Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 266

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(SEPTEMBER, 1993
THE HISTORY OF THE NIZAM SHAH KINGS OF AHMADNAGAR. By Lieut..COLONEL WIR WOLSELEY HAIG, K.C.I.E., C.S.I., C.M.G., C.B.E.
(Continued from page 162.) CIIL-AN ACCOUNT OF THE TREACHERY OF MIRZA Khin, WHICH LED TO THE MURDER OF
HUSAIN NIZAM SHY, A GENERAL MASSACRE OF ALL THE FOREIGNERS, AND THE DOMINATION OF JAMIL KHAN, AND THE REBELLIOUS SECT OF THE MAHDavis.
As God had willed that Husain Nizâm Shah should fall, so the king's devotion to debauchery and lascivious pleasures, his neglect of his duties as king, and his passion for low company, estranged from him the hearts of the people, and as it had been decreed by fate that the conquering şahib Qiran302 should reign over the kingdom of Hindůstan and cast the shadow of his justice and clemency on the heads of the afflicted people of the Dakan, the power necessarily departed from Husain Nizam Shah, and since God had removed the glance of His kindness and compassion from the Sayyids, Maulavis, and the people of Ahmadnagar, he left them to their evil de vices until they ventured on rebellion and earned by their ill deeds severe punishment.
When the quarrel between Mirza Khân and Ankas Khan increased in intensity, Mirza Khan proposed to the Khânkhanan, who was one of his intimates, that he should cultivate the friend. ship of Ankas Khân, invite him to a banquet at his house and try to ruin his honour, in order that he might fall from the royal favour. The foolish Khân khânán acted on the suggestion of Mirza Khân, made friends with Ankas Khan, invited him one night to a feast at his house, and spent the night with him in pleasure. The next day Mirza Khan reported to Husain Nigam Shah something of what had passed the night before at the Khân khânân's house, using enigmatical language. Husain Nizam Shah, much surprised, asked the Khånkhanan what the truth of the matter was. The foolish Khân khânán preserved a silence which was equivalent to many corroborations, and the king, becoming angry, turned from them to Ankas Khan and began to reproach him. How much soever Ankas Khân tried to prove the falsehood of Mirza Khân's words, in order to free himself from the imputation which had been cast upon him, he failed to convince the king, and after this quarrel a bitter enmity sprang up between Mirza Khan and Ankas Khân and all the Foreigners, 303 and Mirza Khan and Ankas Khân began to seek to compass each other's downfall. Husain Nizam Shah, having regard to Ankas Khan's former services and to the love which he had borne him, preferred him before Mirza Khan and began to consider how he could bring about Mirza Khan's downfall. Ankas Khan bethought himself of a plan and unfolded it to the king. He proposed that he should give a banquet which the king should honour with his presence, and that a trusty band of armed men should be concealed and should spring out at a given signal and seize Mirza Khan, and thus put an end to his turbulence. On Wednesday, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 12 (March 18, A.D. 1589), Husain Nizam Shah honoured Ankas Khân by attending a banquet given at his house, and the Khankhanan, Jamshid Khan, Sayyid Murtaza and all the principal amirs and officers were there also. As Mirza Khan was approaching the house he learnt of the arrangement which had been made, and on the pretext of pains in the stomach returned home and contrived to warn the Khân khânån and Sayyid Murtaza of what was intended. Sayyid Murtard took ma'jún and foigned sickness, 304 lay down and uttered naught but sighs and groans. The Khân khânån attacked Ankas Khan with bitter words and took Sayyid Murtaza away from the assembly. When they reached the neighbourhood of the fort they sent for Mirza
303 Burhan Nizam II.
303 The author's meaning is obsouro here. He intends to say that Mirza Khan was at the head of the Foreign, and Ankas Khân at that of the Dakani, party.
304 Firishta says (ii, 390) that it was not Sayyid Murtaza, but his father, Aqá Mir Shirvani, who feignod sickness. Ma'jún was an electuary, largely composed of opium.