[THE author of this work was Fakír Khairu-d dín Alláhábádí, who also wrote the History of Jaunpúr translated by Major Pogson and the Balwant-náma, to be hereafter noticed. During the latter part of his life he resided at Jaunpúr, in the enjoyment of a pension from the British Government, which he had earned principally by the assistance which he rendered to Mr. Anderson in his negociations with the Mahrattas. He left the service of Mr. Anderson through sickness, and was afterwards in the service of one of the Imperial princes. Subsequently he retired to Lucknow, and obtained some favour from the Nawáb Sa'ádat 'Alí, whom he greatly extols, and whose high sounding titles he recites in full as “I'timádu-d daulat wau-d dín I'tizádu-l Islám wau-l Muslimín Wazíru-l mamálik 'Umdatu-l Mulk Yamínu-d daulat Názimu-l Mulk Nawáb Sa'ádat 'Alí Khán Bahádur Mubáriz Jang.” The author died about the year 1827.
The work may be considered as a History of the reigns of 'Álamgír II. and Sháh 'Álam, for although it begins with Tímúr, the lives of the Emperors before 'Álamgír are dismissed in a very summary way, and occupy altogether only 25 pages. The main portion of the work, the reign of Sháh 'Álam especially, is very full and minute, and the author shows himself particularly well acquainted with the affairs of Sindhia. The work is of considerable length, and is divided into years and many chapters. It closes soon after recounting the horrible cruelties practised on the Emperor Sháh 'Álam and his family by the infamous Ghulám Kádir, whose atrocities he describes at length, and whose conduct he denounces in the strongest language: “The greatest of all the calamities that have fallen upon Hindústán were the acts of the traitor Ghulám Kádir, which deprived the Imperial house of all its honour and dignity, and consigned himself, his relations, and his tribe, to everlasting infamy.”
A subsequent chapter describes the death of Ghulám Kádir, whose career induced the author to give his work the title of 'Ibrat-náma, “Book of Warning.” It extends to 1204 A.H. (1790 A.D.), and was written before the end of the reign of Sháh 'Álam. The history is well written, in simple intelligible language, and deserves more notice than the limits of this work will allow. Some Extracts follow, translated chiefly by the Editor, but a few passages are by munshís.
Sir H. Elliot's copy was bought at Lucknow, and is a folio 14 inches by 9, containing 500 pages of 25 lines to the page.]
['Imádu-l Mulk, after arranging the revenue and other matters (upon the accession of 'Álamgír II.), set about a reformation of the cavalry and sín dágh* system, which had fallen into a very corrupt state. He removed the Emperor from Sháh-Jahánábád to Pánípat, and then, taking away from the officials of the cavalry the lands which they held round the capital, he appointed his own officers to manage them. The chiefs of the cavalry, being hurt by the deprivation of their sources of income, and being encouraged by the Emperor and some of his councillors, were clamorous against the wazír, and sent their wakíls to him to demand their pay. The wazír directed Najíb Khán to inquire into the matter, and he set his son, Zábita Khán, to the work. * *
The soldiers, dissatisfied with their wakíls, and ready for a disturbance, sent thirty or forty of their most violent leaders to get redress for their grievances. These men, complaining and railing against their officers, went to the pavilion of the wazír, and, collecting there in a mob, raised a great tumult. The wazír heard this, and, proud of his rank and power, came fearlessly out to quell the disturbance. The rioters seized him, and began to abuse him in terms unmentionable. Numbers gathered together from every side, and the mob increased. They tore off his clothes, and in the struggle his turban even fell from his head. Then they dragged him through the streets of Pánípat to their camp. The wazír's forces, hearing of the disturbance, gathered and prepared to fight; but when they saw their master in the hands of the mutineers, they were helpless. The chiefs of the dágh went to the wazír with apologies, and brought him a turban and such garments as they could get. The wazír, seeing how frightened they were, flew into a rage, and reviled them. Meanwhile a message was brought from the Emperor to the officers, offering to make himself responsible for their pay if they would deliver over the wazír to him a prisoner, and telling them that if he escaped from their hands, they would have hard work to get their pay from him.
