Indian Antiquary Vol 15

SR No.: 032507
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 446
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[OCTOBER, 1886.
often also sent letters to General Pollock in in a short time raised a wall of stone and JallAlAbad, inviting him to come to Kabul, and earth (in its place). The Shahzâdah then comhe replied that he would soon do so.
menced, through Ndib Aminu'llah Khân LahoAs the English did not move from Jallálábåd, kardi and Muhammad Shah Khân Ghiljai, and the siege was dragging out its length, the negotiations for peace with Sardar Muhammad enemies became more daring in the prosecution Akbar Khân, whom he made his wazir, and of it. The store of gunpowder in the Bala thereby put an end to all hostilities. He also Hişâr had likewise all been consumed, and opened the roads to the fortress and surrendered when this became known to the besiegers, they them. issued orders, that nobody should send in 8 A few days after Muhammad Akbar Khân single misqal of it; and they were obeyed, had become wazir and had made the troops except by one man, a Hindu Munsbi, who subservient to himself, a letter fell into his being acquainted with Khwajah Khânji conveyed hands, which the youthful inexperience of the some gunpowder to him. When, however, the Shâhzâdah had indited, craving for the aid of people of the city became aware of the trans- General Pollock, and which he had despatched gression, they placed him under the merciless to Jallalabad. Muhammad Akbar Khân kept sword, and he only saved his life by making the letter and threw the Shahzadah into prison a profession of Islam. After that, gunpowder for it :became so scarce in the Bald Hişår, that one He who does this will be requited with that. misgal could not be purchased for a hundred The property of the Shahzadah was looted, and rupees. Nevertheless Mirza Ibrahim Khân all the jewellery taken that could be found; Munshi and Mirza Haidar Khân by various but as soon as he got an opportunity he escaped stratagems succeeded in smuggling some gun- from prison with the connivance of certain powder from the city to the fortress, through persons in the Balâ Hisar, and taking refuge the ramparts. But at last the besiegers, by in the Chandául Mahallah, remained there in persevering vigilance, totally cut off the sup- concealment. Some time afterwards Sarfaraz ply of gunpowder, and then Nawab Shuja'a Khân, the brother of Naib Aminu'llah Khân Khân, son of Nawab Najiba'ddaulah, who had, Lahukurdi and Khwajah Khânji, surnamed from being one of the Indian servants of the Shekh Mazar, procured through the mediation Shahzâdah, risen to the position of Diwan, under of Mirza Haidar Ali Khân, and of Mirza took to manufacture gunpowder in the Bal Hisar Ibrahim Khân, all the travelling appliances itself and began the business by mixing sulphur necessary for the Shahzadah, and conveyed him with charcoal, intending to continue it after- by way of Karakchah, or some other unknown wards in a more complete form. Meanwhile, route, to Jallalibåd to General Pollock, and to Sardâr Muhammad Akbar Khân with the aid of Macgregor, who was the English Håkim of that Haji Ali Khan the (military) miner, dug a mine place.' beneath the principal western tower of the Bâlâ When the Bombay army was appointed to Hişar, which was known by the name of the give assistance, it marched by way of QanBajanhů tower, and blew it up, so that it dahår to Kabul,' and troops from Hindústân became level with the ground: whereon the despatched for the same purpose marched Shahzadah Fath Jang hastened with a number by way of Jallalábåd; from which place of Arabs and Abyssinians to the spot, and also General Pollock brought the ShAhzâdah
. This was no other than the well known Mohan Lal, Knight of the Persian Order of the Lion and Sun.
"It soon became only too probable that the BAIA Hişår itself would fall before the Bdrukudio. The energy and vigour of Akbar Khan and his confederates kreatly exceeded that of the wretched Prince, and his few interested supporters. Fearful of this, Fath Jang continued to write pressing letters to the British authorities at JallalAbad."-Kaye, Vol. II. p. 535.
. Last night" wrote Fath Jang to General Pollock at the beginning of June, “they made an assault now they have made mines in every direotion. My affairs are in a very critical state. If you do not come quickly, the Ball Hisar and the throne will be lost, and you
will be a sufferer.". Kaye, Vol. II. p. 541.-"On the 7th June the BAIA Hisar fell into the hands of the Bårukz&is."-Ibid. p. 542.
According to Kaye, the Shehz Adah Fath Jang waited for the arrival of the British army in Kabul, and accom. panied it to India when it left, as will be seen in the last foot-note to this piece.
General Nott marched from Qandahar on the 7th August (Kaye, Vol. II. p. 594); from Ghaznio he brought away on the 8th September the famous gatos of the temple of Somnath at the express command of Lord Ellenborough (p. 607), and on the 17th he encamped at a distance of four or five miles from Kabul (p. 600).