In this year a person, having assumed the name of Sábir Sháh, went to Kumáon, and represented to the Rája of that place, whose name was Debí Singh, that he was one of the princes of the house of Tímúr, and thus obtained repeated orders on the functionaries below the hills at Kásípúr and Rudarpúr, to the effect that they should give him a red tent, such as is usual for the royal family, as well as some troops to accompany him. Having carried these orders into effect, they collected no less than forty thousand Rohillas. Shaikh 'Azamatu-llah Khán, who in those days was the governor of Murádábád and Sambhal, was sent to quell the insurrection, with a body of fifteen thousand horse and twelve elephants. In a single attack he overthrew the Rohilla army. The Afgháns were dispersed, and many were put to the sword. Sábir Sháh fled towards the east, and went to Burhánu-l Mulk, who, having captured him, sent him to the Emperor, under the custody of Muríd Khán, a noble of high rank, and he was ordered to be imprisoned.
A dispute arose in the Emperor's audience chamber between Muzaffar Khán and Burhánu-l Mulk, because the latter officer, in the province of Oudh, had taken possession of the jágírs of mansabdárs. It continued many days, and at last Mír Jumla Yár Khán was appointed by the Emperor of the World to decide it. He was of opinion that Burhánu-l Mulk should resign the governorship of Oudh, and Muzaffar Khán the office of superintendent of the ordnance. The former situation, in consequence of the removal of Burhánu-l Mulk, was given to Muzaffar Khán, and Burhánu-l Mulk was to be appointed governor of Málwá. This decision was approved and confirmed, and the office of the superintendent of ordnance, which was vacated by Muzaffar Khán, was entrusted to Sá'du-d dín Khán, in whose place, Sher Afghán Khán was appointed steward of the household. Muzaffar Khán, with the intention of going to the province of Oudh, pitched his tents near Patparganj, and Burhánu-l Mulk marched towards Málwá; but when the latter reached Ágra, he at once crossed the river Jumna, and went towards Oudh. Muzaffar Jang was consequently obliged to proceed to Ajmír, as the government of that province included Nárnaul and Sámbhar.
Muhammad Khán Bangash Ghazanfar Jang, with an army of eighty thousand horse and more than a hundred elephants, proceeded to the province of Alláhábád, to fight against Rája Chatrsál. After great exertions and many actions, the fort of Jítgarh, where he resided, was taken. Chatrsál fled for refuge to the Zamíndárs of Jharna and Purna, and the whole territory came into the possession of the Khán.
Burhánu-l Mulk led an army against the fort of Cháchandí, near Sháhábád Kanauj, the chief of which was Hindú Singh, a Chandela Rájpút. He was, however, not to be subdued; but Rája Gopál Singh Bhadauria, who accompanied Burhánu-l Mulk, under the pretence of making peace, went to Hindú Singh and told him that it was not expedient to quarrel with the Emperor's nobles, that he should leave the fort for three days, and he called God to witness that, after three days, when peace would be concluded, the possession of the fort should be restored to him. Hindú Singh was deceived, and left the fort, and with his family and property pitched his tents at some distance. The third day, by the order of Burhánu-l Mulk, Rája Gopál Singh, breaking his word, took the fort and zamíndárí into his own possession. Consequently Hindú Singh, having no remedy, prepared to fight with the army of Burhánu-l Mulk, which amounted to about sixty thousand horse, but, baffled in his attempt, retreated towards the territory of Chatrsál. As a punishment for violating his promise, Rája Gopál Singh soon hastened towards his own destruction. After his death, his son, Antrat Singh, was confirmed in possession of that district.
The brother-in-law of Tahawwur Khán, named Muhammad Afzal, according to the Emperor's orders, succeeded Tahawwur Khán as his heir in the zamíndárí of Sháh Jahánpúr, and took possession of it. 'Abdu-llah Khán and Zuhúru-llah Khán, brothers of Táju-d dín Khán, who had fled away towards Shamsábád-maú, in conjunction with Mír Khurram 'Alí, a relative of the author, collected eight thousand horse of the Rohilla tribe, and advanced towards that city. Muhammad Afzal came out against him with a large body of Afgháns. A most fierce battle was fought near the city on the banks of the Garra. Muhammad Afzal was slain, and 'Abdu-llah Khán became master of the zamíndárí.
Mír Mushrif, who was one of the principal officers of the great Emperor, departed from this perishable world to the everlasting regions, and was buried in a garden which he had himself made.
Saiyid Míran, who was truly a man of great virtue and devotion, went on a Friday to the Jáma' Masjid of Dehlí, and, in order to attract attention to the wrongs of the oppressed people, prohibited the reading of the khutba, upon which, the Hazárís of the artillery, under the Emperor's orders, put him to death. From that day disturbances arose throughout the kingdom, and enemies and rebels gained more and more power every day. The Emperor greatly regretted this event, but to no purpose.
It was reported to the Emperor that the base enemy (the Mahrattas),* having crossed the Nerbadda, had attacked Giridhar Bahádur, the Governor of Málwá, and plundered his camp.
The Emperor also received intelligence in this year that Bájí
Ráo Mahratta, having collected an army of 100,000 horse, had
come to assist Rája Chatrsál, and had besieged Muhammad Khán
Bangash in Jítgarh. The time of the decadence of the Empire
had arrived, and in retaliation for shedding the innocent blood of
Saiyid Míran, no plan of repelling the enemy proved effectual.
From that time to this the power and dominion of that tribe has
daily increased. The siege of Jítgarh lasted for six months, and
within the fort one sír of flour was sold for eighty rupees. At
last, Chatrsál obliged Muhammad Khán to evacuate the fort, and
having given him back some of the horses which he had plundered
from him, allowed him to depart. In the way, the Khán met
with his son, Kaira Khán, at the head of twelve thousand horse,
and both father and son returned to their native city, Farrukh-
In this year, in the month of Sha'bán, a great tumult arose in the Jáma' Masjid, to avenge the death of a Musulmán who was slain by a Hindú of the name of Subh Karan. The Hindús were assisted by the Royal mutasaddis (or writers). On Friday, at about 3 o'clock, a great fight took place. Seventeen men were killed within the Masjid, and Sher Afghán Khán, the Emperor's steward, having received a wound, escaped by the assistance of Roshanu-d daula.
Muhammad Khán Bangash Ghazanfar Jang was appointed Governor of the province of Málwá, on condition of his chastising the enemy. When he went there, he sometimes fought with them, sometimes connived at their proceedings, and in this manner managed to prolong the period of his government.
Information was received that Muhammad Khán Ghazanfar Jang had crossed the Nerbadda, and joined Nizámu-l Mulk. He was removed from the government of Málwá, and Rája Jai Singh Sawáí was appointed in his stead.