Rája Bhagwant*
Khíchar, Zamíndár of Gházípúr, in the district
of Kora, was the chief of the insurgents of that time. He
was a source of constant trouble to Ján-nisár Khán, who had
married the sister of Kamru-d dín Khán, the minister, and who
had charge of the district of Kora. On one occasion, when
Nawáb Sarbuland Khán, the Governor of Alláhábád, came to
Kora, Ján-nisár Khán asked him for his aid in destroying
Bhagwant. Sarbuland Khán said that it would take much time
to subdue Bhagwant, and he had no money to pay the army; but
that, if Ján-nisár Khán could provide him with this necessary, he
would punish Bhagwant. Ján-nisár Khán refused, and Sarbu-
When the charge of that district was conferred by His Majesty on Burhánu-l Mulk, he went there with a formidable army. Bhagwant, with a body of three thousand horse, sallied from the fort of Gházípúr, and suddenly appeared before the army of the Nawáb on its arrival, upon which occasion many of his followers were killed by the Nawáb's artillery. Bhagwant, avoiding the fire of the guns, fell upon the advanced division of the army, which was headed by Abú Turáb Khán. This officer was slain, and Bhagwant then attacked the Nawáb's body-guard. Mír Khudáyár Khán, with 6000 horse, advanced to oppose him, and was defeated after a severe action. The Nawáb himself thought it necessary to move to his support, and a close conflict ensued. Shaikh 'Abdu-llah of Gházípúr, Shaikh Rúhu-l Amín Khán of Bilgrám, Durjan Singh* chaudharí of Kora, Diláwar Khán, 'Azmat Khán and other Afgháns, attacked and surrounded Bhagwant, who affected to despise his enemy, but was slain by the hands of Durjan Singh chaudharí. Nawáb Burhánu-l Mulk obtained the victory, and the head* of Bhagwant was sent to Dehlí.
Be it known that heaps of paper would have to be written
were I to give an account of the battles which the deceased
Nawáb fought, or were I to attempt to describe the acts of his
generosity, patronage, and liberality. The Almighty God, by
virtue of the excellent character of that great noble, whose
rank was as high as the heavens, and who possessed the qualities
of Rizwán the doorkeeper of Paradise, has opened the gates of
prosperity to his descendants even to this very time. May the
holy God preserve the foundation of the wealth, dignity and
authority of this house to eternity, and give victory to its well-
An account of the death of Nawáb Burhánu-l Mulk, which happened at the time of the invasion of Nádir Sháh, by a disease in his legs, has been given above. After his death it was found by his accounts that his army had received two krors of rupees in advance. Nawáb Safdar Jang, his son-in-law and successor, expunged that enormous sum, and resigned all claim to it. An account of Nawáb Safdar Jang, and of his accession to the post of Wazarat in the time of Ahmad Sháh, son of Muhammad Sháh, will be given hereafter.
His ancestors have been from ancient times the Rájas of Amber. Amongst them was Rája Bhárá Mal, whose son was Rája Bhagwán Dás, and Rája Mán Singh was the eldest son of that Rája. These, in the time of the Emperor Akbar, were raised to the dignity of Amíru-l umará or generals of the army. With a view to strengthening the foundation of his government, Akbar connected himself by marriage with this family. They rendered valuable services and performed great exploits, which are narrated in the histories of Hindústán. Mahárája Jai Singh was very generous, kind, wise and brave. After his death, thirty krors of rupees were reckoned to have been given by him in charity and rewards. He performed the sacrifice of a horse according to the well-known Hindú custom.
The city of Jainagar is a monument of his greatness. After his death, Muhammad Sháh granted a khil'at to his son Rája Isrí Singh, confirming him in his hereditary dominions. This Prince, in the battle fought against Ahmad Sháh Durrání, fled from Sirhind, and went to his country as has been before related.
The descendants of Rája Jai Singh Sawáí are still in possession of their hereditary dominions, and maintain great state. As the lamp of Dehlí has been long since extinguished, and the Dakhinís (Mahrattas) have taken possession of most of the cities of Hindústán, and the Rájas of Joudhpúr, Údípúr and other Chiefs of Marwár have become weak, and pass their days as if they were nights; so also the Rájas of Jainagar pay a fixed annual tribute to the Dakhinís and enjoy a state of peace.
Zakariya Khán was for many years Governor of Láhore. He had married the daughter of Kamru-d dín Khán. He was a just, harmless and honourable nobleman, and as he found the people of Láhore to be similarly disposed, their company was very agreeable to him. In those days the bigoted Mullás of Láhore used to dispute with the Hindús on religious points, and persecuted them; but the Khán always tried to adjust their quarrels amicably.
A Mughal was enamoured of the wife of a Khattrí, and cast a longing look upon her; but the modest woman refused to receive his advances. The Mughal hit upon the expedient of making an accomplice of the wife of the washerman whom she employed, and gave her a large sum of money. The washerman's wife wrapped up a costly veil and trowsers, such as are generally worn by a Muhammadan bride, in the other clothes belonging to the Khattrí's wife, and took them to her in the evening. About the same time, the Mughal celebrated in his own house his nuptials with a slave-girl who lived with him, in the presence of some Muhammadans of his neighbourhood; and, as is done on the occasion of marriages, sweetmeats, etc., were sent in large quantities to the neighbours and friends. The next day, with a number of wicked characters, he went to the house of the Khattrí, and declared, that during the night, the Khattrí's wife had come to his house of her own free will, and having embraced the Muhammadan faith, had been married to him. The relatives of the woman were much surprised at this, and asked her what the truth was. She said that she had never seen the Mughal, who asserted, by way of proof, that the marriage clothes which she had worn last night must be in the house; and when they searched, true enough, there was found a suit of such apparel as is worn, according to Muhammadan custom, at the time of marriage.
Great were the consternation and grief of her relatives, and the poor woman in her shame resolved to die. At last, the matter was brought before the Khán, and about a hundred Muhammadans of the neighbourhood of the Mughal, who had eaten the sweetmeats, declared that on the previous night the Mughal had in reality celebrated his nuptials. The Kází of Láhore decreed that a Hindú woman, who had espoused the Muhammadan faith, and had entered into marriage with a Muhammadan, could not be allowed to apostatize again. The Khán was much surprised, and deferred his decision to the next day.