English
For the pnrpose of overthrowing Murghid Qali Khan, 1 and for conquering the Subah of Odisah (Ori6sa), Mahabat Jangnowgirded up his loins, mobilised troops and collected armaments, and bes¬ towed the office of Generalissimo on Mir Ja‘far Khan Bahadur, who was Mahabat Jang’s brother-in-law, and who in the war with Sarfaraz Khan had rendered Mahabat Jang good services. Mahabat Jang bestowed on Mir Ja‘far a corps of bodyguard, together with a mansab, a title, and a peerage. He bestowed the office of Diwan with the title of Rai Raian on Chin Rai, 9 who was a clerk in charge of the Jagirs of Ja‘far Khan, and who was a person of probity and honesty. And he bestowed on Mnbammed Riza Khan, the eldest son of Haji Ahmad, who had married GhasitI Khanam, daughter of Mahabat Jang, the titlo of Nasirud-Mulk Ibtishamu- d-daulah Nawazisfc Mohammed Khan Bahadur Shabamat Jung, together with the nominal office of Diwan of Bengal, and tbe Deputy Nizamat of Jahangirnagar (Dacca), including Chittagong, Raushanabad (Tipperah), and Silhat. And ho bestowed on 1 He was a son-in-law of Shnja'u-d-ain Kljon, and bad boen appointed by the latter Deputy Nazim of Orissa, on the death of Muhammad Taqi Khan (a son of Sfcuja'a-d-din Kh Sn l- Ali Vnrdi and his unholy IJnji brother were resolved to spare no one amongst the capable male representatives of their Into master and benefactor. A rei^n nshered in by such treachery and characterised by each vindiotive posthumous oourtesies was bound, under an Avenging Providence, to terminate ignominiously. The nnholy Haji brother quickly met with hie proper deserts, by being tortured and butchered, along with his son Zainu-d-din K^in, by the Afghan rabble who sacked Patna. All Vardi himself was oontinually distracted and harassed by Mahratta freebooters, who swooped down again and again on his fair provinces like armies of locusts, and harried and devastated them, and Ali Vardas energy, conrage, and prowess were of no avail against this visitation of God’s corse. He at length had to conclnde an inglorious pence with the Mahmttas, and to praotioally cede to the latter the Provinco of Orissa. And not many months had rolled aWay eiuce he had closed hie eyes, when his iivonrite grandson, Siraju-d-daulah, was tortnred to death, and Ali Vnrdi’s ill- gotten Satrapy dissolved for ever, and was transferred to other hands, erily, Divine retribution was not slow in overtaking Ali Vnrdi iOjan. Qhm Kai was the Peshkar under the Diwan Alum Oh-md. Mahabat Rn fo K r Clu “ ld,8 death * appointed Qfcin Bai as Ida Diwan. (See Scir M ?*** Ka * pr ° Ved Yery honcflt > “ d w as held in high esteem by Mahabat Jang. (See Seir, p. 676). 3 324 Hashim All Khan, the youngest son of Haji Ahmad, who had married the younger daughter of Mahabat Jang, named Amanah Khan am, the title of Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan Haibat Jang, to¬ gether with the Deputy Nizamat of the Province of Bihar and Azimabad (Patna). And he advanced to ranks, titles, and Jagin his other relations 1 and connexions, according to their ranks and aspirations. But the Afghans and the Bhaliahs, who owing to their large numbers were haughty, meddled so much in all the affairs, that they did not care for Mahabat Jang, and deviated from the usual forms of etiquette. Shelving the canons of justice on the shelf of forgetfulness, they looted treasures, and killed and slaughtered the people, together with their women and children. And the conduct of ingratitude, which had subsisted in the times of the early Musalman Independent Kings of Bengal, reasserted itself afresh from the time of Mahabat Jang.* 1 The following details of the administrative arrangements made by All Vardi IDian on his usurpation of the Nizamat of Bengal, are summarized briefly from the Beiru-l-Muta&erin, p. 495. Zainu-d-din Aljmad Khan, All Vardi’s youngest son-in-law, was appointed Subadar of Behar and Patna. The Deputy Nizamat of Jahangirnagar, including the Faujdari of Silhat, Chittagong, and Tipperah, was given to his eldest son-in-law, Nawazish Muhammad IQian. The Deputy Ni^mat of Orissa was bestowed on his second son-in-law, Said Ahmad Khan (after MursJjid Quli Khan was defeated). The Superintendentship of the N^warah or Imperial Fleet at Jahangirnagar (Dacca) was bestowed on his grandson Mirza (son of Zainu-d-din Ahmad Oin) surnamed Siruju-d-daulah Shah Qu Khan Bahadur. Siraju-d-daulah's brother was adopted as a .on b, Nawazish Muhammad Mn, and surnamed “ Ikramn-d-daulah Padshah Qnl Khan Bahadur ” with nominal command of the Jahangirnagar or-Dace.