Haidar Kulí Khán Bahádur, notwithstanding the information given to Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, had not been from the first a participator in the conspiracy formed for taking revenge of Husain 'Alí, but he saw that the Emperor had no power in the government of the State, and that everything was directed by Ratan Singh, and other vile infidels. The two Saiyids, the real rulers, thought themselves masters of the pen and masters of the sword in Hindústán, and as opposed to their judgment and the swords of the Bárhas, the Mughals of Írán and of Túrán were as nobodies. They did not remember that these Mughals had come a thousand or two thousand miles from their native countries, and that by their courage and sound judgment the wide realm of Hindústán, with its great kings and famous rájas, had by hard fighting been won for the Emperor Bábar. For two hundred years they had lived in the favour of the House of Tímúr, and they now felt the ignominy of seeing their Emperor without any power in his own State. Pride, courage, and honour, continually spurred this lion-hearted noble to make an end of this state of things, and to take revenge. But he waited for the day to come.
Now that it had pleased Heaven to exact vengeance, and to befriend the young inheritor of the throne, he stepped boldly forward, ready to show his loyalty and devotion in vigorous action. When the noise of contention rose high in every quarter, Sa'ádat Khán, under the direction of Haidar Kulí Khán and the orders of I'timádu-d daula, obeyed them and the dictates of his own courage. He went boldly into the inner apartment, where the Emperor had retired. He got there just at the time when the partisans of the two brothers were raging with violent designs against His Majesty. The Nawáb Kudsiya (the Emperor's mother), in her motherly love, forbad the entrance of the brave Sa'ádat Khán. Assuring the inmates against harm from their enemies, he threw a shawl over his face and went boldly in; then with the utmost devotion he took the hand of the Emperor and led him out. I'timádu-d daula mounted him on his own elephant, and sat behind him as his attendant.
On the arrival of the Emperor at the chief gate, the soldiers and guards and the amírs had gone to their own abodes, according to their custom every day. The noise of the struggle had frightened away many men well disposed and ill disposed; the royal elephants and horses and the amírs were dispersed. Muhammad Amín Khán Chín (I'timádu-d daula), Kamru-d dín Khán, forty or fifty Mughals, and some gunners, altogether amounting to a hundred or two hundred men, were all that were present to form the Emperor's retinue. Haidar Kulí Khán sent for the elephants and horses of the royal equipage, and to summon the men of the artillery. With the limited band of devoted men who were round the royal presence, and with the aid of Kamru-d dín Khán and Sa'ádat Khán, he awaited the onslaught of that raging lion of the Bárhas, 'Izzat Khán.
The noise of the strife rose high. On one side the braves
of Bárha rushed boldly into the fray; on the other the
valiant men of Írán and Túrán came from every side eager
for the fight. * * * Plunderers began to pillage the bázárs
and stores, and set fire to the tents of Husain 'Alí, but
victory inclined to the royal side. Samsámu-d daula Khán-
After His Majesty had returned, Haidar Kulí Khán sent for Muhkam Singh, promising him the royal pardon and favour, with a mansab of 6000, ultimately raised to 7000. I'timádu-d daula sent several kind messages to Ratan Chand, who, vainly hoping to save his life and honour, descended from his proud elephant and went off much frightened in a pálkí towards the royal quarters. A mob of Mughals, vagabonds of the markets, and idlers, who were as full of fury at his oppressive actions as the seeds of a pomegranate are full of blood, fell upon him, dragged him from the pálkí, beat him with sticks, punched him, kicked him, tore the clothes from his body, and stripped him stark naked. They then carried him to I'timádu-d daula, of whom he begged for protection, and that noble gave him some clothes, and ordered him to be put in a collar and in chains. Ráí Siroman Dás, a Káyat by caste, and an old agent of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, made the best use of his opportunity in the strife, shaved off his beard and whiskers, marked his forehead with ashes, and assuming the appearance of a fakír, he left his furniture to be plundered, carried off some money and valuables and hid himself for some days in the tent of his friend, until he managed to escape and join Saiyid 'Abdu-llah. * *
The corpses of Husain 'Alí Khán, 'Izzat Khán, and Núru-llah Khán, were placed in coffins covered with gold brocade, and after the funeral service was read over them they were sent to be buried at Ajmír, near the tomb of 'Abdu-llah Khán.* The common report is that Saiyid 'Abdu-llah repeatedly stated in public that no bearers were found to carry the coffins, that the covers of the coffins were stolen, and that the coffins remained lying on the ground, and were not buried. Common report says that they were eventually buried at Ajmír. * *
[vol. ii. p. 911.] The mansab of I'timádu-d daula was increased
to eight thousand and eight thousand do-aspahs. He
received a kror and fifty lacs of rupees as in'ám, and was appointed
wazír, with the addition to his titles of Wazíru-l mamálik
Zafar-Jang. Samsámu-d daula was made bakhshí, with an increase
to 7000 and 7000 horse, and the title of Amíru-l umará.
Kamru-d dín Khán was made second bakhshí and dárogha of
the ghusl-khána. He was named to other offices, and he received
an increase of 1000 with 1000 horse. Haidar Kulí Khán
received an increase to 6000 and 6000 horse, do-aspahs and yak-
Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khán was greatly distressed by the grievous news of his brother's death, and his eyes filled with tears; but he knew that there was no remedy but resignation. Thinking that there was nothing to be gained by delay, he proceeded on his journey to Dehlí. On the arrival of the mournful news, some of his friends advised him to hasten with all speed and heat (against the Emperor), before he was joined by the provincial troops, and before the forces of Husain 'Alí were won over. But Saiyid 'Abdu-llah did not approve of this course. He knew the Emperor was firmly established, while his own army was dispirited, and it was very inexpedient to march against the enemy without toras.* He thought it best to proceed to Dehlí, there to assemble soldiers and win the support of the amírs. So he went on to Dehlí.
As the news (of Husain 'Alí's death) spread, the Mewáttís and the turbulent zamíndárs rose up and gathered round Saiyid 'Abdu-llah on every side. They attacked the baggage and tents in the rear, and plundered whatever they could lay hands on. A detachment of the discouraged army was sent against them, but without success. A party of men who were with the Saiyid's tent equipage were killed along with their commanding officers. A convoy that was coming from Dehlí, with property belonging to Husain 'Alí Khán, was attacked at the saráí of Jahána, two or three kos from Saiyid 'Abdu-llah's army, and it and the property and the wives of the men all fell into the hands of the marauders.
In the jágírs belonging to Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and in those of all the Saiyids, and of the officials and collectors of the two brothers, wherever the news came, the rent-paying raiyats and the turbulent zamíndárs seized the opportunity and turned out the collectors of the jágírdárs. Before order was restored in the State, the produce of the kharíf harvest had for the most part gone into the hands of the raiyats.