Indian Antiquary Vol 36

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

Page 74

THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MARCH, 1907.
I mād-ul-mulk. When he had looked at it, he said: “Go to Nawāb Yahya Khân" (who had also come with 928) "and on my behalf say to him that I am mounting to go out and escort into "camp Ahmad Khān. He, too, should mount." I went, gave my message, and returned.
At this point another messenger came in to say that Nawāb Ahmad Khān must have reached a place five kos distant, and his son, Mahmud Khān, was in his company. 'Imăd-ul-mulk sent the author to Jang bāz Khän requesting him to mount and come out to act as escort. I went and said the Nawāb Wazir had sent this message. He jumped up and said: "Fulan-s-man has mounted and
is coming to me, what care I, and why should I go out to greet and escort him in." I came back and repeated his words to 'Imād-ul-mulk. He was putting on his clothes, ready to mount. He gent the author back again, telling me to say that the Mir Şahib had handed me over to him when he left, and what could he write to the Mir. I then left him. At length the said Khān also mounted. He and 'Imād-ul-mulk and Yahya Khān went out four kos to meet the new arrival, and together with him they returned to the camp.
Early next morning I mād-ul-mulk went to the tent of Ghazanfar Jang Ahmad Kbản. The two of them then mounted in one litter, and in another litter was Mahmud Khān. In this mode they went to see the princes. When they reached the entrance there was a long stoppage and both palkis were struck by men with their maces of office, so that a great uproar ensued at the entrance and it lasted for some hour and a quarter. Everybody exclaimed that this was a part of the ceremonial of sovereigns, and nobles look on it as a part of their grandeur. In fine, after an audience, robes of honour were conferred on both, that is, father and son, with a sword and horse for Mahmud Kbān.
In the afternoon Nawab Sultan Khan came to visit Gbaganfar Jang. Upon his reaching the entrance he attempted to enter, One Mushrif Khăn, the chamberlain ('ara-begt) of Ghaganfar Jang, said: "Be pleased, sir, to wait a moment until I have announced you." He went in and reported. The Nawāb remarked : “Say to Sultan Khan that he must wait twenty minutes while I put on my clothes." On hearing these words Sultan Khān was offended, and made off to his own tent.
Ghazanfar Jang remarked : " What idea had he got into his head ? Is he not aware that he " was once in my service, and to this day the descriptive roll of Najib Khan is preserved in my record-room?" The words were carried to Sultan Khān, and he ordered his advance tents to be sent out in the direction of Dihli, as next morning he meant to start for Shahjahanábūd. 'Imād-ul-mulk interviewed Ahmad Khan that evening, and said whatever the occasion called for, and gave him advice. An outward reconciliation then took place between the two nobles and they had an interview. After that Ghazanfar Jang went to Sultan Khan's quarters, and one day entertained him at a banquet.
After one week we marched from Mainpari, and all the chiefs on reaching Farrukhabad pitched their tents on the Ganges bank close to Fathgadb. Two days afterwards news was received that Nawāb Sa'dullah Khan, Rohelah, ruler of Aqwalah and Bareli, had come to an agreement with the Nawāb Shaja'-ud-daulah, and they had exchanged tarbang. Then I mad-ul-mulk proceeded to Anwalsh and prevailed on Sa'dullah Khan, Hafiz Rahmat Khān, Mulla Sardär Khan, Donde Khan, Fath Khan,sāmān, and the other leaders to march for the prince's camp.
At this time news came that 'Imād-ul-mulk had been made a prisoner by the Rohelahs of Katebr. It so chanced that on the same day 'Imad-ul-mulk reached Farrukhābād in safety. The same day at noon another report reached us that the Marbattab army had arrived within two marches of us, and on that night or next morning would be at Farrukhābād. Ghazanfar Jang brought away from Farrukhābād all the inhabitants, and conveyed them to our camp on the bank of the river. So complete was the evacuation that there was not a soul left in the city.
* The oldest son of Khan Babūdur, Zakariya Khan, a former governor of Lahor; his mother and 'Imid-ulmulk's mother wore sisters, daughters of I'timad-ud-daulah, Qamar-ud-din Khan, the Warir who was killed in 1746.