BOOK VIII. Division of Countries according to the English —Discovery of the New World—Their mode of Government, in five Chapters.—Chap. i. The Seven Climates, as described by the English; and account of the Countries of the New World, which were conquered by them, p. 1423; ii. An account of the Planets and the Stars, p. 1425; iii. The Earth—Rivers—the four divisions of the whole World, p. 1429; iv. The Countries of Europe—the Conquest of the New World—the Countries of the four Continents, and the Constitution of the European States, p. 1430; v. The possessions of the English in Europe and Hindústán, and the rules of their Government, in five Sections.—Sect. 1. The Kingdom of England, which is the original country of these people, p. 1461; 2. A description of the City of London, the seat of their Government, p. 1463; 3. The rules of their Government, p. 1465; 4. Kings of England, p. 1471; 5. Account of the East India Company, p. 1481.
[The following Extracts were apparently translated by munshís, and received revision from Sir H. M. Elliot.]
Among the former chiefs of the tribe of Játs, Bajjá Ját was pre-eminent. He was a zamíndár of mauza Sansaní, a village situated between Díg and Kumbher. He had in attendance on him a body of nearly one hundred horse, consisting of his relations. The strong fort of Thún was the place of his residence. He led a predatory life, and displayed great courage in every excursion. He died, leaving behind him three sons, named Chúráman, Badan Singh, and Rája Rám.
The first-named son succeeded him in the chiefship of the
tribe, and as his good fortune proved like waters richly fertilizing
the field of his successful career in life, he, on the occurrence of
the tumult which followed closely on the death of Aurangzeb,
revolted, and thus laid the foundation of his fortune. Muhammad
Farrukh Siyar, on ascending the throne, despatched Rája Jai
Singh Sawáí with an overpowering force to chastise Chúráman,
and as the Rája, after a siege of one year's duration, succeeded in
reducing Chúráman to the last extremity, the latter had sagacity
enough to sow the seeds of prudence in the field of good fortune.
By entering into a league with Saiyid Husain 'Alí Khán Bárha,
who was in charge of the entire administration of the affairs of
the State, and jealous of the power of Rája Jai Singh, he rescued
the store of his treasure and greatness from the shock of misfortune,
which was likely to prove as severe as that of lightning.
Rája Jai Singh was obliged to raise the siege of the fort of
Thún, and return with malicious feeling engendered in him
by the defeat of his object.*
This circumstance made Chúrá-
Rája Badan Singh, through the interest of Rája Jai Singh, became the successor of Chúráman, whose son, Muhkam Singh, forfeited the succession in consequence of his father's offence. Badan Singh, on obtaining the chiefship, built the forts of Bhartpúr and Waira. The fort of Bhartpúr was made very strong, if not impregnable. The ditch round it is so deep that even the imagination cannot pass one half of its depth. Its rampart is so wide that it can admit of the passage of several carriages at a time. Besides this, it is surrounded by forests.
It is said that Badan Singh was in the habit of swallowing every day quicksilver of the weight of a pice. He had hundreds of concubines and twenty sons. On feeling his sight defective in his latter days, and finding amongst his sons Súraj Mal to be the most sagacious and wise, he placed the reins of government in his hands, and retired from the cares of State to pass the remainder of his life in seclusion and peace, which he enjoyed up to the year 1174 A.H. (1760-1 A.D.), when he died. It is said of him that, in consequence of his numerous descendants, he used to inquire always, when any one of them came into his presence, as to who the person was.
Súraj Mal, who, during the lifetime of his father, was entrusted with the entire administration of the affairs of the State, strongly fortified the posts of Kumbher and Díg; and on his father's death, when he attained absolute power, he employed his exertions for the extension of his territory. The declining state of the Empire of Dehlí afforded him the means of making encroachments on the royal territories. In the reign of Ahmad Sháh, he was on friendly terms with Wazíru-l Mamálik Safdar Jang, and thereby placed his affairs on a firm basis. He afforded every aid and countenance to the schemes of Safdar Jang. In the year 1164 A.H. (1750-1 A.D.), when Safdar Jang directed a second time his army against Ahmad Khán Bangash, Súraj Mal acted in co-operation with him, at the head of an effective force. The war terminating in favour of Safdar Jang, Súraj Mal obtained possession of the province of Ágra, and became the master of the whole territories of Mewát, and a tract of land as far as the neighbourhood of Dehlí, yielding more than two krors of rupees. This extension of his territories exalted his dignity to the very heavens, and contributed to augment the strength of his force to nearly one hundred thousand horse and foot. His subjects were in the enjoyment of all the blessings of a good government. In the year 1170 A.H. (1756-7 A.D.), when Ahmad Sháh Abdálí was on his march to Hindústán, most of the inhabitants of Dehlí, both high and low, took shelter in the territories of Súraj Mal, who extended his protection towards them, and treated them all with the respect due to their respective ranks.
Jahán Khán, the Commander-in-Chief of the army of the Abdálí, moved at the head of an overwhelming force to capture the fort of Kumbher, and Súraj Mal proceeded in an undaunted spirit to resist him. In the year 1173 A.H. (1759-60 A.D.) Gházíu-d dín Khán Wazír, being dismayed by the approach of Ahmad Sháh Abdálí to Hindústán against the Mahrattas with whom he had entered into a league, took refuge with Súraj Mal, who received him courteously, and protected him for a time in his adversity. In this year, also, Súraj Mal took possession of the fort of Akbarábád from the Emperor of Dehlí.
When the legitimate son of 'Álamgír the Second ascended the throne of his father in the East, under the title of Sháh 'Álam, and Najíbu-d daula Rohilla assumed the management of the affairs of State, and appointed Jawán Bakht, the eldest son of Sháh 'Álam, as the heir apparent, Súraj Mal felt an ardent desire for the possession of Dehlí, and with this object he marched early in the year 1178 A.H. (1764 A.D.) with a considerable force against that place in the spirit of predominant pride. Najíbu-d daula, dreading the prowess and strength of Súraj Mal, entreated him in abject terms to make peace; but Súraj Mal refused, and prepared himself for action. After both armies were drawn up in battle array, Súraj Mal, with a small force, unfortunately advanced too far beyond his army to examine one of his batteries, and while standing between it and that of his enemy, a party which, after having been plundered by Súraj Mal's army, were returning to their camp, on recognizing him, made an attack on him and put him to death. This event brought on, in the twinkling of an eye, the discomfiture and dispersion of the immense force of Súraj Mal without a fight. A circumstance so unexpected can be ascribed to nothing else but to the decree of Providence, and victory, which is in its gift, fell to the lot of Najíbu-d daula.