-army. iL-M.h Khan, a son-in-law of HSji Ahead (Ah Vard.'s brother, was Mkl. other connexions lie Fatpru-Uab Beg tZ received the together with the -*--■ He feir^n era of paid back in the snme com by others. H tang 325 Towards the commencement of the insurrection of AH Vardi ghan Mahabat Jang, Nawab Sarfaraz Kban had aaked for help from Murshid Quli Khan, the Governor of Odisah (Orissa), who waB his brother-in-law; but the latter, owing to personal spite which has been referred to befoie, had delayed to march to his help. Whilst Mur&hid Quli was occupied with despatching a body of troops in the shape of an auxiliary force, he suddenly received news of Sarfaraz Khan’s fall and of Ali Vardi Khan s mastery over the Subah of Bengal. It was then that Murshid Quli Khan woke up from slumber, and was plunged into shame and Borrow. General well-being follows mutual union , 1 General ruin follows disunion. In short, from fear of Ali Vardi Shan, Murshid Quli Kban made preparations in self-defence, and exerted himself strenuous¬ ly towards the mobilisation of an army, and deputed to Murajiida- bad Mukhalis Ali Kban, son-in-law of IJaji Ahmad, who from before was in his company, in order to arrange the basis of a treaty of peace. After the latter’s arrival, Ali Vardi Kban and H&ji Ahmad sending a reassuring and diplomatic message to Murshid Quli Khan, set him at ease , 8 and sent back Mukhali? Khan, in order to sow treason secretly amongst the Officers of Murshid Quli Kban’s array. Mukhllig Khan presenting himself before Murshid Quli Kban outwardly tried to humour and re¬ assure him, but covertly by offer of allurements and temptations sowed sedition in Murshid Quli’s army, and sent an account of his success in this direction to Ali Vardi Kban Mahabat Jang. The latter, with a large army and an immense artillery, instantly marched towards the Province of Orissa. On receipt of this news, leaving his wife, Durdanali Begam, and his sou, Yabya Kbdn, tadebyhUown treacherous conduct, and so others took their cue from him. i The Fenian couplet ia:— - && 3 ’ * Ah Yard? and liia worthy Haji brother could never lay down their favour¬ ite wcn|<on of treachery, and well were they, throngh their children, repaid in the same coin by Mir Ja'far and others. 326 with his treasures in the fort of Barahbati , 1 Murshid Quli Shan with an efficient force and requisite war-paraphernalia, together with his two sons-in-law, named Mirza Muhammad Baqir* Shan, a Prince of Persia, and Alau-d-din Muhammad Khan, marched out from Katak (Cuttack) in order to fight, and advanced to the port of Bali ear (Balasor). At the ferry of Phulwar,' from the rock of Tilgadhi 8 to the river Jon , 4 he threw up an entrenchment, and remained behind it waiting for the enemy . 6 Unfortunately, Murshid Quli Khan was ignorant of the wiles of the traitor in his own camp in the person of Mukhalis Ali Khan, and had, therefore, failed to take any precautionary steps against that double-faced scoundrel, and had thus ignored the saying of Shaikh Sa‘di 8 :— 1 “ The construction of Fort Barabati has been assigned to various mon¬ arch with various dates. Sterling thinks it was built by Bajah Anang Bhem Dova in the fourteenth century. The stonework has been taken by thePublio Works Department to build lighthouses and hospitals, and to pave roads. The ditch of the fort, however, .till remain., and eo doe. the gate, which. .. b*. 11 approached by a can.eway . . . RSj.h Mnkond Deo built a pnlaoe herwith f . onrt8 The palace was in time abandoned by the Mnsalman Governors X preferred 'to live* the L.ibagh, on the .onth .Ida of the city (now Com missioner’s Residence ”)-Wil.on-. Early Annal. of the Engh.h in Benga, V0 Ae P re 4 i. f '.”ill a mnhalla or qnarter in KataV, called <Bakrabad/ named i t nlet^ i a D ppar.nt,y a mi.take for the hi.,' Tahirmnada- Jon 0 " iTtheZxt isr’oblusly a mistake, I do not find any river of ^r “ on tie 6 bZ balung river. . 8tated M urs_hid Quli m* n P 88 ^ 6 In Sexru.l.Mutakhenn (p. 4971, the M ouzn 0 f through Btvlasore port, and encamped on the b ^ 1 “ of ^ 1 d b dense Bhaiwar. The encampment i. described in the S.,v ^ being da ^ ,create on one aide, and by Pacing tbrongb Modnipnr formed roand this encnmpmen . north bank8 0 j the Bnrabatnng river. and Jala.ore, took np a posi 10 _ hS ; ,desoribed as very impregnable, The position taken np by Mure^d Qol. Kh.n, .de.o * his and he might not have ^ "d of hi. Afghan Genera., eon-in-law, Mirza Baqi yTrl'ouli Khnn his old master and benefactor, •Abid Khiin. who deserted Murs^i Q the Afghan General of and joined with his^A Khin had by moans of bribes sown A ,i vardi palf^n^A Q. ^ ‘TXwTknow^PeSan poe^and moral,. 327 • If fchy relative be thy enemy, treat him oatwardly a thy friend. Bat never be heedless of his treachery. For inside his heart, wonnd festers from thy envy, Whenever he thinks of the love-shackles of kinship.’ Advancing from Bengal by forced marches with a large army, which numbered more than one lak cavalry and infantry, All Vardi Khan reached Mednipur, secnred the adhesion of the Zamindars of that district by bestowing on them Khila‘ts and gifts, and encamped at Jalisar (Jalasore), which was an Imperial outpost.