Nizámu-l Mulk was anxious to carry out the duties of his office, to maintain the character of the Emperor, and to accumu­late funds, without which a sovereign falls into disrepute. But he was unable to accomplish his wishes through the interference of adversaries, who maligned him to the Emperor, and obstructed his authority as wazír. In particular, Kokí Pádsháh, a woman of great charms and intelligence, colluded with Khwája Khid-matgár Khán, who was said to be one of the Emperor's close companions, and, under the show of providing means and raising funds, they levied large sums under the name of peshkash for the Emperor and for themselves. This was a great difficulty in the wazír's way. Other associates of the Emperor made ridiculous insinuations against Nizámu-l Mulk, which the weak-minded Emperor believed. Haidar Kulí Khán, who had firmly established himself in the command of the artillery, meddled with plausible talk in revenue and civil affairs. When Nizámu-l Mulk spoke about it to the Emperor, and he, in a prudent and gentle way, prohibited Haidar Kulí Khán from pursuing that course, the Khán was offended, and asked to be sent to his súba. Leave being granted, he left a deputy at Court, and set off for Ahmadábád in the middle of Jumáda-l ákhir. On arriving there, he seized upon the jágírs of several royal servants and courtiers. When this was complained of repeatedly, an admoni­tory farmán was sent to him, prohibiting the sequestration of jágírs. But this had no effect. At length his jágírs in the neighbourhood of Dehlí were seized in compensation for those he had resumed at Ahmadábád.

Death of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah.

[Text, vol. ii. p. 941.] Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khán died on the last day of Zí-l hijja in this year (1134 A.H., 30th September, 1722 A.D.). It is said that he was poisoned. If so, it is extraordinary that I should have heard from the mouths of credible men the statement that when Muhammad Sháh started on his march against Sultán Ibráhím and Saiyid 'Abdu-llah Khán, he vowed to God, that in the event of his gaining the victory and securing his throne, he would not kill or crush the Saiyid, however great his crimes might be. Nizámu-l Mulk also strove to smooth matters for the Saiyid; for whenever in conversation the two brothers were spoken of, he praised the excellent character of Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, and expressed his belief in the Saiyid's innocence of the death of Farrukh Siyar. He contended against those who condemned the brothers, and he had forbidden men to designate them in writing as Namak ba-harám and Harám-namak. God forbid that his counsel should have been given for poison! But God knows!

In the course of this narrative, upon certain points the pen has been used to condemn the two brothers, martyrs of mis­fortune, and this cannot now be rectified; but in atonement I will now write a few words upon the excellence and beauty of character, the love of justice, and the liberality of both brothers. What has been said about them, and especially about Saiyid 'Abdu-llah, in the matter of the death of Farrukh Siyar, the acceptance of bribes, the hard dealings with farmers (sakhti ijárah), and other bad courses which became grounds of com­plaint among the people,—these were all attributable to the evil influence of Ratan Chand, his díwán, who, having been raised to a position above his capacity, laboured hard to annoy the people. He was also troubled by fortune-seekers and needy ad­venturers, whose desires he was unable to satisfy. Husain 'Alí Khán, before he was appointed to the Dakhin, was exceedingly averse to the exaction of money; but while he was in the Dakhin Muhkam Singh and other of his officials perverted his nature. But both the brothers were distinguished in their day for their generosity and leniency towards all mankind. The inhabitants of those countries which were innocent of con­tumacy and selfishness made no complaints of the rule of the Saiyids. In liberality and kindness to learned men and to the needy, and in the protection of men of merit, Husain 'Alí Khán excelled his elder brother, and was the Hátim suited to his day. Numbers owed their comfort to the cooked food and raw grain which he gave away. At the time of the scarcity at Aurangábád, he appropriated a large sum of money and a great quantity of grain to supply the wants of the poor and of widows. The reservoir at Aurangábád was begun by him, and although A'azzu-d daula 'Iwaz Khán enlarged and made higher the buildings and the mosque, still he was the originator of that extensive reservoir, which, in summer when water is scarce, relieves the sufferings of the inhabitants. In their native country of Bárha they built saráís, bridges, and other buildings for the public benefit. Saiyid 'Abdu-llah was remarkable for his patience, endurance, and wide sympathy.

Mullá 'Abdu-l Ghafúr Bhora, chief of the merchants in the port of Surat, died leaving a kror and several lacs of rupees in cash and effects. Although he left heirs, Haidar Kulí Khán, who was then mutasaddí of the port, in order to show his zeal and his desire to please the Emperor Farrukh Siyar, seized upon all the property, and made a report to Court. Just at this time the change of government occurred which has been related, and 'Abdu-l Hai, one of the sons, went to Court to complain, and he stated the case to the two brothers. He offered to pay fifteen lacs of rupees for the release of the property, besides the sums which he promised Ratan Chand and other of the officials. The port of Surat was under the jurisdiction of Husain 'Alí Khán. One morning, before the rising of the sun, he sent for Diyánat Khán, who had just been appointed díwán of the khálisá, and told him that he had gone through a sharp conflict in the night with the covetousness which the wealth of 'Abdu-l Ghafúr had excited in his heart, but that he had prevailed over his tempta­tion, and had thrown off all desire for the money. The díwán therefore was to send for 'Abdu-l Hai, and to remove all claim to the property, and to present him with a robe and a horse, without his having to spend a dám or a diram, and without having to apply to any other person. [Other anecdotes.]

The Játs.

[vol. ii. p. 944.] The tribe of Játs, under the leading of the sons of Chúráman, who was lately deceased, had strengthened and armed some forts in the neighbourhood of Ágra. The turbulence, disaffection and robberies of this vile class of men in the reigns of Aurangzeb and Farrukh Siyar have been related.* Sa'ádat Khán, Súbadár of Ágra, a man renowned for his bravery and determina­tion, although he did his best and showed great resolution, was unable to inflict any real satisfactory chastisement on them, be­cause of the density of the woods and the inaccessibility of the places to which they retired. In consequence of this, Rája Jai Singh Dhíráj was ordered on the service, with many warlike amírs of the Mughals of Írán and Túrán, and Afgháns of well-known courage. Fourteen or fifteen thousand horse were assembled under him, he had a strong force of artillery and siege materials, and he received a present of two lacs of rupees, a robe and a horse. The Rája began by clearing away the jungle, and then by fighting vigorously and pushing forward his artillery, he pressed the insurgents hard. The rebels came out of some of the forts, and taking refuge in the jungle, they made sudden attacks upon the royal forces, and large numbers were killed on both sides. In the course of a month and a half, two forts were closely invested; but by good fortune one of the nephews of the rebel— for they had a quarrel among themselves about their country— left him, and joining the rája, acted as guide. After the two forts were reduced, the rebels abandoned their chief strong­hold in the night, having set fire to the houses, blown up the powder magazine, and carried off with them all the money and valuables that were portable. They left their guns and grain, which, with the fort, were taken possession of by the royal forces. There was a strong report of there being treasure in the fort; but although great search was made, and several places were dug up, not a trace of it was found.