursion, invaded and ravaged many of the pargannahs within the Imperial domains, and along with much riches and effects captured and carried away ‘Abdus Salaro, 1 who had gone on an expedition to Gauhati with 1,000 Cavalry and numerous infantry. When this news reached the Emperor, the latter superseded ‘Azam Khan, and appointed Islam Khan, who had much experience in the work of administration and was one of the principal ‘ Omard of Jahangir, to the office of Subadar of Bengal. -o- RULE OF NAWAB ISLAM KHAN. When Nawab Islam Khan was appointed Subadar of Bengal, as he was an experienced and a sagacious ruler, on his arrival in did not satisfy the Emperor, who sent him to Bengal as Viceroy, in succession to Qasim Khan, who died in the 5th year of Shah Jahan’s reign. He continu¬ ed in Bengal as Viceroy for three years only* and in tho 8th j'oar was trans¬ ferred to Allahabad, and subsequently to Gujrat, and lastly to Jaunpur, where ho was Rector of the Jaunpur University, and died in 10o9 A.II., in his 70th year, and was buried in a garden which ho had laid out on tho banks of tho Jaunpur river. His daughter was married to Prince Shah Shuja (after tho latter had lost his first wife, a daughter of Mirza Rustam Safavi). Uo possessed many good qualities, and was very strict in auditing the accounts of 'Amils (Collectors of Revcnuo). (Seo llaasir-uUUmara, p. 174, Vol. I). I This 4 Abdus Salam would seem to be tho Abdus Salam (son of Muaz&un Khan, §ubadar of Delhi) who opportunely reinforced Shujait Khun at tho decisive battlo near Dhaka (Dacca) with the Afghan leader Osman Lohani. Ho would seem, therefore, to have been a brother of Mukkarnm Kban (an¬ other eon of Muatsam Khan) who was Governor of Bengal and who was con¬ queror of Kuch Hajo (or Kuch Behar) and Khurdali. ‘Abdus Salam at tho timo would seem to have been Governor of Kuch Hajo. in succession to his brother Mukkaram Khan, and to have invaded Assam. (Seo n. ante). The Alamgimamah (p. 680, Fasc.