English
Seeing Ali Vardi’s hnge army, Mirza Baqir Ali a soldiers fled, and dispersed in all directions, whilst Ali Vardi’s troops plungod •nto the river, quickly crossed over to Katak town (at the Jobra Ghat, as wonld appear from the Riyaz), and rescued $aulat Jang who was encaged in a Rnth (a four-wheeled carriage) covered over with a white Bheet tied round it with white strings. Saulat Jung’s estape from certain death was almost m \ ra ? Qhaprah ” of the text is known locally as ‘ Jobrah ’ ghat. It is situate midway the town of Katak, alongside the Mahanadi river. Close to the ghat, there is an old mansolenm. 8 “ Komhariah ” river of the text is probably a misprint or misreading for . Dhumrn” river, down Jajpur, which would be about 40 Kroh from Katak. k instructions that should the army of Mababat Jang overtake them, they should instantly hack up Saulat Jang with daggers and spears and on no account should let the latter escape. And Mirza Baqir himself mounted a horse, and along with the Rath contain¬ ing Saulat Jang he left the La‘l Bagh 1 Palace situate in the city of Katnk, and Arrived at Malisar. s At this time, Balisar Khan with fifteen horsemen, who were his comrades, came up. The flags carried by the cavalry were visible in the forest. By chance* at that time, from the excessive heat of summer, Saulat Jang changing his seat insido the Rath sat in the place where Hiiji Muhammad Amin had hitherto sat, and gave his own seat to the Haji. At the very sight of the flags of Balisar Khan’s caval¬ ry, the two armed horsemen who rode alongside- the Rath thrust their spears through the Rath —screen, wounded Haji Muhammad Amin whom they mistook for Saulat JaDg, and fled. As fate would have it, as soon as the spear-thrust pierced the Haji’s hand and shoulder, the Haji’s dagger fell from his hand, and shouting out, “ you have killed me ; you have killed me,” the Haji 8 tum¬ bled down inside the Rath. Saulat Jang, the cup of whose life was not yet full to the biim, remained unscathed. When the Afghan troops were busy looting the vanquished, Mir Muhammad Ja'far Khan Bahadur and Muhammad Amin* Khan Bahadur, with a few men fell in with the runaways, and moved in every direction in quest of Sa‘id Ahmad Khan Bahadur Saulat Jang; but Saulat Jang fearing lest some enemy might be searching for him, l Lai Bagh, on the banks of tho Katjori, now forms tho residence of the Commissioner of the Oriesa Division. It was bnilt by Mnsalman Governors of Orissa for their residence, in preference to Fort Barabati on the banks of the Mabanadi. * MalUar is apparently a mistake for Mnkamasar, a placo across the Katjori, about 2 miles distant from the Lai Bagh, on the Pnri road. * As the sequence of the story would indicate, the Haji was to some extent shamming death, and was a sly fox, for quickly after he got op, and nimbly scampered off, mounting another man’s horse. 4 Mir Muhammad Amin was a step-brother of Ali Vardi Khan, snrnnmed Mahabat Jang, and brother-in-law of Mir Jafar, the latter having married nn uterine sister of Mir Mohammad Amin. Neither Ali Vardi nor his father was a Syed; they were Mirzas; and therefore, Mohammad Amin (Ali Vardi’s step¬ brother) oould not have been a Syed or Mir from his father’s side, he was so probably from his mother’s side. It is common amongst Muhammadans (and the usage hns the sanction of authority) to call themselves Syeds, if their mothers are Syedas. 43 336 held his breath quietly. When Muhammad Amin Khan came up quite close, Saulat Jang, recognising his voice, answered him. The aforesaid Khan, on hearing the response, immediately tearing the screen of the Rath , and cutting np the tent-ropes brought out Saulat Jang, and dismounting from his horse embraced him. And Mir Muhammad Ja‘far Khan also coming up, they embraced each other, and after offering thanks to Providence for the safety of Saulat Jang’s life, they indulged in jubila¬ tions. At the time when they were busy with embracings and hand-shakings, Haji Muhammad Amin, finding an opportunity, nimbly got out of the Rath , and mounting the horse of Muham¬ mad Amin Khan fled to the jungle, and vanished. When after enquiries into the condition of Saulat Jang they mounted their own horses, Muhammad Amin Sian was confounded at the disappearance of his own horse. On subsequently ascertain¬ ing the secret, they were all sorry. 