English
It appears that important affairs transpired in the meantimo in the Bengal Satrapy, which made for this seoond Mahratta invasion. In the first place, Mayf.afi th ® Afghan General-in-Chief and the chief pillar of the State of Ali Vardi Khan, fell ont with the latter, and was locked np in fighting against Ah Vardi’s son-in-law, Zain-d-din Khiin, $ubidarof Azimabad (Patnal. Whilst hardpressed by the well-foimed battalions of Zain-d-din Khin, Mnjtafi Khiin. like Mir tfabib, took the unusual stop to iuvite over to Bengal Raghoji Biioelah, who seized the invitation with avidity and marched with Mir Habib (the implacable foe of Ali Vardi and the inspiring genius of the Mahrnttas), towards Satak, At this time at Katak, a oowordly person ruled aa Ali 350 slaughter of Bhaskar and other Mahratta Generals, and engaging on massacres, captures, and plunders, tortured many of his cap- Vardi’s §ubadar in Orissa. His name was Dulab Ram, nnd he was a son of Rajah Janoki Ram, All VardPs Peshkar. Ali Yard! had appointed Dulab Ram as §nbadar, in the plaoe of Abdnl Rasul Khan (6on of Abdul Nabi Khan) who had resigned his office*and joined Muftafa at Patna- Dulab Ram was not only cowardly, but superstitious, and most probably, also treacher¬ ous (as his snbseqnent condnot towards All VardPs grandson indicates). He associated at Katak with the Sanyasia, most of whom were spies in the employ of Raghoji Bhoslah. As soon as Dulab Ram heard of the approaoh of the Mahrattas, he attempted to rnn away; but was soon after captured by the Muhrattas. At this time, a small band of Syeds, under the oommand of Mir Abdul Aziz, bravely held out for over a month in the Fort of Barabati. The heroio stand against heavy odds made by this small beleaguered garrison and its unflinching loyalty, once more relieves the darkness of the moral ohaos that had seized the times. When cajoled and threatened by Raghoji Bhoslah’s friend, Mir Habib, and entreated by Dulab Ram and by his own brother to join Raghoji’s side, Mir Abdul Aziz returned the following gallant and loyal answer: “I own no brother nor any other master; I acknow¬ ledge only one master, namely, Mahabat Jang; true, some cowards have joined you ; but from regard for the salt I have eaten, T will, by God, stand by this Fort, so long as there is breath in my life.” (fleir, p. 546). Ab how¬ ever, no reinforoements came up, though over a month had elapsed, and as all provisions had rnn out, this noble band of beleaguered garrison had at length to capitulate on honourable terms to Raghoji BhoBlah, who made himself master of the Fort Barabati and also of the whole of Orissa pro¬ vince, as well aB of Mednipur, Hughli and Bardwan. Ali Vardi was oocupied at this time in Patna in orushing out the Afghan revolt under Mutfafa £&an. When Mu?tnfa Khan was slain and the Afghan revolt was crush¬ ed, Ali Vardi hastened back to Bengal. At this time, Raghoji was enoamped at Birbhum. Meanwhile the Afghin oomrades of the late Mu?tafa Khan, who lay in a death-trap in the Jungles of Tikari asked Raghoji to help them, and promised him their adhesion. Raghoji marohed to Tikari to their resone rid the jungles of Birbhum and Kharakpur, looting en route the villages o Shnikpura and Tikari, &o. Mahabat Jang followed quickly in their heels an moved to Patna. From Patnn, Raghoji (on the advice of Mir Habib, who was the inspiring genius of the Mahrattas, also in this seoond Marhatta invasion) turned towards Murshidabad, pursued closely by Ali Vardi, whose panmi was hot and unslacking. At Katwnh, another battle was fought, in whion the Mahrattas were worsted. Finding thnt victory was out of the question, and bearing of some troubles in his own country, Raghoji now prudently withdrew to his own country at Nagpur, leaving in Bengal his friend go. , and philosopher, Mir Habib, with 3,000 Mahratta and 7,000 Af^o ’ * (See Seiru-l-Mutaiberin, Pers. text, p. 651). It would seem a despicable mo rpl chaos had at this time seixed the country, in whioh neither religious es 351 tives. All Verdi Khan with a largo army again advanced to en¬ counter the enemy. At tliis juncture, Balaji Rao, * son of Baji Rao Pandit, Pesliwa and generalissimo of Rajah Saliu, who was young, and had enmity with Raghoji, under orders of Emperor Muhammad Shah, came from the Imperial Capital (Dihli) to Ben¬ gal with sixty thousand Mahratta cavalry, to re-inforce Alt Vardi Khan. Mahabat Jang, finding floods of disaster approaching Bengal from two sides, shewed firmness and foresight. He depated ex¬ perienced envoys with presents -0 Balaji Rao, won him over to his side by display of courtesy and sincerity, met him at Birbhum, estab lished friendly relations with him, and both nnitedly resolved to drive out Raghoji Bhoslah. Raghoji finding it impracticable to accomplish the object of his mission withdrew to his own country, without