Indian Antiquary Vol 52

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Stephen Meredyth Edwardes, Krishnaswami Aiyangar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 178

162
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[JUNE, 1923
Husain Nizâm Shah, in his good nature and trustfulness, reassured Mirza Khan and promised to bestow further favours on him, and when the person who had been sent to make inquiries about Miran Shah Qasim returned and reported that what Mirza Khân's detractors had said was a lie, he summoned Mirza Khân and bestowed upon him fresh honours and favours. But Mirza Khan, in order to remove the reproach that had been cast on him and to silence his slanderers, asked to be allowed to resign the office of vakil and pishva and recommended that the duties of the post should be entrusted to a commission consisting of Qasim Beg, the physician, Sayyid Mir Sharif Jilani, and Sayyid Muhammad Samnânî, and that they should dispose of all civil and revenue matters, in order that he might be de. livered from the wiles of his enemics and serve the king with a peaceful mind. Mirza Khan's proposal was approved by the king and the three persons mentioned wero summoned and appointed to perform the duties of vakil and pishvd, being invested with robes of honour on the occasion. Although these three persons were, by the royal command, appointed to perform the duties of the office of vakil and pishvd, yet they did not take up any matter without Mirza Khan's consent, and they had not sufficient power or independence to concern themselves in any matter without first consulting him.
Mirza Khin employed himself in acquiring popularity among all classes and distributed the king's bounty and favours to all, both gentle and simple, in accordance with their ranks and degrees. Thus he promoted Mir Sayyid Murtaza, the son of Mir Shîrvani, who had long been intimate with him, to the rank of amir, or rather of amir-ul-umard, and be stowed on him in jagir the province of Bir, which is the most fertile and populous of all the provinces of the Dakan. He raised Mirza Muhammad Salih, entitled Khânkhânân, above his fellows, by promoting him to the rank of an amir, and by giving to him the appointment of Sar-i-sar-s-naubal of the right wing. He also released Jamshid Khân, who had been imprisoncd since the defcat of Sayyid Murtaza Sabzavari and made him one of the chief amirs. Sayyid Hasan, the writer's brother, received the appointment of Sar-i-naubat. He conferred on Farhad Khân the African, who had beçn imprisoned and again released, the same rank and the same districts as he had before. He raised Bahadur Khân Gilânî also to the rank of arnir, and made Amin-ul-Mulk, who had long held that rank and office under Murtasa Nizâm Shâh, a vazir.
Mirza Khân thus administered the affairs of the kingdom unexceptionally and shewed gitat generosity to all. The king also having regard to the friendships of early days, promoted some of his immediate and favourite courtiers, such as Akbar Khân and Yâqật Khân, who were well known as the king's most intimate Associates, to the rank of amir, and thus raised them from the lowest to the highest rank. The king passed all his time in the pursuit of pleasure in company with these men, indulging in the satisfaction of his youthful passions and in drinking from morning to evening and from evening to morning. He would spend the nights in the bazars in company with the lowest, and in his presence nobody was more honoured than this vile gang.
Thus Mirza ân and all the rest of the Foreigners, through envying Ankas Khân's and 'Ambar Khân's access to the king, stirred them up to act against this gang, and the gang, 301 owing to the deeply implanted hatred which existed between them and the Foreigners. were ever plotting to bring about their downfall, and slandering them to the king, and the quarrel between these two factions led to such ill results that it may be said to have ruined a world, brought a whole people to execution or slaughter, and plunged a world into grief, distraction, and destruction, as will be seen.
(To be continued.) 301 The gang consisted of the young king's low companions from the bazars, who were Dakadis.