Husain 'Alí Khán, throwing aside the veil, wrote to Nizámu-l Mulk, * * bringing complaints and charges against him. Nizámu-l Mulk in his honesty wrote clear answers to every charge; but they did not satisfy Husain 'Alí, and he wrote in plain terms to Nizámu-l Mulk, saying, that for the purpose of arranging the affairs of the Dakhin, he wished to hold the súba of Malwá himself, and that he would give Nizámu-l Mulk his choice of the súbas of Ágra, Alláhábád, Multán, or Burhánpúr.
Nizámu-l Mulk had employed the interval of eight or nine months in collecting seven or eight thousand horse and materials of war. He was cautious and watchful, and he had formed the design of conquering the Dakhin, and of setting free that land of treasure and of soldiers. He now received notice from his vakíls that the Saiyids had sent officers to summon him to the presence. But before these he had received letters from the Emperor and from private friends, telling him there was no time to be lost, and that what he had to do he must do quickly.
Nizámu-l Mulk perceived that the brothers had the fixed intention of overthrowing the royal house and removing the Khalífa of the world. Seeing that there were no other means of safety, he consulted with his friends, and setting out from Ujjain, he made three marches towards Ágra, and then turned to the Dakhin. On the 1st of Rajab he crossed the Nerbadda, where he was joined by Rustam Beg Khán, Faujdár of Bíjágarh,* also called Kahargáon. * * On the same day he crossed the Nerbadda an envoy came from 'Usmán Khán, a soldier (hazárí) of the fort of Ásír, proposing to surrender the fortress, * * and on the 16th Rajab he took possession of this important stronghold. * * He next sent Muhammad Ghiyás Khán to reduce Burhánpúr. * * * Saiyid 'Álam 'Alí Khán (the acting súbadár) sent Muhammad Anwar Khán to defend Burhánpúr; * * but this man was wanting in courage, and gave up in despair. Nizámu-l Mulk entered the town on the 17th.
Just before he got possession of Burhánpúr, the children and dependents of Saifu-d dín 'Alí Khán, brother of Husain 'Alí Khán, had come to that place on their way to Dehlí. They were greatly alarmed when Nizámu-l Mulk became master of the city. Some of his friends counselled him to seize upon their valuables, [but he refused] * * and sent an escort to guard them as far as the Nerbadda. He was joined at Burhánpúr by 'Iwaz Khán, Názim of the súba of Birár, and by troop after troop of adherents, and he remained there for some time to get his artillery in order.
Diláwar 'Alí Khán, after subjugating Búndí, under the direction of Husain 'Alí Khán, as above narrated, marched into Málwá with his army, accompanied by Rája Bhím and Rája Gaj Singh, causing great injury to the country and distress to the inhabitants.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 861.] Husain Khán Afghán was one of the proud and bold Afgháns of the sarkár of Kasúr.* For some years past he had occupied himself in rebellion and violence. He had taken possession of some prosperous districts about Kasúr and Láhore, and had raised the standard of revolt. He had several times defeated the armies of the súbadárs and the princes; and since the time that 'Abdu-s Samad Khán Diler Jang had been made Súbadár of the Panjáb, he had further overstepped the limits of a subject, had turned the officials of the jágírdárs and súbadárs out, and had seized upon the revenues in a most defiant manner. The author has heard from trustworthy persons that he received letters from the Saiyids at the head of the Government, inciting him to embarrass the súbadár, and encouraging the hope of his obtaining for himself the súbadárí of Láhore. At any rate, he grew bolder. He fought with Kutbu-d dín, the 'ámil of the súbadár, killed him, and plundered his army and treasure. With eight or nine thousand horse he then set out on a plundering expedition. 'Abdu-s Samad Khán, who had begun to raise an army, marched with seven or eight thousand men to attack him, and the armies approached the village of Jhúní, about thirty kos from Láhore. [Long and hard-contested battle.] An arrow at length struck Husain Khán, inflicting a severe wound. His elephant had no driver, and ran about in all directions—a mark for arrows and bullets from every side. Flames burst forth from the howda, the cause of which could not be discovered; but in that condition Husain Khán fell under the swords of the brave warriors with a large number of Afgháns. * * On the news of the victory reaching Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khán, much against his will, but to avoid censure, he lauded the services of 'Abdu-s Samad Khán, and gave him the title of Saifu-d Daula.
Letters from Burhánpúr reached the Court with details about the fort of Ásír. It appeared that Khusrú, a servant of Nizámu-l Mulk, had introduced himself to the soldiers of the fortress, and carried on a correspondence about its surrender. Nolens volens, the soldiers coerced Tálib Khán, the commandant appointed by the Saiyids, who was in a great state of dismay, and made him surrender the fortress to Nizámu-l Mulk, and give two years' pay to the soldiers. * * Further letters informed them that Anwar Khán, Súbadár of Burhánpúr, had joined Nizámu-l Mulk, and that Rambhá Nimbálkar,* a famous Mahratta chieftain, had also joined him, both bringing their followers. All the officials of Burhánpúr and many of the zamíndárs of the neighbourhood had taken the same course. This information greatly disturbed the Saiyids. They wrote pressing letters to Diláwar Khán and Maháráo Bhím Singh, directing them to engage Nizámu-l Mulk. Every day and every week Saiyid Husain 'Alí brought forward new plans for proceeding to the Dakhin, and he waited anxiously for letters from Diláwar Khán. Ratan Chand, seeing how matters were tending, advised a peace and the surrender of the súbas of the Dakhin to Nizámu-l Mulk, for he saw that war would end in the Saiyids' death. But Husain 'Alí would not consent to any peace with Nizámu-l Mulk.
[vol. ii. p. 867.] Mahbúb Khán, otherwise called 'Abdu-n
Nabí Kashmírí, had a long-standing enmity against the Hindús
in Kashmír. He had gathered round him many restless Mu-