1 When the Afghan soldiery, after finishing their work of plunder and sack, rallied round Mir Muhammad Ja‘far Khan, they sent Saulat Jang to Mahaoat Jano- whilst they themselves set out in pursuit of Mirza Muham- macf Baqir. Finding the chance of his escape to be slender, the Mirza bcame desperate, and opened the battle by shooting rockets and arrows and firing muskets. When the fighting was about to turn to a charge with spears and swords, Murad Khan, the gene. ..1- issimo of the Rajah of Puri,* who with a large contingent of troops supported Mirza Baqir, seizing the rein of the Mirza a horse > " nd by use of great persuasion, pulled him back from the battle-field. Becoming his guide, Murad Khan led the Mirza by a route across the forest towards the Dakhin. Ali Yard! Khan, after holding a thankscriving service for meeting Saulat Jang and obtaining victory, allowed Saulat Jang to retire to the city of Katak for rest whilst he himself, after resting some time and being freed from al anxiety on account of the enemy, entered Katak a A chastising fully the adherents and friends of Mirza Sr AM "ctfnfiJed a!, the branded- horses o£ UM , If Jlir Ja'far and his friends were capable of appreciating a practical . 4 , f . • sorni they might have enjoyed a hearty laugh. j°ke instead of ^>"8^ 5 , ttmrdab, and master or Sopenn- Jdlr o7^ ^ Temp,.. (See Srira-t-KataMerin, Per., text, ’•“r ££ which were .applied to, or had to be Vept bp mihtarp 337 Baqir, appointed Shaikh Ma‘$um, 1 who was an ablo General, to the office of Deputy Nazim of the Sabah of Odisah (Orissa), and after finishing the administrative arrangements of that Province returned to Bengal. Inasmuch as Jagat Isar, Rajah of Morbhanj, had taken Bides with Mirza Baqir, and had not submitted to the authority of Mahabat Jang, the latter was in anxiety owing to his insolence. Therefore, on arrival at the port of Balasore, he girded up his loins in order to chastise the Rajah. The latter was at Harihar- pur which contained his mansion, and was at the time plunged in pleasures and amusements. His knowledge of the denseness of the forests that surrounded him, coupled with his command of numerous hordes of Chawars* and Kbandaits, made him feel inso¬ lent, aud so ho did not pull out the cotton of heedlessness from the ear of Bense, nor cared for the army of Ali Vardi Khao. Ali Vardi Khau’s army stretching the hand of slaughter and rapine, set about looting and sacking the populations, swept the Rajah’s dominion with the broom of spoliation, captured the women and children of the Khandatis and Qfcawars, and sowed dis¬ sensions amongst them. The Rajah, seeing the superiority of Ali Vai’di Khan’s army, with his effects, followers and dependants, fled to-the top of a hill, and hid himself in a secret fastness, beyond the ken of discovery. Ali Vardi Khan then subjugated the tract of Morbhanj, shewed no quarter, and mercilessly carried fire and sword through its limits. Mir Habib, 8 the Generalissimo of Murghid Quli Khan, after the commanders for military purposes after being branded. Seo Ain-i-Akbari, Vol. I, p. 255, Blochmaon’s translation for the Dagh or branding regulations. I The Scir states that his name was " Shaikh Muhammad Masum, Pant Pati." no was appointed Deputy Governor of Orissa, in the place of $aulat Jang, on the recommendation of Ali Vardi’e Afghan general, Mustafa Khan, who now got the upper hand in all political affairs. The Shaikh is described as a vetoran aud brave general. (Seo Seir, Pers. text, p. 505). 8 I am told ‘ Ohawara ’ is a mistake for “ Ohowans ” who are Khetris by caste. ‘Kkandaits’ arc ulso mixed Khctria; they ore to be found in largo numbers Ibronghout Orissa. 8 This story shews that one of the most prominent Musalman leaders and pillars of tho State in Bougal, towards the middle of the eighteenth century, in order to avenge Ali Vardi’s overthrow of his master Marg]iid Quli Khan from the Orissa Government, and to gratify personal vindictiveness, ignored ties of religious obligations and national interest, and joined hands with 338 latter’s defeat, lmd gone to Raghoji Blioslab, aud persuaded the latter to undertake the conquest of Bengal. At this time, Raghoji Bhoslah, nephew of the Rajah of the Dakhin, was Governor of the Subah of Berar. Taking advantage of the circumstance that Mahabat Jang was occupied with the affairs of Orissa, and find¬ ing that the whole extent of Bengal was denuded of troops, Raghoji Bhoslah detached his generalissimo, Diwan Bhaskar Pandit, and Ali Qarawal, who was an able general, with a contingent of sixty thousand Mahratta cavalry from Nagpur, in the company of Mir Habib, by the route across the forest, in order to invade and pil¬ lage Bengal. On receiving news of the approach of Mahratta freebooters, Mahabat Jang abandoned the pursuit of the Mor- bhanj Rajah, and withdrew towards Bengal. As yet Ali V ardi Khan had not passed through the forests of Morbhanj, when the army of Mahratta freebooters swooped down from the direction of the chaklah of Bardwan. 1 Mahabat Jang, with the celerity of lightning and wind, marching swiftly by night and day, reached the inn of Ujalar adjoining to Bardwan. The armies of Mahratta freebooters, concentrating from different directions, commenced looting baggages and tents.