THIS is one of the most accurate General Histories of India which I know. It commences with the Muhammadan Emperors of India, but does not treat of them at any length till it reaches the reign of Akbar. The History of the later Empire is particularly full, and would be worth translating had it not been anticipated by the Siyaru-l Muta-akhkhirín. The author was Muhammad 'Alí Khán Ansárí, son of Hidáyatu-llah Khán, son of Shamsu-d daula Lutful-llah Khán, who enjoyed high offices under Farrukh Siyar and Muhammad Sháh. The author was himself dárogha of the Faujdárí 'Adálat of Tirhút and Hájípúr. He appears to have held much communication with the European officers of his time. The work was composed about 1800 A.D., and the history is brought down to the death of Ásafu-d daula in 1797. [This work is the principal authority relied upon by Mr. Keene in his recent work, The Fall of the Moghul Empire, and he states that the name of the book is derived from the title “Muzaffar Jang,” borne by “Nawáb Muhammad Rizá Khán, so famous in the history of Bengal.” “Some of” the author's “descendants are still living at Pánípat.”]
[The following Extracts have been translated by the Editor from a poor copy, apparently made expressly for Sir H. M. Elliot. Size 9 in. by 6, containing 1005 pages of 15 lines each. The original copy from which it was taken is described as Folio, 246 pages of 24 lines each.]
[(The account tallies exactly with that given in p. 164, Vol. VII. excepting only the following item, and that the word pargana is substituted for mahál throughout:) Subá of Thatta, 4 sarkárs, 57 parganas, 74,976,900 dáms.
The great advancement of the eunuch Jáwed, and the power he had acquired in the government of the State, gave great offence to Wazíru-l Mamálik Abú-l Mansúr Khán Safdar Jang, and led him to form a plot against the Nawáb. He first called to his side Súraj Mal Ját with his army, and then sent re-assuring and soothing messages to the Nawáb Bahádur. Having thus thrown him off his guard, Safdar Jang invited him to a banquet. Safdar Jang placed a number of his trusty men on the watch in the palace of Dárá Shukoh, and having posted two hundred men inside and outside the palace, he sat down in great state to await the arrival of his guest. * * When the Nawáb arrived, Safdar Jang advanced to receive him with ceremony and (apparent) cordiality. After the meal was over, he gave his hand to his guest, and conducted him into a private room to talk over State affairs. They had not said much before Safdar Jang assumed a tone of asperity; but before he became heated, he moved to go into his private apartments. Thereupon, 'Alí Beg Khán and some other Mughal officers came out, despatched the Nawáb with their daggers and swords, and having cut off his head, threw it outside.* The Nawáb's attendants, on beholding this, took the alarm and fled, and the idlers and vagabonds of the city fell upon his equipage and plundered it.
In the month of Sha'bán, Amíru-l umará Gházíu-d dín Khán left his son, Shahábu-d dín Muhammad Khán, as his deputy in the office of Mír Bakhshí, and proceeded towards the Dakhin, taking with him Malhár Ráo, on the promise of paying him money upon his arrival at home. He reached Aurangábád at the end of Zí-l ka'da. When intelligence of his arrival reached Haidarábád, Salábat Jang, third son of (the late) Ásaf Jáh, marched out with a great force to oppose his elder brother. Malhár Ráo, being informed of these designs, and seeing that war between the two brothers was imminent, took the opportunity of asking for Khándesh and Khánpúr, which were old dependencies of Aurangábád. He foresaw that the struggle with Salábat Jang would be severe, and he deemed it prudent to refrain from taking any part in it, because the officials of the Dakhin were in favour of the succession of Salábat Jang. No fighting had taken place between the rivals, when Amíru-l umará (Gházíu-d dín) died. His adherents, among whom was Muhammad Ibráhím Khán, uncle of the author of this work, carried his coffin to Dehlí. They also carried with them his money and valuables, exceeding a kror of rupees in amount, and delivered them over to his son Shahábu-d dín Muhammad Khán. This young man, whenever his late father was absent, had deemed it best for his interests to be constant in his attentions to Safdar Jang, and by this conduct he had gained the favour of that minister, who showed him great kindness. When the intelligence of his father's death arrived, he communicated the fact to Safdar Jang before it was generally known, and from that day the minister called him his adopted son. By the minister's influence, he was appointed Mír Bakhshí, and received the title of Amíru-l umará Gházíu-d dín Khán 'Imádu-l Mulk. * *
After the murder of Nawáb Bahádur, the Emperor (Ahmad Sháh) felt great aversion for Safdar Jang, and extended his favour to Intizámu-d daula,* who, in consequence of the regulations established by Safdar Jang inside and outside of the palace, had ceased for some time to go to the darbár. One day the Emperor observed that Safdar Jang held the great offices of díwán-i kull and wazír, and that the post of superintendent of the ghusl-khána, and of the royal arsenal, with other less offices, might be left for others. From that day great apprehension filled the mind of Safdar Jang, and he set himself either to win over Intizámu-d daula or to remove him out of the way.*
Ya'kúb Khán, son of that Haidar Khán who assassinated the Amíru-l umará Husain 'Alí Khán, went to the darbár one day, and after making his obeisance and sitting a short time, he rose quickly and asked leave to go home. Intizámu-d daula was surprised, and said, “I am going to-day to pay a visit to the wazír, but what reason is that for your asking to go away?” He replied, “There are some thousands of men armed with swords and daggers waiting there for your honour; and as soon as ever you sit down, you will be served in the same way as the Nawáb Bahádur was. Beware, and do not go there until affairs of State are settled.” The caution was not lost upon Intizámu-d daula, and he sent an excuse to the wazír. Communications about this went on for two or three days, * * and 'Imádu-l Mulk was also sent to re-assure and conciliate Intizámu-d daula. * *
(In the course of these negociations) Safdar Jang sent a eunuch to the royal fortress with a letter, * * and the commandant, who was a creature of Safdar Jang's, contrary to usage, admitted him without the royal permission. * * On this being reported to the Emperor, he was highly incensed, and ordered the commandant and the eunuch to be turned out. * * All the servants and dependents of Safdar Jang were turned out of the fortress, not one was left. * * These things greatly troubled Safdar Jang, and for two or three days there was a talk of his attacking the house of Intizámu-d daula. Large numbers of men were assembled before his gates from morning until night, and a great force of Mughals and others collected at the house of Intizámu-d daula; while many nobles gathered together at the royal abode.
Safdar Jang, seeing that his fortune had changed, sent to ask for permission to retire to his province of Oudh. The Emperor instantly sent him a letter under his own signature, granting him permission to retire some days for the benefit of his health, and to return when better. He had not expected this letter, and was greatly annoyed; but next day he took his departure, and marched away by the bank of the river. * * For two or three days after leaving the city he waited in expectation of a royal summons, and sometimes moved in one direction, sometimes in another. Inside the city, Intizámu-d daula and Gházíu-d dín Khán busied themselves in strengthening the fortifications, and in throwing up intrenchments outside. They manned them with their own men and with the “royal Játs,”* and exerted themselves to levy old soldiers and recruits. Safdar Jang saw that they were resolved to overthrow him, and so he felt compelled to prepare for battle. In order to reinforce his army, he called to his assistance Súraj Mal Ját, and also Indar Gosáin, Faujdár of Bádalí, with a strong force of followers. * *