Indian Antiquary Vol 36

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

Page 72

646
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCE, 1907.
After the writer had returned to his quarters, 'Imád-ul-mulk, in my absence, said to the Mir Sahib: "Let me have Muhammad Hasan, and he will live with me as your representative. I will "appoint you to the office of Branding and Verification (of troopers' horses) and the inspection " of the personal rolls of my soldiers ; it will be your office and he will be your deputy." The Mir Sahib answered : " Muhammad Ḥasan is my right hand ; if your Lordship designs to amputate my "hand, wbat objection bave I?" These speeches were reported to me by the Mir Şahib that night, and he added: "Now let us wait and see what happens. Whatever country or whatever office it "be, you will not go away from me."
To return to our story. As Jangbáz Khān persisted in bis refusal, the chief minister and 'Imád-ul-mulk and the Mir Şahib sat from early morning to midday in consultation upon what should be done with regard to Ahmad Khān's business. After much argument "Imád-ul-mulk advised that one of the princes of Hindustan should be appointed to the Rūbahs of Audh and Bengal, and despatched in charge of him (Imád-ul-mulk). Jangbaz Khan should also be sent. If be agrees, well and good; if not - it is the emperor's country, and in the non-presence of the emperor, the prince affords a perfect claim and title. Wherever he directs his step3, crowds of helpers will join him. The kingdom is his kingdom. Not one of the nobles and rajahs of Hindustan, except they be disloyal, will act in opposition.
Thus they reported to the Shāh that if His Majesty bad planted in his heart the desire to assist the emperor of Hindustan, then one of the princes, sons of the emperor of Hind, ought to be sent for; a patent for the eastern provinces should be granted to him, and he should then be sent off in company with Jangbaz Khan. In this manner the said Khan's (Jangbäz's) scraples would be removed, and all others concerned would be re-assured.
In accordance with the chief minister's proposals, the Sbāh considered the plan and held it to be a good one. At once he wrote and sent off a letter to the emperor of Hindustan, Aziz-ud-din, *Alamgir Sāni, calling upon him to send a prince at once, without any delay. The emperor of Hindustan selected two princes; the first was named Hidayat Bakhsh, holding the title of Wala Jāh, Bahadur. He was a son of this same emperor of India. The second was Mirza Bābā by name and A'la Jāh by title, the emperor's son-in-law. They were despatched under the care of Nawab Saif-ud-daulah, the Chief Almoner (padr-18. adar). A patent for the Audh province was made out in the name of Mirzā Bābå, and for Bangalah in that of Wālā Jāh, aforesaid. The emperor affixed his own seal to these, and handed them to the princes. At the time of leave-taking he said to Nawāb Saif-ud-danlah : "I make over these two princes to you in trust. If something in the shape "my heart desires can be accomplished, my purpose is fulfilled; otherwise, these pledges, entrusted "to you, I shall demand again. See to it that they fall into no one else's bands."
The said Nawab, taking the two princes with two elephants, one riding horse for each, and a mere soldier's tent, reached our camp by forced marches. The Shāh also isaned to them patents for the provinces in accordance with those given by the emperor of Hind. The chief minister persuaded Jangbaz Khan, and the Shah added : "My son, I will not leave you to be destroyed, my band is at
"your back."
Imid-ul-mulk received an aigrette and a plame. A handsome set of robes, along with a jewelled aigrette and a feathered plame for Nawāb Ghazanfar Jang, Ahmad Khan, were made over to the Mir Şahib. At the time of leave-taking the Shāh said to the Mir şāhib: "Sayyid, wherever "I may be, if a letter from thee reaches me, whatever request you make, it shall be attended to. Set "your mind at rest."
As the weather was hot and it was the season of the spring harvest, a great deal of sickness appeared in the Shāh's army and it took one hundred ropees to purchase one sêr of tamarind,