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DECEMBEE, 1898.]
TIE SIEGE OF AHMADNAGAR.
819
I uttered several congratulations, and said: - "At this time Alam-Panah is very well satisfied with you, for terror of you bas impressed itself on the hearts of the Mughals, and as long as you maintain your position on this frontier they will not attack us, but will remain in their own place." And the fact of the matter was that as long as Suhail Khan was on that frontier they did not attack at all, though after his time they did much damage. He brought to notice all those of his adherents who had evinced loyalty in the service of Alam-Panah ; and to put his mind at ease, the latter sent him & robe of honour and presents.26
When we set foot in the Nizâm-Shahi territory, we found a ruined country in a state of confusion; in short nothing was to be seen but the four walls of houses and a wretched, poverty-stricken populace at enmity among themselves.
Abhang Khan Habshi, who with the amirs and 20,000 horse had taken up a position outside the fort and cut off the supplies of their own people and sovereign, paraded the whole of his army and came out to give us a ceremonious reception. He reviewed his army and each of the amirs paraded his own regiment. In truth, it was a well-organized force. They had besieged their own sovereign, and, being at enmity with Chand Bibi, wished to get Bahadur Shah into their hands. The amirs insisted upon our alighting near them.
Next day Saiyid Ali - known as Tarikht - who was one of the celebrated men of the place, came with one of the officers (sar-naubat), and took us into the fort, where we had an interview with Babadur Shah. A number of the nobles within the fort in a wretched and distressed state, with one tongue and a thousand complaints, related the affairs of the hostile faction. I assumed the office of mediator in the business, and a;ter I had repeatedly and severely admonished and threatened them on behalf of Alam-Panah, terms of reconciliation were arranged. The whole of the amirs then went to the foot of the bastion and rampart, and had an interview with Bahfidur Shah, who was on top of the bastion, Robes of honour and presents were bestowed, bat night having then come on the proceedings were adjourned].
Next day the conrt of Nizâm-Shậh was erected in the midst of the camp. A half-throne (nim-takht), with the waist-belt and head-dress of Babadur Shah on it, was placed in the midst of the court. Each of the amirs, members of council and military officers then came forward, saluted (the throne) and received his customary robe of honour. There was boundless rejoicing at this both on the part of the people of the army and the garrison. The drums of rejoicing were beaten and prayers for the safety, long life and prosperity of Alam-Pankh were recited, in that he bad put an end to the sedition and disturbance and was the cause of the tranquillity of the people. Some of the garrison of the fort went outside, and, entering the camp, inquired after their relatives whom they had not seen for a long time, and thanked God that they had met one another safe at last. The men of the army also went to and fro to the fort, and presenting their petitions in the conrt of Bahadur Shah, had their claims settled. Fresh officials were appointed, that the business of the State and the army might be properly arranged.
But this pence did not suit the views of some of the disaffected mischief-breeders, so they began to excite sedition and again hoisted the standard of opposition, and seized and imprisoned three or four of the (new) officials. The garrison of the fort also joined in the rebellion; the troops, with money, promises and threats, having gained them over to their side, made an agreement with them that when the amirs with the army should come to take the fort, the men of the garrison should refrain from firing the cannons, guns and rockets. On this understanding one day the amirs outside the
25 There is no subsequent mention of Suhail Khan in the course of this narrative, but we are led to infer that he with a portion of the frontier forcu, accompanied the author as escort to the mission; but certainly not in a political oapacity, as stated by Firishtah. The latter makes no mention of our mathor, although they must have known one another personally, for they both at the same time hold high appointments at the Bijapur Court.