The passions of the mob being somewhat quieted, their chiefs thought that the best way of saving themselves was to communicate the Emperor's message to the wazír. They came humbly before him, with importunities, and brought an elephant, on which they seated him. Hasan Khán, one of the chiefs, took his seat in the howda with him, and attended him as his servant to the door of his tent. As soon as the wazír had alighted, Hasan Khán also dismounted from the elephant, and mounting a horse went off to the camp. The wazír entered his tent, and sat down. He then inquired what had become of Hasan Khán, and on being told, he went out and mounted an elephant. His own officers and soldiers were collected there, prepared to act, and waited only for directions. He gave them orders to kill every man of that riotous party, whoever he might be, and wherever they might find him; not one was to be allowed to escape with life. The Rohillas of Najíb Khán and other adherents fell upon the doomed band, and in a short space of time no trace of them was left. Many were killed, and a few with (only) a nose and two ears escaped by flight. 'Imádu-l Mulk was much hurt and troubled by the part the Emperor had taken. In a few days they returned to Dehlí, and he, leaving the Emperor under the watch of his confidants, proceeded to Láhore.]
['Imádu-l Mulk formed the design of recovering Láhore, and marched for that purpose from Dehlí with a large army, taking with him Prince 'Álí Gauhar. They went forward as if on a hunting excursion. Under the advice of Adína Beg Khán, he sent forward from Lúdhiyána a force under the command of Saiyid Jamílu-d dín Khán, which accomplished the march of forty or fifty kos in one day and night, and reached Láhore early on the following morning. The widow of Mu'ínu-l Mulk was asleep in her dwelling, and awoke to find herself a prisoner. She was carried to the camp of 'Imádu-l Mulk, who, upon her arrival, waited upon her, and begged to be excused for what he had done. Having consoled her, he kept her near himself, and gave the province of Láhore to Adína Beg Khán for a tribute of thirty lacs of rupees. Prince 'Álí Gauhar was annoyed by the complaints and reproaches of the widow of Mu'ínu-l Mulk, and tried to induce 'Imádu-l Mulk to reinstate her; but the minister paid no heed to his remonstrances, and annoyed him in every way. The widow, hurt by the treatment she had received, let loose her tongue, and in a loud voice reviled and abused the wazír. She added, “This conduct of yours will bring distress upon the realm, destruction to Sháh-Jahánábád, and disgrace to the nobles and the State. Ahmad Sháh Durrání will soon avenge this disgraceful act and punish you.”
Ahmad Sháh (Abdálí), on hearing of this daring act of 'Imádu-l Mulk, came hastily to Láhore. Adína Beg Khán, being unable to resist, fled towards Hánsí and Hissár. 'Imádu-l Mulk was frightened, and by the good offices of Prince 'Álí Gauhar, he succeeded in effecting a reconciliation with the widow of Mu'ínu-l Mulk. When Ahmad Sháh drew near to Dehlí, 'Imádu-l Mulk had no resource but submission, so he sought pardon of his offence through the mediation of the widow. With all the marks of contrition he went forth to meet the Sháh, and the widow interceding for him, he was confirmed in his rank and office, upon condition of paying a heavy tribute. On the 7th of Jumáda-l awwal, 1170 A.H. (28 Jan. 1757 A.D.), he entered the fortress of Sháh-Jahánábád, and had an interview with the Emperor 'Álamgír. He remained in the city nearly a month, plundering the inhabitants, and very few people escaped being pillaged. * *
When Ahmad Sháh demanded the tribute from 'Imádu-l
Mulk, the latter asked how it could be thought possible for him
to have such a sum of money; but he added that if a force of
Durránís and a Prince of the house of Tímúr were sent with
him, he might raise a large sum from the country of Sirhind.
The Abdálí named Prince 'Álí Gauhar, but that Prince had been
greatly pained and disgusted by the wilfulness and want of respect
shown by 'Imádu-l Mulk on their march to Láhore, so he declined.
* * 'Imádu-l Mulk, having assembled a large force, went into
Oudh, and Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula marched boldly out of Luck-