However, two or three days after this, the ungrateful Somro
surrounded Mir-cassem’s quarters with his Talingas, and asked
the arrears of his pay. As there was no money in the treasury,
there came some gold coin out of the sanctuary; and he took
it in pay. After he was gone, Mir-cassem sent him word, that
as in his present circumstances, he could not afford to keep so
many men in pay, he ought therefore to return into the steward’s
office the artillery, field-pieces, implements, and such flint locks
as belonged to it; his intention being to keep only two regiments
of Talingas. The ungrateful Somro, who had already taken
service with the Vezir, had the front to answer, “That now
both the cannon and muskets, with every thing else, belonged
to him who had them in his power.” After this answer he
quitted his post, and went to encamp amongst the Vezir’s troops.
Hardly was this affair over, when Moosher-Dgentil, (Mons.
Gentil) came to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan in the dark of the night, and
gave him the following piece of advice. This Frenchman, who
had once been dismissed from Mir-cassem-qhan’s service, was
this longwhile attached to the Vezir, but still professing a
sincere regard for Aaly-hibrahim-qhan. “To-morrow, said he, the
Vezir’s troops shall come down to seize and arrest Mir-cassem;
and a great tumult will doubtless ensue. God only knows what
will happen to you. Take then these six Frenchmen, and let
them remain with you; and rest assured that so long as they
are alive, no Indian will touch you.” Aaly-hibrahim-qhan
returned him thanks for his exemplary attachment and goodness;
but excused himself from accepting the proffered assistance,
as it would be ungenerous in him to remain secure under
the protection of his friends, whilst his master might be exposed
to imminent danger. The next morning, at about nine
o’clock, a number of troopers mounted in the Vezir’s camp, and
advanced towards Mir-cassem’s quarters. On their setting out,
Moosher-Dgentil came again, after having detached himself from
his battalion of Talingas. He was bringing a number of his men,
and he repeated the same intreaties as the night before; and
Aaly-hibrahim-qhan repeated the same excuses. The Frenchman
melted into tears, and returned to the head of his corps.
That moment the Vezir’s troops arrived, and after having surrounded
Mir-cassem’s tents, they placed a strong guard over
the apartment of the women, and another at each of the several
offices. Their Commander went to Mir-cassem’s tent, made him
mount upon an elephant sent for the purpose, took his seat
behind in the Háodah, and having commanded his cavalry to
surround him, he carried his prisoner to the Vezir’s encampment,
where he kept him in confinement in the place appointed for
that purpose. In the evening some troopers were descried coming
at full gallop towards Aaly-hibrahim-qhan’s quarters; who
being informed of it, concluded that they came for him; and he
exhorted those that were then about his tent, to provide for their
own safety, and to leave him to his own fate; he was then sick
and upon his bed. On these words, all those present thought
proper to disappear, except Mir-shetari, and Ghalub-qhan, and
Vahed-aaly-qhan (this last was his brother), who resolved to share
his fate. The horsemen being now arrived, alighted at once,
and making their horses fast, they surrounded the tent as a guard
over him, and took possession of all his effects. A couple of
hours before this event, one Burhan, an Afghan officer, a man, who
for an Afghan, seemed to have some sense and some knowledge,
came into the tent; and this man who was so far indebted to
the Qhan for his fortune as to be perpetually ringing lectures
to his other friends upon gratitude, now made his appearance;
and under pretence of being more zealous and grateful than any
of them, he told him in great secrecy, that if he had any thing to
conceal, he must do it immediately in his hands, as he was going
to be seized instantly. The Qhan, without any emotion, answered
that he had nothing of value in his possession, but two elephants
and some camels; and that he might take them, and
keep them in the best manner he could devise. That worthy
man, who had always pretended himself one of the most grateful
and most pious men in the world, took the elephants and camels,
and went away with them, and this too in so secret a place, as
to disappoint every search and every inquiry made for him subsequently.
