English
Bee note ante. 331 and Nuru-l-Iah Beg to capture Yabya Kban 1 and Marsh id Q.uli’s Begam, and also to seize his treasures and chattels. Ali Vardi instructed them to proceed by forced marches, whilst lie himself followed them on horse-back. When news of this affair and of Murshid Quli Khan’s retreat to the Dakliin reached Katak (Cuttack), Murad Khan, the generalissimo of the Rajah*of Parsu- tam (Puri), who had been detailed for guarding Yahya Khan and the Begam in the Fort of Barahbati, planned to send instantly the Begam and Yahya Khan together with all their chattels and treasures to the Dakhin, by way of Sikakul.* Baggages and equipages were kept ready, and jewelleries, gold coins, treasures, and other precious things were loaded on elephants, camels, and waggons, when all of a sudden the army of Ali Vardi Khan made its appearance. The elephant and camel- drivers, <fec., leaving behind the loaded treasures and chattels with their baggages, fled, and all those treasures fell into the hands of the aforesaid MirzSs, who divided the precious jewelleries. t Murshid Quli Elan had left his wife Durdannh Begam and his son Yahya Khan, together with hie treasures, in the Fort of Barahbati at Katak, whilst advancing to Balasore. * The Rajah was Hafiz Qadir, a Muhammadan. See n. 3 below and Seiru-l- 2Intakherin, Pers. text, p. 498. 8 Sekakul or QJycacolo is a place in tho Ganjam district, over 100 miles south-west of Puri. The land-route from Orissa to the Dakhin lay in olden days vid Sekaknl or Qhjcacole across the Ohilka lake. It is stated in the Seir that after arrival at Mosnlipatam, Murshid Quli Khin sent his son- in-law, Mini Baqir Ali Eian, towards Sekakul and Ganjam, to proceed to tho relief of Durdannh Begam and her daughter In the meantime, on hear¬ ing of Murshid Quli Eiin’s defeat, Murshid Quli’s friend, Hafiz Qadir, Rajah of Hatipur, KhardAh, who was Superintendent of the temple of Jagannath, (i\ofe by Translator. This is an interesting and remarkable fact shewing that a Musalmnn was once at the head of thi* Hindu Temple. See Seir, Pers. text, p. 498) of his own motion had sent his general, Muhammad Muradj with a force to guard and relieve Durdannh Begum and her daughter. Murad succeeded in bringing away the Begam and her danghter with their treasures and effects to Inshapur, which is in the Ganjam district. Auwaru-d- din Khan, Governor of Inchapur, treated the Begums very hospitably. At this time, Mirza Biqir Ali Khun reached Inchapur, and proceeded from there ™ th ® Began* and their treasures to Masulipatam, whence Murshid Quli Khan Mirza Riqir Ali Khan and the Begams, together with tho tTensures and effects, proceeded to tho Dakhin and took shelter with Asif Jah, its luler. (bee Seirn-l.Jlfutakheiin, Pei a. text, p. 498), 332 ’ treasures, and other valuable wares amongst themselves. 1 Since- Ali Vardi Khan also followed up subsequently, he captured the remaining treasures, and also confiscated other treasures of the adherents of Murshid Qull Khan. Issuing proclamations of peace and security, and employing reassurances and persuasions, Ali Yardl Khan won over to his side the Collectors, Zamindars and Officers of Orissa, and set about making settlement of the revenue, nazar, and tribute, as well as of the Jagirs. And in the course of one month, having finished the organisation aaid settlement of the Subah of Orissa, he entrusted the charge of that Province to Said Ahmad Khan, his nephew, who had previously served as the Faujdar of Rangpur, procuring for him from the Emperor the title of Nn?Iru-l-Mulk Said Ahmad Khan Bahadur Saulat Jang. Ali Vardi Khan also left Gujar Khan, a Rohilla general, together with a contingent of three thousand cavalry and four thousand infantry, to be in attendance on Said Ahmad Khan at Katak (Cuttack). Ali Vardi Khan then returned, triumphant and victorious, to Bengal. §„ulat Jang was of a churlish disposition and regulated himself by avarice. For effecting retrenchment in the military expendi¬ ture, he took into his service Salim Kban, Darve§J} Khan, Nia‘mat £),§□, Mir A'zizu-l-lah and other generals, and sent back Gujar Khan* to Mursfcidabad, on the plea of smallness of the revenue of 1 It would upper the account in the Seiru-l-UuMerin,** regards the fate of the Begams and their treasure is somewhat different from that in the toy*. which states that the Begams' treasures and effects the fat Vardi Khan's officers. The Riyaz is, however, strangely silent as to the fate of theTegams who were with the treasures. Obviously, the account m the Riyaz is incomplete and halting, whilst that of the Sexr is more consiste wanted to reduce tire pay of hie soldwirs. co „, eqlienc . were disb.od- ed by the Murah.dabad ° aceeptcd this redocod ed, whilst the cold,ere and oflicore„ rm in , e num bore. ?aelit pay, end