The first eleven Sections contain, after the universal Eastern model, accounts of the Angels, Jinns, Prophets, Philosophers, Kings of Persia, Muhammad, his wives and battles, the Khalífs, Imáms, the 'Ummayides, the 'Abbásides, and their contemporary Kings, and the Kháns of the East and Turkistán, p. 1. Section twelfth relates to the successors of Tímúr, the Mahrattas, the Rulers of Oudh and Bengal, and the commencement of the British dominion in India, p. 334. Section thirteenth gives a description of the inhabited portion of the world, and its seven grand divisions, p. 376. Section fourteenth relates to the Hindús, the invasion of the Muhammadans, and the Royal families of India, and closes with a brief account of America, p. 391.
SIZE—4to., containing 410 pages of 27 lines each.
The capricious and puerile conduct pursued by Siráju-d daula from time to time, such as planting guns against the palace of Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán, placing Rája Dúlabh Rám under the command of Mohan Lál, and threatening Jagat Seth that he would have him circumcised, actuated the latter and several other influential persons to enter into a confederacy against the Nawáb. With the view, therefore, of overthrowing his power, Jagat Seth sent a message to the English, to the effect that, could they but agree to second the efforts of his party in attacking and overcoming Siráju-d daula, thousands of people would be rescued from his oppression and tyranny. Jagat Seth at the same time promised to present the English with the sum of three krors of rupees in the event of the successful issue of their operations. On the receipt of this message, the gallant English, on the plea of the delay on the part of the Nawáb to pay the amount of compensation due by him, prepared to take the field against him, with a body of two or three thousand troops. Siráju-d daula saw no alternative but to march from Murshidábád with his disaffected chiefs. The adverse parties met at Plassy, where the flames of war blazed on Thursday, the 5th of Shawwál, 1170 A.H. (23rd June, 1757 A.D.).
Mír Madan and Mohan Lál, advancing foremost, opened a galling fire from their guns. Just at this time a cannon-ball accidentally striking Mír Madan, he was left dead in the field of battle. This sad event altogether dispirited Siráju-d daula, who now entreated Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán and Muhammad Sádik Khán (alias Míran), in the most humiliating and abject terms, to do their utmost to preserve his life and honour, in consideration of the ties of relationship which subsisted between them, and on account of the many favours which he and his family had formerly bestowed on them. The Mír, thinking this a fair opportunity of deceiving him, and thus depriving him of his power, advised him to recall the troops in advance, especially as the day had come to a close, and to recommence hostilities on the following day.
Siráju-d daula, the victim of deceit, issued orders to Mohan Lál, who was then engaged, to desist from fighting any longer that day. Mohan Lál remonstrated, remarking that if he were to withdraw the troops from the field, it would not be possible to concentrate them again. But the unfortunate Nawáb persisting in his determination, Mohan Lál was obliged to cease fighting. Scarcely had he, however, left the field, when his troops fled, while the chiefs who were disaffected to the Nawáb looked on with indifference. Siráju-d daula, seeing that all was lost, in great agitation of mind repaired to Mansúr-ganj: here he placed Latífu-n Nissa, and several other females, on cars or litters, with such portions of precious stones and gold muhars as he thought could be safely conveyed in them. With these, and elephants laden with baggage, he quitted the place after midnight, and on arriving at Bhagwan-gola, he with his family embarked in boats, and went towards Patna.
After the retreat of Siráju-d daula, Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán remained one day at Plassy, and concluding a treaty with Colonel Clive and the other English officers, on his arrival at Mansúr-ganj, he was placed on the masnad. On his accession to power, he caused to be engraved on his seal the titles of Shujá'u-l Mulk Hisámu-d daula Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán Bahádur Mahábat Jang; and in conjunction with Rája Dúlabh Rám, he directed his attention to the settlement of the affairs of the State. He also ordered all the property of Siráju-d daula to be seized, and despatched his own son-in-law, Mír Muhammad Kásim Khán, in pursuit of Siráju-d daula.
The fugitive Nawáb had about this time arrived opposite Ráj-
Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán and his son Míran, finding the time suited to their purpose, resigned themselves to a life of ease and pleasure, and ceased to pay tribute to the King. Mír Muhammad Ja'far also ceased giving alms. On being asked the reason of it, he said that while under Mahábat Jang ('Alívardí Khán) he felt no difficulty in spending money, it was like bestowing a little water from a river; but now that he himself was in possession of the whole property, he could not spare a penny even to a friend. Mír Ja'far Khán soon after imprisoned Ghasítí Begam and Amína Begam, daughters of Mahábat Jang ('Alívardí Khán), and the wife, daughter, and mother of Siráju-d daula, and sent them to Jahángír-nagar.
The impure Míran used without the least hesitation to commit murder. He killed Khwája Hádí 'Alí Khán and Mír Kázim Khán, and blew Sadákat Muhammad Khán Zamíndár and Shaikh 'Abdu-l Waháb Kambu from the mouth of a cannon. He murdered many others, both men and women.
Míran was preparing to attack Khádim Husain Khán, nephew of Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán, who was at that time raising disturbances on the other side of 'Azímábád. Having conceived some suspicion of the two daughters of Mahábat Jang, he ordered them to be conveyed in a boat to the middle of the river, and to be there thrown overboard; in the mean time making the Begams believe that they were to go to Murshidábád. When Amína Begam and Ghasítí Begam were taken to the appointed place, they were informed of the cause of their being conveyed thither. The two sisters, after bathing and putting on clean clothes, cursed Míran, saying, “O God, we have done no harm to Míran, who, having brought ruin on our family, and deprived our brothers of their rights, is now about to put us to death. We pray that he may soon be struck dead by lightning for his cruel deeds.” Their prayer was heard; for Míran, after arriving in the vicinity of Hájípúr, attacked Khádim Husain Khán, and after defeating him, pursued him; but during the pursuit, on Thursday night, the 19th Zí-l ka'da, in the year 1173 A.H. (4th July, 1760 A.D.), while it was raining, a thunderbolt descended and struck Míran and his servant dead.
Míran's remains were buried at Rájmahál. Mír Muhammad Ja'far Khán became insane after hearing of the death of his son, and this led to great disorder in the management of the State.