Indian Antiquary Vol 52

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

Page 50

38
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
( FEBRUARY, 1923
Mirza Khân, having brought the prince forth from the fort, presented to him the confede. rates who had declared for him, and when all the amirs, officers, sila! dars, and troops who had agreed to raise the prince to the throne had made their obeisance and had been assured of the increase of his bounty and favour towards them, some of them were promoted. Among these was Mir Muhammad Salih Nishâbûrî, who received the title of Khân khânån and the appointment of Sar-i-naubat.
When the news of the prince's intentions reached the city of Ahmadnagar, most of the army, who were by nature a faithless crew, forgot their obligation and disgraced themselves by for saking their lawful master and hastening to join the prince, and during the two or three days which the prince now spent in Daulatâbâd he was joined by innumerable troops.
When an enormous force had thus gathered round the prince's standard, the prince marched on Ahmadnagar. Meanwhile the king contracted dysentery and became very weak. Although Ismail Khân and'his party strove hard to enlist some help, so that they might meet the rebels in the field, their efforts were unsucessful. The dancing girls were now dispersed. Some of them hid their heads in holes and corners and others fled to all parts in fear of their lives., Ismail Khân, the head of that gang, was unable to cope with the calamity that had befallen him, and sent umbrella and aftabgirs, the special insignia of royalty, by the hand of Daud Khan, another member of the gang, to the prince, and asked for an assurance that his life would be spared, but was so overcome by terror and perplexity that, without waiting for this assurance, he fled to the prince's camp. When Dâûd Khân, who had started before Isma'il Khân, reached the prince's camp, he was slain by the turbulent mob, but Ismi'il's fate was not decided so soon, for when he arrived he was admitted to make his obeisance, and Mirza Khân, interceding for him, prevented the mob from doing him violence.
When the prince's army arrived before Ahmadnagar,899 it halted by the Kala Chabatra in order that an auspicious hour for entering the city might be chosen, and the prince's tent was pitched there. The Sayyids, maularis, and the great men and the people of the city came forth to pay their respects and offer their congratulations, and received the honour of being allowed to make their obeisance, while the chief men of the army went out to welcome the prince, and all were graciously received. The next day at sunrise the prince mounted in royal state and rode with his amirs and officers towards the citadel of Ahmadnagar to pay his respects to the king.
When the prince was admitted to the royal presence he made his obeisance, 23 and the king with paternal kindness called him to him. A number of the prince's most devoted adherents, who had from motives of caution accompanied him to the royal presence, were apprehensive of the prince's advancing to the foot of the throne, notwithstanding the great weakness of the king, but the king, perceiving their anxiety, reassured the prince, and, when he drew near embraced him and kissed his forehead, and then gave him some useful and profitable advice regarding kingcraft and the mutability of all human concerns. When the king had finished his discourse, the prince took his leave, and sent the king, owing to his great weakness, from the Baghdad palace to the bath of Haidar Khân. Then Mirza Khan and
293 On the arrival of Prince Hunin before Ahmadnagar, Firishta attempted to have tho gates of the fort shut until Şal&bat Khan should arrive; but all except Fathi Shah and her maidservant, Sabza, had dossrted the king, and there was none to carry out any orders. The prince and Mirza Khan, with thirty or forty ruffians, entered the fort and made their way to the Baghdad palace, slaying all whom they met on their way. Firishta we recognized by the prince as a school-fellow, and was protected by him -F. ii, 288. .
208 According to Firishta, the prinoe, on entering his father's presence, treated him with every conceivable indignity and, touching him with the point of his sword, threatened to run him through the body. The king replied that he was sick unto death and would not trouble his son for many days longer, and prayed that his life might be spared. The appeal touched the prince for the moment, and he domead ed himself more humanely-F. ii, 288.