English
’ On re¬ ference to the acconnt of Ja'far Kh an in the text, it would appear that ‘ Ja'far Khiin received several titles in succession; first ho received the title of 'Kartalub Khan,’ next that of 'Murshid Quli Khan,’ and lastly that of ‘ Mutaman-ul-Mulk Alau-d-daulah Jafir Khan Nasir Jang,” his original name having been Mirra Uadi. 300 tlio army, and thus rendered good services, and in consequence, shortly after,, his official rank was raised. Finding the tract of Jahangir-nagar (Dacca) to be fertile, profit-yielding, and suited for trading business, he revived the system of $auda-i-khas current during the Viceroyalty of Princo Aziinu-sh-Shan, and by means of other exactions, both lie and his Chief amassed wealth. On the pretext of collecting the Imperial revenue, he induced Nuru-l-lah, Zamindarof Parganah Jalalpiir , 8 who was the leading Zamindai', together with other Zamindars, to attend his Kachiri (Court). Adroitly dismissing the other Zamindars, one after another, Mir Habib kept Nuru-l-lah under duress. At midnight, he permitted him to return home, escorted by a number of Afghans. The latter, at the instigation of Mir Habib, slew Nuru-l-lah, in a narrow and dark alley. Next morning, Mir Habib announced that Nuru- l-lah had fled, sent a detachment to his house, confiscated his treasures and jewelleries aud effects and silk-stuffs, amounting in value to several laics, as well as his Abyssinian male aud female slaves. Mir Habib possessed himself of the above, and thus acquired aristocratic paraphernalia. Subsequently leaguing with Aqa Sadiq, Zamindar of Patpasar , 1 who in artfulness and cunuiug was his match, Mir Habib sent him on an expedition against Tiprah. By chance the Aqa met the nephew of the Rajah of Tiprah, who haviug escaped from the con- 1 Ou reference to the Ain-i-Akbari (Vol. II, pp. 132-133), I find two pargauahs with the name of ‘ Jallapar,’ one being Sawail (apparently, Sarail), commonly called Jallapar (revenue, 1,857,230 dams ) under Sarkar Futhabad, another bein" Dahlat Jallapar (revenue, 1,200 dams) under Sarkar Mahmudnbad. The first°Jallapur or Sarail is situated in the Brahmaubaria Sub-Division of the present Tiprah district, and when I was in charge of that sub-division in 1896 1 found the head of tho Musaimau family there (who was still called a Diwan) in an impoverished condition. The second Jallalpur parganah is now in tho modern Furidpur district, and is owned, I believe by tho present Musalman Zamindars of Uabibganj in that district. It may be that ‘ llabibganj* owes its name to Mir Habib; specially as there was formcily “ M^iHo findpTtpasar in the Ain-i-Akbari. I l.avo not been able to trace i is nor know if any descendants of this family survive I may, how- "Todd here that Ileal traditions prevalent in Tiprah mention that the sldiq of tho Wit was connected with the nhove family. 301 trol of Ins uncle w.ib wandering away from bis native country, and who at this time happened to stay within the Imperial domi¬ nions. The aforesaid Aqa considering his company very lucky kept him in his company, promising to instal him in the Zamlu- dari. The Rajah’s nephew, according to the saying,— “The hare of that country can assurodly catch the dog of that tract,”— guided the Aqa through the rocky defiles and river-fords, and led him to the country of Tiprah. The Rajah of Tiprah, who was careless and was unaware of the incursion of the Imperial army, was paralysed by this sudden on-rush of the Imperialists, and not having the capacity to fight fled to the summit of the hills. The tract of Tiprah, without any difficulty, fell info the hands of Mir Habib, who by fightings stormed the fort of Qfcaodigadnh, which was the resilience 1 of the Rajah. Capturing numerous booty, Mir Habib brought the tract of Tiprah within the Imperial domains. After completing the settlement of this tract, Mir Habib * appointed Aqa Sadiq as Faujdar of Tiprah, and the 1 The present residence of the Bajah of Hill Tiprah is at Agartala. I do not know where Cljandigndah lies. It conld not have been far away from Agartala. Tiprah or Commilla does not appear in Akbar’s rent-roll of Bengal. 