Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 314

298
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
(October, 1923
Miyân Manjhů, fearing the opposition of the Foreigners, sent a messenger to Şaffdar Khân, governor of the city of Burhânâbâd, ordering him to bring all the Foreigners, whether they would or not, with all the artillery, firearms, and munitions of war belonging to the government, to the royal camp. Saffdar Khân, Habib Khân, Asad Khân, and some other Foreigners were thus compelled to march, whether they would or not, and join the camp of Miyân Manjhů, but a number of other (Foreign) officers sat at home, closed their doors to the world, and refused to join the army of Miyân Manjhů.
when Chând Bibi Sultan heard of the flight of the traitors and revolutionists, she devoted the whole of her attention to the settling of the affairs of the faith and of state and to strengthening the foundations of the realm and the monarchy and repairing the breaches caused by the recent disorders.... being.... 369 of the royal family, had been from time to time when he came to years of discretion, always scrupulously observant of the orders issued by royal authority, and firm in his obedience thereto, especially during the supremacy of Miyân Manjhû, and had always entered into engagements with Afzal Khân regarding the repelling of the enemies of the state and evolved effectual plans to this end, now that Miyan Manjhở had left the capital empty and retreated, Chând Bibi Sultân sent for Afzal Khan and Muhammad Khân and urged them to oppose Ansar Khân. As most of the chief men and nobles of the state had left the army of Miyân Manjhů, Anşår Khân, kotwal of the fortress of Ahmadnagar, becoming apprehensive of them, prepared, in pursuance of the instructions which he had received from Miyân Manjhů, to oppose them ; and as he feared Muhammad Khân, who was the chief and leader of all the Dakanis, more than any of the others he regarded his overthrow as the most important of all the steps to be taken.
On Monday, therefore, Rabi-us-sâni 23 (December 26, A.D. 1595) which day was in truth, the morning of the prosperity of the good, and the evening of the downfall of the foes of the state, having made all arrangements with his brethren and his partisans for slaying Muhammad Khan,360 he sent a man to the Khân saying that he urgently desired his presence to consult with him and carry out certain important affairs of state. Muhammad Khân, as I have heard from him, trusting entirely in God's mercy and goodness, went with a few of his sons and relatives to the fort to confer with the wretch Ansar Khân. Ansar Khân, making the excuse that the consultation must take place in private, first took the Khân to his own quarters, he having posted there a body of troops to whom he had given instructions to attack and overpower the Khân when he should give the signal. Muham. mad Khân, ignorant of the wiles of his enemies, entered the quarters with two of his sons and one other of his relatives, but Multân Khân Sayyid Hasan, Ahmad Shah and Shir Khân, although they were ranked among the partisans of Anşår Khân, secretly associated themselves with Muhammad Khin, and had already entered into an agreement with the Queen's scrvants to bring about the downfall of Anşår Khân. These men suspected the design of Angâr Khân anci were double his intentions regarding themselves. They therefore seized the door of the quarters and allowed no one of Anşâr Khan's men to enter. Ansar Khân began to ask Muhammad Khân's advice on the matter in connection with which he had called him and, in the midst of his conversation, made a sign to his brother to slay Muhammad Khân. Angâr Khan's brother laid his hand on his sword and was about to
850 These blanks in the original MS. may be filled in as follows: Muhammad Khan, son of Muhibbullah...connortion ... Muhil bulâh had been the foster brother of Murtaza Nizam Shah. -F. ii, 312.
300 According to Firishta (ii, 312) Chånd Bibi commissio ed Muhammad Khan to slay Angar Khân.