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Rallying round some of his vanquished rabble, who were in a state of disorder, and also others who were in straits and without armour and helmets, ho opened out his treasures and chests, and by distributing horses and arms and by lavishing money, he quickly mobilised an army, and once again prepared for battle. Zabardast Khan, 1 on the fourth day, striking the kettledrum of march from the battle-field, advanced in pursuit of the enemy towards Murshidabad. In the meantime, the zamin¬ dars of the vicinity flocked in and joined the Imperialists. After marching several stages, Zabardast Khan encamped on the east sideof tho plain. Rahim Shah, seeing the overwhelming force of the Imperialists, felt himself no match for them, and cowardly fled to Bardwan. Zabardast Khan hotly chased him and gave him no rest. -O-* VICEROYALTY OF SHAHZADAH WALAGUHAR MUHAMMAD ‘AZIMU-SH-SHAN AND THE FALL OF RAHIM 8 KHlN. As related before, Shahzadah Walaguhar Muhammad .‘.Azimu-sh-Shan, 6 son of Muhammad Muazzam Bahadur Shah, 1 Zabardast Khan was the eldest eon of Ibrahim Khan, son of Ali Marcau Khan. Zabardast Khan rose subsequently to the office of §ubadar of Oudh and Ajmir, and also to the rank of a Chaharhazari. His great service was the defeat of thfr- Afghan insurgents led by R&bim Khnn, during the Vico- royalty of his father, Ibrahim Kh&n. in Bengal. (See Afaasir-uLVmara. Vol III, p. 300, and also pp. 897 and 497). “Babim Shan” is misprinted in too Persian printed text as “ Ibrahim Khan/ 1 8 Prince Muhammad * Azim alias Azimu-eh-ghan was a son of Aurangzeb’s eldest son, Mohammad Muazzam Bahadur Shah, by the latter’s wife, who was 238 received from the hlmperor a special Khil&t % together with a jewell¬ ed sword, a high Mansab and the Iusignia of the Mahi 1 Order, and was appointed Sabadar of Bengal and Behar. For tho chastisement of the rebels, he started from the Daichin with his two sons, named Saltan Karimuddin and Muhammad Farukh Sir for the Subah of Behar, and swiftly arrived in Behar via Subah Oudh and Allahabad. The Prince issued Royal mandates, as potent as God’s decrees, summoning to his presence the Zamin- dars, ‘Amils, and Jagirdars. These appeared in His Highness’ presence with tributes and gifts, and were recipients of valuable Khillats according to their respective ranks. And attending to the administration of the State affairs, they paid in the revenue and taxes into the Imperial treasury. The fiscal and administrative affairs were entrusted to honest Diwans and thrifty Karkuns , and Tahsildars were appointed to charges of Circles and Mahals. All of a sudden, news of the victory of Zabardast Mian and of the defeat of Rabim Shah arrived through the medium of news¬ letters. Fancying that the fish of victory and triumph that was Worthy of himself might be angled by another, who would go in for reward on account of good services, and fearing that Zabardast Khan, who was a grandson of Nawab ‘Alimardau Khan, 8 in recogni- a daughter of Rup Singh Rathor. He wae born on the 6th Jamadi-nl-Awal, 1074 A.H. (in tho 8th year of Aurangzeb’s reign). (See Maasir-i-Alamgiri, 49). He married in 1089 A.H. (in the 21st year of Aurangzeb’s reign) a daughter of Kerat Singh, who received as jihai or dower Rs. 63,000, jewel¬ leries, one palki, five dulis with embroidered and jewelled pillows. (Seo Maasir- i-Alamgiri , p. 167). Ho married in tho 36th year of Aurangzeb’s reign (1103 A.H.) a daughter of Ruh-Allah Khan (Maasir-i-Alamgiri, p. 347). In 1108 A.H. (in the 41st year of Aurangzeb’s reign), ho succeeded to the Viceroyalty of Bengal, including Kuch Behar, in succession to Ibrahim Khan. (See Maasir-i-Alamgiri, p. 387). In 1114 A.H., Behar was added to his Bengal Viceroyalty (Maasir-i-Alamgiri, p. 470). I Tho Order of the Mahi was one of the most Exalted Orders founded under tho Mughal regime in India. 8 'All Mardan Kh5n A nir-ul-Umara rendered important services to tho State in the reign of Shah Jahan, and roso to the offices of $ubadar of Kamshir and the Panjab and to the rank of a Hafthazari. In 1050 A.H., he became Sabadar of Kabul, and also subsequently received the title of Amir* ul-Umara. In 1056 A.H., he invaded Bulkh and Badakhshan and partially subjugated those tracts. Subsequently ho became again §Qbadar of Lahore. In 1067 A H. ho died, and was buried at Lahore. His rectitude o purpose, straightforwardness in conduct, firm loyalty, and sincerity combined with 239 tion of sucli valuable services, might be invested with the office ol §ubahdarof Bengal, the ambitious Shahzadah, moving from §ubah Bebar, swiftly marched to Rajmahal, and spurring his horse for tlu; chastisement of the rebels advanced with his large force to Bard wan. The Prince ignored Zabardast Khan’s services, and failed to bestow on him a single word of praise or encouragement. The