8 A full account of Mir tfabib is given in the Sei)-u-l.Mutakhcrin, Vol. II, Pers. text, pp. 593, 591, 690, See. (also see Maasiru-l-Umaro, Vol. II, p. 844). Ho subsequently joined the Mahrattas, and induced the latter to invade Orissa and Bengal in order to lmvo his revenge against Ali Vardi Khan for snpplanting from the Governorship of Orissa his old master and benefactor, Mnrshid Quli Khan (son-in-law of Rhuja‘a-d-din Khin). He appears to have beou a man of wouderful resourcefulness, bravery and tact, and gave no end of trouble to Ah Vardi, who at length lmd to patch up a peace with Mir Habib and the Mahrattas, by appointing Mir Habib as his Deputy Nazim in Oris-a the arrangement being that Mir Habib was to pay the Mahratta army of occnpa- Uon from the revenue of Orissa, besides receiving from Ali Vardi an annual subsidy of twelve Inks. Mir Habib’s signal services to the Mahrattas in the end were most churlishly requited by the latter, for Janoji, son of the Mahratta BaghojiBhonsla, treacherously murdered him at Katak (see Sein,.l.Mutkhcri Vol. II, p. 592, Pers. text), after having invited him to a feast. But throughout their rise, treachery was their great weapon of offence and defence, and tho Mahratta freebooters could not lay it down, even in the treatment of one who, though distinct from them in race and religion, had given them the virtual ma3tery over Ihc Province of Ori 9 Pa. 302 Rajah's nephew as the Rajah , 1 whilst he himself retained to Jah&ngirn&gar (Dacca) with treasures, valuables and elephants. Murshid Quli Khan sent to Nawab Shuja‘o-d-daulah an account of the conquest of Tiprah, together with the best specimens of the wares and silk-stuffs of that tract. The Nawab named that tract (of Tiprah) Raushanabad , 8 and invested Murshid Quli Khan with the title of ‘ Bahadur,’ and conferred on Mir Habib the title of ‘ Khan.’ In short, when the Deputy-Nizamat of the Subah of Odisah (Orissa) was bestowed on Murshid Quli Khan, the latter, on the recommendation of Nawab Shuja‘u-d-daulah, was given by the Emperor the title of Rustam-Jang. Observing the old age of his father, and fearing lest nfter the latter’s death Rustam*Jang might fight ngainst him, Sarfaraz Khan 3 detained at Marshi- dabad as° hostages Rustam-Jang’s son, named Tahya Khan, and his wife, named Durdanalx Begara.. Although this incident caused some bitterness of feeling to Murshid Quli Khan, the latter had no alternative but to endure it in silence. Murshid Quli Khan with his army arrived in the Subah of Orissa, and appointed Mir llabibu-l-lah Khan to be his Deputy there, in the same way as the latter had been his Deputy at Jahangirnagar. By ^ use of di¬ plomacy, and by dint of statesmanship and energy, Mir Habib succeeded in chastising and reducing to order all refractory Zamindars of Orissa. Ho neglected no step towards the per- feet organisation and settlement of Orissa, and effected a surplus i„ ils revenue. During the commotion in Muhammadl Taqi ffljan s time, the Rajah of Parsutam* l.ad removed Jagannath, the Hindu , Evidently, the Rijah was no longer on independent Bijab, bat was left more or leas as a 1MBi I fonn a the Conrt peons' badges Jlbearing the'vord " Qlaklah Raoshanabad." I do not know if they have l,eon since ohanged. Rn , lnm . Jang wa s a son-in-law of Nnwib Shaji'a- * tfnrsbid Qah Khan 1 f sl( , p . 8ister ot Snrfnris KhSn. s^SeTiST" f a5n ' hav,ng married te'Mir Hnbibw ‘ He was b.thcrto only M *> ^ ^, from Emp6ror Mohammad l-lnl, Khan,' on is rcc' - n with the conqnest of Tiprah. t 5 nlnnTeT; regard to the titlo ' Khin ■ and its signidennoo, nnder Musa.- man Emperors of Iu^a. 303 God, from the limits of the Subah of Odisah (Orissa), and had guarded it on the summit of a hill across the Chilka lake. Incon¬ sequence of the removal of the idol, there was a falling-off to the tune of nine laks of rupees in the Imperial revenue, accruing from pilgrims. Establishing friendly relations with Mir Habibu-l-lah Khan, and paying nazar to the Nazim of the time, Rajah Dand Deo brought back Jagannath the Hindu God to Parsutam (Pun), and re-established the worship of Jagannath at Puri. An account of the worship of Jagannath has been already given in the text of this History. When the Deputy-Nizamat of Odisah (Orissa) was conferred on Marshid Quli KJan Rustam-Jane, the Deputy-Nizamat of the Ciiaklah of Jahftngirnagar (Dacca) was bestowed on Sarfaraz Khan . 1 The latter appointed as his Deputy-Governor Ghalib Ali Khan who was a scion of the Royal family of Persia, and deputed Ghalib Ali Khan to Dacca. Sarfaraz Khan also appointed Jasunat Rai, the late Nawab Jafar Khan’s * Secretary, and his own tutor- 1 ‘Parsatam * is another name for Puri. See Hunter’s * Orissa. 1 * It may be noted here there was a radical change in the administrative machinery of Bengal, daring the la. r part of Emperor Anrangzeb’s reign. The offices of Nazim and Diwan had been hitherto kept quite distinct, but a re¬ trograde step towards their eventual amalgamation was taken by Anrangzeb, when the latter appointed bis favourite officer Murshid Qnli Khan I. (after- wards Nawab Ja 4 far Khan) to the dual offices of Diwan of Bengal and Orissa and Deputy Nazim of Bengal and Orissa. Murshid Quli Khan I. coaid not personally perform the functions of these dual offices, and whilst himself personally holding the portfolio of Deputy Nizamnt of Bengal (the Chief Nazim being still Prince Azimu-sh-Shan), he delegated the office of Diwan in Bengal to Syed Akram Khan and, on the latter’s death, to Syed Razi Khan, (son-in.law of Shujau-d-diu Khan,!