gaining his end. Being somewhat relieved of his anxiety by the withdrawal of Raghoji Bhoslah, Mahabat Jang presented a large amount of cash to Balaji Rao, and thus sent him out of Ben¬ gal in a contented and thaukful mood, whilst he himself returned to Bengal. Being inwardly in anxiety as to tho demand of Rag¬ hoji for Chauth , Mahabat Jang set about mobilising troops. At this moment, a ruDture occurred between Ali Vardi Khan and nor national sentiments were held of any account. Ono finds now Mnsnlman Afghans (at the instigation of two Mnsnlman leaders, Mir Hnbib and Mu$- j^fa Khan), fighting the battles of Hindu Mahratta freebooters against a Musnlman power in Bengal. The event is a dark land-mark in Moslem history of Bengal, and marks the sad disintegration and moral paralysis that had now seized the Mnsalman race in Bencral or, for the matter of that, in India. (See Seir, Pers. text, pp. 656-566). Balaji Rao (the generalissimo of the Imperial Army in tho Dakhin) and $afdar Jang, son-in-law of Burhanu-l-Mulk, the $ubidnr of Oudli, were orderd by Emperor Muljammad Shah, to help Ali Vardi against tho Mahrattns □nder Raghoji. Whilst seeking Imperial assistance, Ali Vardi wrote tho following pregnant and prophetio words to the Emperor :—“ Should Bongal whioh is tho finanoinl mainstay of the Empire fall, your Majesty's Empire will be shorn of all lustre.” (See 8eir, p. 516, Pers. text). These words had reference to the foot that Bengal had ever been the beat milch-cow of tho Em¬ pire. $afdir Jang did not pull on with Ali Vardi, and so was recalled by the Emperor, whilst Balaji Rao (whose designs wore also suspected by the Bhrewd Ali Vardi) who hod come to Mankar by way of Patna, was courte¬ ously shewn out of Bengal by the latter. (See Seir, pp. 522 and 624). In this connection, the Seir (p. 624) gives the story of a Mnsalman amazon in the person of the widow of the late Mohammad Ghana Khan who resided at Bbagnlpur, And who held out bravely against Balaji Rao. 45 352 Mustafa Khan, the Afghan General, and it was so far accentuated that all the Afghans combining with the latter, broke out into revolt, and set out with a large force for Azimabad (Patna), in order to storm that City, and to capture Haji Aljmad and Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan. On reaching Mungir (Monghyr), Mustafa Khan be¬ sieged the Fort of .Monghyr. The Commandant of the Fort pre¬ pared to fight. Abdu-r-rasul Khan, 1 a cousin of Mustafa Khan, ad¬ vancing in the inebriation of the wine of valour and daring, wanted to storm the Fort, by battering down its gate. The guards of the Fort hurled down a huge stone on his head. From the blow of that heavy stone, his head was smashed to atoms. Mugtafa Khan, viewing this disaster to be a bad omen, abandoned the siege of Monghyr, marched with celerity to Azimabad, (Patna), engaged in besieging the latter City, and commenced fighting with Zainu-d- din Ahmad Khan. Most of the detachments of Zainu-d-din Khan, not being able to stand their ground in the face of the onslaughts of the Af gh ans, retreated to the citadel, but Zainu-d-din Khan himself with a small squadron of cavalry, artillery, and Bhaliah musketeers remained out in the open to encounter the enemy. At this moment, the Afghans fell to plundering and pillaging the tents of Zainu-d-din's troops who had retreated. Seeing Mustafa San now left with a small force, Zainu-d-din Ahmad Khan formed a van-guard of artillerymen and BhAliah musketeers, and commenced an assault . 8 The shells of guns and bullets of muskets now commenced showering like hail. Most of Mustafa Khan's comrades tasted the bitter potion of death; whilst one bullet, hitting Mustafa Khan on the socket, blinded one of his eyes. Then Zainu-d-din’s other troops who had retreated to the citadel also rushed out, attacked the Afghans, and put them to the sword. Mustafa Khan on being defeated retreated to Jag- digtpur . 8 Becoming victorious and triumphant, Zainu-d-din Kban struck up the band of victory, made his State entry into the Fort, and next engaged on chasing the enemy. Mustafa gban now * sent a message to Raghoji Bhoslah, * and asked for help. I He was §ubidar of OriBsa before Dalab Ram See note ante. • The whole thing would seem to have been a well-planned taotioal move on the part of Zainu-d-din Eian, who was a good General, strong in tactics.^ 8 The printed Persian text of the Biyaz has throughout “ Raghoji Qhosiah. ‘ Ghoslah ’ is obviously a misreading or misprint for • Bhoslah.’ * • Jagdishpur ’ or ‘ Jagdispur, is mentioned id the Am-i-Akban (Vol I 353 Raghoji, who was waiting for each an opportunity, was delight¬ ed, and prepared to despatch reinforcements. But Mahabat Jang, on being apprised of this news, swiftly marched to Azi- mabad (Patna^ Thd Bengal and Azlmabad (Patna) armies form- ing a junction combined to attack Mustafa Khan.