Indian Antiquary Vol 36

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

Page 75

AHMAD SHAH AND 'IMAD-UL-MULK.
67
MARCH, 1907.]
At the end of five days Sa'dullah Khan, with the chiefs named above, arrived on the further bank of the river and encamped there. They were written to and asked to cross over the Ganges and join our force. This they did, and the whole army was united near parganahs Mihrabad and Jalalabad.20 The tent of Sa'dullah Khan himself was pitched three miles (one farsakh) from us.
Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah began a march out of his own territory and arrived at parganah Sandi and there halted. Between the two armies there was a distance of nine kos. When a week had passed, he (Shuja-ud-daullah) sent his wife's brother, Nawab Salar Jang, to Nawab Sa'dullah Khan, with a message that if at this time he would espouse his cause in this great and difficult business, it would be the height of favour.
Then Nawab Shuja'-ud-dau lah one day left his camp and drew up outside of it, and gave an order that commanders should report the mustering of their troops. On that day the regiment Mim Bashi of Sadiq Beg, Mughal, was ordered to parade for inspection. Sardar Khan, the leader of five thousand Mughals, attended, but of his whole command only twenty-five horsemen put in an appearance at the muster. All the rest out of fear of the Afghans- they having of aforetime received a terrible handling from Aḥmad Khan had fled with their families from Lakhnau, and Banglah, [. e., Faizabad], some going to Benares, some to 'Azimabad, some to Allahābād and other towns. No man of the Mughal race was left. From that day the said Nawab discharged all of the Mughals. He was in a high degree anxious and perplexed.
The only course open to him seemed that Nawab Sa'dullah Khan should, in whatever way was possible, put an end to the war and invasion. Nawab Sälär Jang remained several days at Nawab Sa'dullah Khan's tent, while some settlement of the dispute was being arrived at. One day there was a general report in Shuja'-ud-daulah's army that Sälär Jang had been made a prisoner. At that time great consternation arose, especially among the men from Shahjahānābād, and the whole group of Begams was in a great state of mind. Next day they learnt that it was all a mistake.
To continue the story. With Ahmad Khan were about fifty thousand horse, old troops and recruits, as entered in the lists. The Rohelah force was even larger. Every day the princes' audience was attended by all the leaders, including Jangbaz Khan, Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Mulla Sardar Khan, Bakhshi, and Nawab Aḥmad Khan. They remained until noon and held consultations; but Sa'dullah Khan would not agree to appear.
In the end 'Imad-ul-mulk said that Sa'dullah Khan must come to the princes' audience. That Nawab paid no attention to this. Still, one day he came and was honoured by presentation to the two princes. A title was conferred upon him, viz., Shams-ud-daulah, Mubariz-al-mulk, with the grant of robes of honour and a sword. The other chiefs admitted that they were willing to obey the orders of the emperor and of the Shah; in whatever direction the princes might advance, they were ready to follow in their train and take part in the contest and battle-fray. Accordingly these assertions they supported by an oath. Sardar Khan, Bakhshi, Hafiz Rahmat Khan, and Donde Khan, went off to see Nawab Sa'dullah Khan and informed him. He said: "You may fight, I do not "forbid you; but not in the very slightest will I become ally or supporter of any man on either side."
They said he ought to remain with the army until the province of Bengal was recovered; no such opportunity would ever fall to their lot again. The said Nawab, however, refused absolutely, and repeated his former answer. Then one day a report came to Jangbaz Khan that horsemen from the army of Shuja-ud-daulah had driven off his camels while grazing. It was noon-time. As soon as he heard this, the said Khan lept from his place like a coal from a flaming fire and instantly went to see the princes, flung his turban on the ground and said: "At once 'I ride out to fight;
29 These are to the north of the Ganges, on the Audh border.