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OCTOBER, 1886.]
THE LAST YEARS OF SHAH SHUJAA.
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their congratulations. A few days afterwards, Muhammad Zamân Khân during the fight, the he desired all the Khâns to pay him homage adherents of the Shahzadah were defeated, and and to swear allegiance to him, which most of the thread of their connection became severed. them did, except some partizans of Muhammad So they retreated again to the Balâ Hişâr and Zamân Khân, who refused. He also gladdened kept off the assailants, but ventured out from the hearts of all who had entered into a it no more, and waited for the arrival of an covenant of loyalty to him, by presenting them English army to succour the Shahzâdah (Fath with plenty of money, and exquisite robes of Jang). honour, thus exalting them above their peers. Meanwhile he continued with the help of
Some time afterwards, Aminu'llah Khan Aminu'llah Khân to harass his opponents, prepared, at the instigation of the Shahzadah until Muhammad Akbar Khân, leaving his (Fath Jang) and with the consent of all the followers, came to Kábul, where he was in. Khâns, to ruin Muhammad Zamân Khân, and formed of the antagonism between Amîna'llah the more so as their forces amounted in ap- Khân and Nawab Zaman Khân. He thereupon pearance to double the number at his disposal. induced the former, with the aid of Muham. On the day appointed for attack Aminu'llah mad Shah Ghiljai; to get himself lowered by Khân discovered that Mîr Haji Sahib was a means of a rope and pulley from the Balê well-wisher of the Nawab [Muhammad Zamân Hişår to meet him. The Shahzadah Fath Jang Khân), and kept him under close surveil- was greatly dismayed at the departure of lance. As, however, he was intending to begin the Nâib, but Mirza Ibrahim Khân, the Chief hostilities, the Kabuli and Kohistânî men Munshi, and Mirza Haidar Ali Khân the learnt that Mîr Haji was under surveillance, army-writer, who had been trusty, confiden. and abandoned their intention of attacking tial and honoured servants of Shah Shuja'a, Muhammad Zaman Khân. They hastened in- comforted the Shahzâdah and told him by no stead to the house of the Nâib, which they pil- means to give way to discouragement, inaslaged and demolished in a moment. Aminu'llah much as all the dwellers in the BalA Hişar, the Khân having thus, in the twinkling of an eye, Durrani Khâns, and the Hindústânî troops were become the vanquished instead of vanquisher, loyal and steadfast and would be ready to sacriconsidered himself fortunate to have escaped fice their lives for him ; whilst they themselves with his life, and took refuge in the Bâlâ Hişâr, stood sureties for the promotion of his cause.
After this event, the Naib Amina’llah Khân They called Durvesh Muhammad Khân, the and the Shahzâdah (Fath Jang) determined to son of Haji Hashim Khan 'Arab, with all the garrison the fortress, and sent the Shahzâdah Abyssinian officers, to bear testimony to the Shahpur with some troops and the Khâns truth of their assertions. The Shahzadah, whom who happened to be present, to guard the sur- these promises had inspired with new courage, rounding localities, and to bring in the revenue, resisted the assaults upon the Bâlâ Hişår for as well as corn and all other necessaries. Ac- forty days, supported by the Durrani Khang, cordingly the Shahzadah, who was in the first viz. Sardâr 'Inayatu'llah Khân, 'Azim Gul Khân instance to occupy and to repair the fort Binî Urąbigi, Sikandar Khân Bảmîzki, Şamad Khan Hişar, and to send corn from it when hos Bådüzâi, and Muhammad 'Umar Khân Bảmizâi, tilities broke out, took possession of and kept and also by the Kábuli Khåns, viz. Khwajah the gate locked. When Muhammad Zaman Khânji, known as Shekh Mazár, and Mîr Aftab. Khân heard of what had taken place he secretly There was much fighting on the tower of the marched from the city on the second day after- two eagles, which bears likewise the name of wards with some sawars, partly of his own tribe the upper tower, and which was assaulted by and partly Ghilzais, and betook himself by way the adherents of Muhammad Zaman Khân and of Chuhardeh, in the rear of the mountain, to of Muhammad Akbar Khân. In reality all the fort Bini Hişar, the vicinity whereof he the duties of the garrison, and negotiations reached in the darkness of the night. In the with its opponents, were performed according morning a fierce battle raged between the to the directions of the above-named Mirzas parties, but as Sardêr `Abdu's-Salâm Khân, son and supporters of Fath Jang), and nothing was of Ikram Khân Båmizâi, joined the forces of undertaken without their approbation. They