Whilst Aaly-hibrahim-qhan was admiring the ways
of Providence in Mir-cassem’s case; and how the friends of that
unfortunate Prince had all disappeared, after having made each
of them their nest in the bosom of some of the Grandees of the
Vezir’s Court; he was informed that the Moonshy-hafyz-esrar-qhan,
who was Mir-cassem’s fovourite Secretary,*
had been
violently seized, with some other heads of office, and put under
confinement. In this extremity, some one present advised Aaly-hibrahim-qhan
to write a supplique to the Vezir, and he accordingly
wrote a short note. The Vezir was already retired within
the sanctuary; but such was the ascendant which that worthy
man had gained even there by the sweetness of his temper and
the uprightness of his behaviour (a character of his that had
come to be known even there, whilst he was carrying presents
and messages from Mir-cassem to the Princess-consort, and to
the Princess-mother); such was the regard paid him by the
women, the only guards of the gate; that on hearing of his being
sick and in confinement, they against the usual rules, carried his
note within, and put it in the Vezir’s hands. Immediately an
eunuch of the presence came out, and went to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan’s
quarters, to infrom him under an order of the Vezirs’ signing,
“that there was no intention at all to do him any harm;
that Prince only intending to put some questions to him, and
to hear his answers.” He at the same time commanded the
troopers to watch only at a distance, and to take care how they
presumed to offer any insult, or to be guilty of any want of
respect. The next morning some troopers of Shudjah-cooly-qhan’s
regiment, (an officer who bore a good character, and went
by the name of Mia-yssa,*
came down, and informed Aaly-hibrahim-qhan
that the Vezir wanted to speak to him. Aaly-hibrahim-qhan
put on a plain shirt, and a turband slightly
rolled,*
and getting into his paleky, he went to Court. But the
troopers being themselves of the scum of the people, and commanded
by men like themselves, carried him first towards Mir-cassem’s
quarters, and then to some other places, and repeated
the same trip three several times. The Qhan tired of so much
travelling, sent one of his servants to Mia-yssa, to complain of
such usage, and to inform him that he was going to Court by
order, but could not comprehend what the troopers might get by
carrying him about from place to place, as he was ready to go,
and take some rest in any place he would be carried to. This
representation had its effect, and Mia-yssa sent a person to reprimand
the troopers, with orders to bring the Qhan to him, and
to treat him with respect. The person, after reprimanding and
abusing the troopers, brought Aaly-hibrahim-qhan to the Vezir’s
hall of audience, where Beni-bahadyr and Shudjah-cooly-qhan
were sitting in a circle, with Moosher-Dgentil, and the supervisor,
Yac8b-qhan. Moosher-Dgentil, on descrying Aaly-hibrahim
qhan, got up to do him honour; and the others, ashamed to be
outdone by a foreigner, got up likewise, and made the Qhan sit
honourably amongst themselves. It was in the apartment that
served for school to Mirza-amani,*
eldest son to the Vezir.
All those present endeavoured to administer some comfort. They
took a concern in his illness, dispatched a man to the Physician,
Doctor Mahmed-aaly-qhan, and were talking of putting him
directly under a course of medicines. The Qhan excused himself
from taking any, as the day was already so much spent; but a
moment after, they carried him to the Vezir’s presence. The Secretary,
Hafyz-esrar-qhan, was already standing there, together with
the eunuch, Soheily-aaly-qhan, superintendent of Mir-cassem’s
Elephant office, with some other dependants of that prisoner’s.
The Qhan presented a nuzur of one eshreffy*
and some
rupees to the Vezir; and then took his seat, before being bid;
upon which Beni-bahadyr and those that accompanied him, took
their seats likewise. The Vezir, who that day wore a Persian
dress,*
and had in his hand a battle axe of exquisite workmanship,
fixing his eyes upon the Qhan, said, “My Lord-qhan,
what wrong had I done to your master, when on the engagement
at Patna, he gave orders to fire upon me, should I come that
way, after beating the English.*
Such an accusation
would not but confound the Qhan. He answered, “that he had
never heard of any such thing; and woe to him! added he,
who, after having come so far for protection to the Vezir, should
have had the ingratitude to give such an order, against a Prince
who had received him with so much kindness, and was actually
exposing his life for his sake against such enemies as the
English.” Such an implied denial displeased the Vezir. “What,
said that Prince, “do you believe then, that I can tell you lies?
I will send for Somro, and bring him face to face with Aaly-djah
in your presence, if you choose it.” “I have not accused
your Highness of an imposition, replied the Qhan, but only professed
my own ignorance of such a fact; and as to bringing
Somro face to face with Aaly-djah, matters are now come to
such a low ebb, that even a menial servant of his may be confronted
with him; whereas Somro is a man in office, and one
constitued in dignity.” The Vezir affected by this indirect reproach,
paused awhile, changed the discourse, and did every
thing in his power to soothe the Qhan’s mind, and to gain his
affection, whilst he at the same time went on with blaming Mir-cassem.
You are a good man, added the Vezir, but he did not
like you; probably, because, when he spoke ill of me in your
presence, you objected to his holding such a language. Your objections,
however, he did not mind; and indeed I cannot understand,
how with such a friend as you at his elbow, he did not
like you. “I know nothing of the matter, neither, replied the
Qhan, although I was endeavouring to serve him well; nor am
I conscious of having done wrong at any time, or of having
given him a wrong advice; unless indeed it should be after the
capture of Azim-abad by the English, when most of his friends
proposing his going into Decan, and his exciting the Marhattas,
to his support, I strongly objected to that scheme, and proposed
by all means his seeking an asylum in the Vezir’s dominions,
as I knew no place of more honour and safety for him than the
gate of the Vezirial palace.” The Vezir on hearing these
words seemed confounded; he fetched a sigh, dropped a tear,
and did not dare to utter a word. After a pause, he expressed
Sigular discourse
between
Aalyhibrahim-
qhan and
Shudja-ed-döulah.
again a concern for his case; and he was going on, but unable to
conceal any further his confusion, he got up and went to the
women’s apartment; when his favourites having outmarched him,
ranged themselves on both sides of the gate, and made their bow.
