Indian Antiquary Vol 36

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 17

JANUARY, 1907.]
AHMAD SHAH AND ISAD-UL-MULK.
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and sabre. At length a sword-cut took him on the right side and cut through him to the opposite side; he fell from his horse to the ground. Immediately after this the enemy's force disappeared. God also willed that the two troopers, too, should become martyrs. At that time heavy rain came on and both sides retreated to their own quarters.
When the news reached the other followers of that Saiyid received into Mercy, who were encamped at a distance of three kos, they returned the next morning and carried the Ssiyid back from the place where he fell to the previous camping ground. They say his body had on it fourteen sword and lance wounds between his waist and head, besides two matchlock wounds, one on the right thigh, and the other on the left foot. Ana,llah wa ana ilaiht rājóun.
In that year [1173 H. 1759-60] the writer was in the service of Nawab Sa'dullah Khān, son of Ali Muhammad Khin, Rohelah. At that period Nawab Sa'dullah Khan, on the advice of Hafiz Rahmat Khan and others, had, at the request of the Abdali Shāh, left the town of Sambbal in his dominions, and was encamped five kos off at the town of Hasanpur. On hearing of the martyrdom of the Saiyid, the writer composed a chronogram, of which the line containing the date is as follows (Misra) -
Ba räh--haqq shahid-i-albar shudah, ah! (Year 1173 H.). THE NARRATIVE RETURNS TO THE EVENTS IN 1169 1. (1755-56). I return to my narrative. When the said deceased Saiyid in the year 1169 (1755-6) left Shuji-ud-daulah, and had to search for a livelihood, he was summoned to Farrukhābād by Nawab Ghzanfar Jang. The Saiyid took the writer with him.
In that same year the Abdāli Shah came from Wilayat vid Käbal and entered Shahjahanâbâd, causing throughout Hindustan & great convulsion. In all directions the zamindārs raised their heads in rebellion and blocked the traffic on all the roads. At that time the rescripts of the Abdali Shah, which in their official language are called raqam, arrived one after another, calling for the attendance of Nawab Ghazanfar Jang with the greatest insistence. Quick-riding horsemen of the Shah's, they are called chapar, broaght these despatches to Farrukhābād. Their tenour was as follows. As soon as the Shah's order (ragam) had been perused, he (Ghazanfar Jang) must start for the Shāh's Presence, where he would be the recipient of kingly favours. In case of any delay, he might rely on the arrival of an avenging army," which will seize thee in whatever condition thou mayest be found, and drag "thee to the Exalted Camp, and deliver thee there : and I shall issue an order for thy territory "to be ravaged and plundered. It is necessary that in person thou come hastily sod at once " with thy army and thy treasure to Our Presence."
As is usual in Hindūstān, Ghaxanfar Jang erected a farmán-bāri tent of scarlet cloth outside Farrukhibåd at the distance of one kos, while he himself advanced two kos beyond the tent to receive the farmān. He conducted the despatch-riders with all due ceremony to the reception tent. There he first placed the Shāh's letter (raqam) upon his head, and then read it and ascertained the contents. In this manner for four days in succession, and without any interval, did letters from the Shāh arrive at Farrukhābād. Every day Ghazanfar Jang mounted and went out to receive them and bring them to the Tent of Honour, where he inspected them and read them,
From this cause the Nawab fell into somewhat of a perturbation and perplexity, forcing him to reflect on many things. He had "neither legs to run away nor strength to go forward" (Nah pãe garekhtan wa nah yāräe rastan). He therefore called together all the heads of his army and demanded their advice. He asked what their opinion wag, what plan should be resorted to, and what should be devised. For he had no treasure, nor was his army such that he could lift his head in opposition to any one, nor had be any strong fortress in the vicinity of Farrukhābād where he could place his family in security. In addition, the Mahrattah armies