aforesaid K^an, becoming depressed by the apathy of the Shahzadah, and finding his great labours wasted, resolved to proceed to the Emperor. Caring not for the power of the Shahzadah, he struck the kettle¬ drum of march, and took the route to the Dakhiu. Ral^im Shah who, from fear of the fury of that lion of the forest of warfare, had been hiding like the fox and the jackal, in the holes of the mouse and the serpent, finding now an opportunity, brought back water into the rivulet of his ambition, and triumphantly made inenrsious on the frontiers of Bardwan, Hugli, and Nadia. Pillaging the in¬ habitants of that tract he desolated it, nay rendered it a den of wild beasts and a nest of owls and crows. After the departure of Zabardast Kbau the Prince, with great self-reliance, despatched mandates aud orders to Jabangirnagar (Dacca) for conciliating and reassuring the Zamindars and Faujdars. His Highuess himself, slowly marching from AJcbarnagar (Rajmahal), advanced stage by stage, studying the convenience of his troops. Thc'Amils, Faujdars, and zamindars, with appropriate contingents drawn from their respective mahals, presented themselves before tho Prince with gifts and tributes, and accompanied the hitter in bis Royal Progress. Tbe ill-fated Rahim Shah, fancying the news of the approach of tho Prince to be a fiction, like his own fate, was sleeping the sleep of negligence. When, however, the news of the approach of the Royal Army reached the ear of that wretch, he hurriedly and anxiously concentrated his Afghan levies who were scattered far and near, and prepared for warfare. That royal eagle of the summit of the Empire, caring not for that flock of spdrrows, bravery, soon gave him an unique position amongst the Imperial officers of bis day, and ho enjoyed tho full confidence of his sovereign, who Q6ed to coll him “ Far Ofadar" or the “ faitlifnl friend.” .diB important pnblic works wore (1) the irrigation nf a lnrgo canal joining the river Ravi with Lahore city ; (2) the establishment of a sploudid pablic gardon called “ Shalumar ” together with aqueducts, reservoirs, and fountains, on the bauka of that canal, closo to Lahore. (See 5Ia<uir-ul■ Umar a Vol. II, p. 807j. 240 sot out unhesitatingly, without baggage and paraphernalia, and pitched his camp in the outskirts of Bardwan. There the Prince suspended the royal pearl of salutary advice to the ear of that con- temptible prevaricator, promised reward in the event of acceptance, and threatened vengeance in the event of refusal. That dissembler treated the bright pearl of the order of the Prince ostensibly ns the jewel of the ear, but covertly as the gravel of his own eyes, that is, apparently he shewed signs of submission, but in reality, he sowed the thorn of rebellion and dissimulation in the field of his heart. He besought to his assistance Khwajah Anwar, elder brother of Khwajah ‘ Asam, 1 who was a high officer and a boon companion of the Prince, and in fact the latter’s prime-minister, and represented that in case the Khwajah came and promised on oaths and re-assured his mind, next morning he would proceed in his company to the Prince’s presence, to sue for pardon for misdemeanour. The guileless Prince, ignorant of the wiles of that traitor, assenting to his request, ordered the above Khwajah to proceed early in the morning to Rahim Shah’s camp, and instructed him to reassure the latter and to fetch him to the Royal Darbar to publicly avow submission. Next morning the abovementioued Khwajah. following .the order of his master, adopted no measures of precaution, and rode out with a few relations and friends. Halting in front of the camp of Railjm Shah, he sent information, and on horseback remained on the look-out. Hiding his armed Afghan soldiers in his tent, Rahim Shah was in pursuit of treachery. Opening towards the envoy the door of wiles and softness, he requested that the Khwajah should enter his camp. Fearing lest smoke might arise from the fire of the reptile, the above Khwajah hesitated to go in, and making promises summoned out Rahim Shah. When the demands of both sides resulted in a parley and the object of the mission remained unaccomplished, suddeuly Rahim Shah with an armed force sallied out of his camp shouting and advanced in front of the Khwajah. From wounds of the tongue it culminated in wounds of the spear. Fathoming the water underneath the straw, gfcwajah Anwar, regretted his coming, and wanted to return without ac- 1 Khwajah A?am came to Agra from Badaklishan, and subsequently reoeived the titlea of “ Sam?am-ud-daulah Khan Dauran Amir-nl-Umara.” The Uaasir-vX-Vmara , p. 819, Vol. I, says his elder brother’s name was Khwajah Muhammad Jafar-Khan.” Dauran was wounded in the battle witn Nadir §hah, and died in 1151 A.H. 241 coraplishing the object of his mission. Rahim Shah, advancing forward, commenced fighting.