in consequence were en ^ Y aliea indolged in debau- Jaug subsequently, at the ins Ige 10 f K ul w ], 0 all in consequence eherics end ill-treated the ^ jlireat Katab caree to the noth* wore disgusted with bun. D thin The letter asked Murshid Qull Mirra floqir All, .ke *Thereon, Mirra Baqir 333 Katak. The aforesaid generals who were anxious to avenge the fall of their old master, Murshid Quli Khan, finding now an oppor¬ tunity, broke out into revolt. Saulat Jang sent to them Qasim BSg, Superintendent of the Artillery, and Shaikh Hidaitu-l-lah, Faujdar (Magistrate) of Katak, for effecting the basis of a recon¬ ciliation. The Generals, who were seeking for an opportunity, finding the above two emissaries unescorted, slew Qasim Bgg, whilst” Hidaitu-l-lah, after receiving some wounds, made his escape. The citizens and soldiers en masse broke out into revolt, and under cover of the darkness of night they besieged Saulat Jang, took him prisoner along with his followers and relations, and looted hiB treasures and effects. Then inviting over Mirza Baqir Khan, son-in-law of Murshid Quli Khan, from Sikakul across the Qbilkah lake, they placed him on the maenad of the Nizamat of Orissa, and advancing with their forces they conquer- ed Mednipur and Hijli. The news of the approach of the Katak army threw Bengal into commotion. All Vardi Khan, on the occurrence of this disaster, mobilised an immense army equipped with a battering artillery, and then set out foi Katak, iu order to relieve Saulat Jang and re-conquer Orissa. By forced marches, scouring through Bard wan, he encamped on the outskirts of Mednipur. On receiving news of the approach of Mababat Jang, the Katak army, 1 which was spread at Hijli and Mednipur, concentrated at Mednipur and Jaliear, next crossed over at the femes of Rajghat and Plmlwar, and then encamped 8 at the Port of Balasore. The soldiers of Mirza Baqir, to break out into revolt. The latter revolted, killed Gojar Khan, the general, when Baqir Ali marched swiftly to Katak, imprisoned Saulat Jang, together with his wife and children in the Fort of Uarabbati, and installed himself on the gadi of Orissa. (Bee 8eru-l-Afufa£Aerin, Pers. text, p. 502.) I The Editor of the printed Persian text has inserted ,j aftor ^|^j( though he 6ay8 in bis MSS. text, JJ occnrs. I consider j makes the text unin¬ telligible, and ji of the M8S. text is correct. According to tho latter road- jng, I have translated tin text. 8 See the account in the Seir (Pers, text pp. 503-505) of Ali Vardi’s expedi¬ tion to Katak, to relieve z^aulat Jang. It is stated in tho Seir that Ali Vardi Khan apprehending that Mirea Baqir Ali Khan waa being helped by Asif Jab from the Dakhin, marched to Kaink with a huge army, consisting of twenty thousand soldiers, led by picked generals and officers, 6nch as Mu$tafa Khan, gharnshir Khan. Umar Khan. Atan-l-lah Khan, Haidar Ali Khan. Faqiru-l- Iph Beg Khan. Mir Jafar, Mir gharfu-d-din, ghaikh Muhammad M'asum 33 i who had previously received arrow-shots at the hands of the Bhaliahs, suddenly lost heart, and sending all their baggages to Sikakul remained unencumbered. When Mirza Baqir came to know of the disloyalty and cowardice of his soldiers, ostensibly he gave out that he contemplated advancing against the enemy, but in reality he planned to withdraw to the Dakhin. Whilst completing his arrangements for withdrawal to the Dakhin, he detached a force to Cljaprak 1 ghat , which is the ferry of the river Mahandi and is situate midway the town of Katak. And he himself with Sanlat dang, &c., and a number of other captives together with tents, &c., crossed the river Katjuri. Mahabat Jang was encamped on the banks of the river Kambariah,* at a distance of forty Karoh from Katak, and there at midnight messengers bought him news of Mirza Baqir’s flight. Immediately summoning Mir Muham¬ mad Ja‘far the generalissimo, Mustafa Khan, Sham shir Khan, Sardar Khan, ‘Umar Khan, Buland Khan, Sirandaz Khan, Balisar Khan and other Afghan generals, and holding a Council of War, All Yard! that very night with their concurrence despatched them expeditiously under the command of Mir Ja'far Khan to pursue Mirza Baqir Khan. Soon after, All Vardi Khan himself with the remainder of his army set out. When the aforesaid generals with their army arrived five karoh from Katak, Mirza Baqir Khan being apprised placed Saulafc Jang in a fringed Bath, placed in it Haji Muhammad Amin, brother of Murshid Quli Khan, with a drawn dagger, to be his companion and attendant, and also set two armed horsemen on two sides of the Rath, with Amanat Khan, Mir Kazim Khan, Bahadur Ali Khiin. All Vardi reached with hia army the northern banka of the Mahanadi river opposite to Katak town, whilst Mirza Baqir Ali was encamped with hia troops on the southern banks of the same river.