The Vezir having made a sign towards the Qhan, went into his
sanctuary. On this Mia-yssa and the others carried that noble
man into the Mekteb-qhana or Mirza-amani’s school, “and
told him that His Highness had from that moment taken him
into his service, as a proof of which, orders had been dispatched
for bringing back his effects, all which, horses and furniture,
had been recovered; that as a further token of his goodness,
he had ordered a tent to be pitched for him, at the very door of
his own tent of audience; but that His Highness in his turn expected
a full confession as to the persons to whom Mir-cassem
had entrusted his money; that the bankers to whom he had
entrusted his jewels at Banares, had been found out, but that
nothing had transpired about those that had received his money
in their custody; that it was therefore expected, that he, who had
been always admitted to all his secrets, would be so obliging as
to point those persons out; the more so as himself had been
entrusted with forty thousand eshreffies; and that if the assertion
should prove to be true, he (Aaly-hibrahim-qhan) was
too honest a man to deny the deposit; and if that sum had
been entrusted to another, he might easily point him out, and
by such a confidence entitle himself to the Vezir’s utmost
regard and favour.” So strange a declaration was answered
by Aaly-hibrahim-qhan in these words: “To this day no one
ever put such questions to me, or even hinted any thing of the
matter; now that His Highness requests information, I will
give him such a one, as I can afford. Nann8, the spy, for
instance, a great friend of Somro’s, and one who has ruined
so many families, knows much of these matters undoubtedly,
and must be informed of the person to whom these forty
thousand eshreffies were entrusted.” Nann8 being sent for,
was confronted with the Qhan; but before he could come up,
one of the interlocutors present, got up, and going to the gate,
sent word to the Vezir, that it was probable that much money
was going to be discovered. The others meanwhile were pressing
the Qhan, with their questions. That nobleman without
being ruffled by their obstreperousness, was answering with calmness,
“that every thing, from the cold water office to the office of
jewels, had been entrusted to Somro and to the Talingas under
his command, together with a hundred thousand eshreffies;
and all this doubtless must have been delivered to the
Vezir’s people, or it must have not.” At these words all the
eyes were turned towards Nann8, then standing; but on Nann8’s
denying the fact, and objecting, that the whole was groundless, all
eyes again were turned towards the Qhan. The latter replied, “If
you deny any credit to him whom you pretend to have been a man
of so much consequence, as to have had no secret hidden from
him, pray how can you give any confidence to, I know not what
light-headed people, whom you acknowledge yourselves as too
low, to have had any knowledge of secret transactions? And
how can you suppose that such people are capable of sticking
to truth.” Beni-bahadyr, struck with this reply, got up, and
going to the gate of the sanctuary, he transmitted it to the
Vezir, without alteration or addition. The Vezir returned this
answer: There is no disputing with a man armed cap-a-pie. The
match is unequal; nor is there argumenting with one who has
convicted the master of hardness of heart and perfidy, and the
minister of inattention and ignorance. It is a fruitless task,
and quite disgraceful. Do then dismiss him with much civility;
and let that matter alone.—The conference being ended, the
Qhan turned towards Mia-yssa, and represented, that to keep
ten or twelve unfortunate people of broken wings and ruined
fortunes confined at the entrance of a hall of audience, could
not much conduce to quiet their minds. “If your intention be
really to oblige your friend,” added he, “let me be conducted to
your own quarters.” The officer, without saying a word, went
straight to the gate, and sent in a request to have the Qhan in
his quarters, and in his custody; and the request being granted
instantly, Mya-yssa carried the Qhan to his quarters, and for a
month and-a-half together, (for he was slain soon after) he never
abated any thing from the civilities and attentions which he had
shewn to his prisoner on the very first day. He did every thing
in his power to alleviate his case, and to quiet his mind. As to
Mir-cassem, the whole of his property having been traced by
the means of the severities exercised upon his women, upon his
eunuchs, and upon his other dependants, the whole was confiscated;
and nothing remained to him, but a few jewels of high
value, which he had some time before this event, sent to Negib-ed-döulah’s
country, under the care of a trusty servant of his,
whose name deserves to be recorded. It was Sheh-mahmed-ashec;
and it was the sale of these that supported the forlorn
Prince in his days of distress. There may have been some
other small matters besides, which his women by the means of
the old ones, their attendants, may have found means to conceal;
and that is probable enough, although the enquiry had been so
rigorous; but no detail on that subject is come to our knowledge,
nor can it be traced at this distance of time with any certitude.