Indian Antiquary Vol 36

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

Page 56

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[FEBRUARY, 1907.
Khan), to find out what matters he has prayed the Shah to grant him." The writer at a sigu from the Mir Sahib fetched the memoranda, which were with a servant in a bag, and handed them to him ('Imad-ul-mulk). After he had gone through them, he made alterations in several places. Thus, for "Subah Bangalah six krors is offered" he wrote "four krors"; and for the Marhaṭṭah country he altered "fifty lakhs" of rupees into "twenty lakhs," and in regard to the Audh Subah be replaced "two krors" by "seventy lakhs." Other memoranda were prepared and made over to the Mir Sahib.
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Let us return to our narrative. Imad-ul-mulk and the Mir Sahib were engaged in this conversation, when a messenger from the Shah's audience ran up and said: The chief minister "has stated the business of Aḥmad Bangash to the Shah and his petition has been sent for, you "must give it to me." Thus he carried off the petition in its bag. The Shah himself read it, and reassured the chief minister; and two mounted nasaqchts were sent off at once to fetch Jangbaz Khan, who had gone to the town of Mirath. Their orders were to bring him back at once with all haste.
When the chief minister returned to his tent, he said to the Mir Sahib: "The Shah has "interested himself in the highest degree in the affairs of Aḥmad Khan, and has announced that "whatever Ahmad Bangash has asked for should be granted." He would send Jangbaz Khan back with his (Aḥmad Khan's) envoy. Accordingly, nasaqchts had been despatched at once to Jangbāz Khan. In four days' time Jangbaz Khan will arrive. With regard to you (the Mir Sahib) he said that the next day being a halt, you are to be presented to him. The chief minister having thus reassured the Mir Sahib in the most perfect manner, sent him away. At noon he forwarded to the Mir Sahib one tray of fruit and four trays of food, when the Mir Sahib presented a gift of ten rupees to the minister's servants.
The next morning we attended at the quarters of the chief minister. The chief minister conducted the Mir Sahib to the Shah's presence. The Shah enquired: "You are a Sayyid?" He replied: "They call me so." The Shah went on: "Sayyid, let your mind be easy; I have "sent for Jangbaz Khan. In four days he will be here, and I will depute him to Farrukhābād in "your company. Write to Aḥmad Khan to begin making his plans, and he should be in every way "without anxiety. I have entered these realms as an upholder of the Faith and a succourer of the Afghan tribes. My purpose is that the accursed group, the Marhaṭṭahs, who have occupied the "territories of that tribe (the Afghans), shall, through the fear and power of the Lord, be uprooted "and expelled by me."
The Mir Sahib made an obeisance of thanks and produced the list of presents and rarities. The things were all in the author's charge, he having attended in the Mir Şahib's train and being seated in the Shah's audience-hall. An order was given to lay the things out for inspection. Mirzā Mustafa, the Shah's Secretary, came up to the author and placed the gold coins, et cetera, and the rest of the things in large and small trays, then laid them before the Shah. The whole gift was accepted. He remarked: "The rupee of Farrukhabad is better looking and better 'made than "that from any other place in India. I have heard that Ahmad, Bangash, is a man of valour, "though, nowadays, the Marhaṭṭahs have got hold of his territories. He ought to eject them, and, "please the Lord! it shall so come to pass, and I will make over the country as far as the borders "of Bangal to Aḥmad Khan."
After this speech, he conferred on the Mir Sahib a robe of honour of seven pieces, together with a jewelled aigrette, a turban of a flowered pattern, a tight-fitting coat of shawl stuff, in addition to