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MARCH, 1907.)
AHMAD SHAH AND IMAD-UL-MULK.
61
enemies may withdraw from his territories. Patents for the provinces of Audh and Bangälah were in preparation in his (Ahmad Khan's) name. "Thou, who art of his tribe, hast been asked for, and "as I look on you as my son, I wish to send you for the execution of this project in the place " of any princely heir. I follow after you stage by stage."
Jang bāz Khan assented, made his obeisance, and straightway sought the chief minister at his tent. Mir Sher Andaz Khan was sent for. The papers stating the demands of Ahmad Khan were read. Then he (Jangbāz Khān) said to the chief minister: "I command no more than five " thousand horsemen, while Ahmad Khan has not much of an army, nor any funds. How can "I eject the Marhattahs or occupy şübah Audh? Shujās-ud-daulah possesses a treasury and an army, "and is the governor of that province. The same thing applies to the territory of Bengal. Thus, "the undertaking of these enterprises is opposed to reason and wisdom. I decline to go."
The chief minister said: "When you were in front of the Shāh you accepted and then left his "audience without a protest. Now you are raising difficulties. What does this mean " Jangbaz Khan answered: "I was unable to say these words to the Shāh himself." Then 'Imád-ul-mulk intervened, saying: "The army is part of the provincial government. Whenever the province has " been made over to Ahmad Khan, he can collect as many troops as ever he likes. The whole race " of the Afghans form his army, there must be two hundred thousand fighting men of bis tribe. "You are only nominally required to impress people with dread of the Shāh. Knowing you to be "* brother of the same race as himself, Ahmad Khān applied for you."
Jangbaz Khūn would not agree but continued to give a flat refusal. The chief Waztr carried his words to the Shāh. His order upon this report was to send Abu-19-samad Khan instead. The chief minister told the Mir Şahib what order the Shāh had given, and asked him to write about it to Ahmad Khan, and call upon him to state his views The Mir Şahib pointed out that what Ghazanfar Jang (Ahmad Khan) wanted was the nomination of some prince of the imperial family as for the rest, he would see to it himself. 'Abd-uş-gamad Khan commanded thirty thousand horse, and for the time being the daily expenses of such a force could not be provided. For this reason he indicated Jangbaz Khan, whose force is only five thousand men.
Then the Mir şābib proceeded to the tent of Jangbaz Khan and presented the shawls, et cetera, the gifts intended for him, as previously detailed. Out of the whole present he accepted only a pair of shawls and returned the rest, saying: "Nawāb Ghazanfar Jang is the chief man of my tribe, out " of politeness I accept a pair of shawls. I am no king or minister that I should extend my foot "beyond my due station." The Mir Sahib insisted much, but not another article did lie accept. As to marching himself, he absolutely declined to do so.
Two days passed in this fruitless discussion. On the third day, when the Shāh happened to make a halt at one of the camps, 'Imád-ul-mulk and the Mir Şahib laid before him the proposal that he (the Shah) in person should march as far as the town of Mathură, and there make some stay. Then whatever Ahmad Khan proposed, if it seemed advisable, could be carried out. The Sbāh said: "It is well."
Rubric. - March of the Shāh towards Mathurā on the representation of Mir Sher Andaz Khān, and
after reaching it and making a seven days' halt, he starts on his return to his own country.
On the day that the Shih entered the neighbourhood of Mathură, he crossed the Jamnah ad en camped near Mahmān (Mahāban ?), where there is a sarãe, built by one Sayyid 'Abd-un-nabi,25 and it goes also by the name of Sarãe Nabi ; it lies two kos to the east of Mathuri.
* He was made faudār of Mathurä on the 16th Rabi II., 1079 H. (26th September 1668), and was killed in an attaok on a Jat fort upon the 21st Za,l Hijjah of the same year (24th May, 1609), Ma,āsir jālamgiri, 74,93.
