We have already mentioned that in the engagement with Rhago-dij at the Ranie’s reservoir Shimshir-qhan had suffered him to escape; and that a little after, indices of defection and treason had appeared in the behaviour of two of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s principal Commanders, namely, the Afghans Shimshir-qhan and Serdar-qhan. Such a discovery could not but impress the Viceroy with sorrow and inquietude, especially with regard to the latter. In the sequel there appeared some further indices, and something like a concert between these two Commanders and the Marhattas. So many extraordinary proceedings of theirs which hitherto had appeared unaccountable, were now ascribed to that cause, in so much that their master had long ago ceased to repose any confidence in them. The principal of those indices appeared on the following occasion: On Rhago-dij’s arrival in the environs of M8rsh8d-abad, and even whilst he was encamped in the Birbohum, the rains were drawing to their end, and the entrance of the river Bagraty becoming fordable, the boats which used to come laden with provisions, had ceased to come directly to the city, and were Treachery of the Afghans in the Bengal army. obliged to land them at Bagvangolah, at six or seven cosses’ distance, from whence only they could be brought over a tract of land; and as the road was infested with perpetual parties of the enemy’s, the provisions could not come up, unless escorted by Commanders of character and trust. It was for these reasons that the Viceroy, who remained at Amany-gundj, on the southern side of the city, appointed the two Afghan officers to escort the provisions, and to keep the road clear of the enemy’s incursions; but this precaution did not prevent the provisions and oxen from being several times plundered and seized. So many miscarriages having raised a suspicion in the Viceroy’s mind, he appointed his own nephew, Sàyd-ahmed-qhan, to take care of the safety of the roads; and this service having been effectually performed, the former miscarriages recurred to his mind, and were attributed to a want of fidelity; and the suspicions being confirmed by subsequent proceedings of theirs, that had been hitherto doubtful, cautions were given to his most trusty Commanders to beware of them, and to be on the watch. It was conjectured now that the neglect of which those two Commanders were guilty, and the undutiful behaviour for which they had been remarkable, were fomented by connections with Rhago-dji; and even some shrewd persons affirmed that the Marhatta had gained over to his party, on one hand, Ata-ollah-qhan, on promise of bestowing upon him the Government of Azim-abad, when it should be conquered; and on the other, had attached to his interest the two Afghan Commanders by a promise of a lac of rupees in money, with the command of twelve thousand horse, if they could manage so as make away with Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, the Governor of the province; and in case the city of Azim-abad should be taken by their means, they were to have two lacs of rupees more, and the Fodjdary of Derbanga, over and above the command of the twelve thousand horse promised. Letters were passing likewise between the two parties. Others, however, were of opinion, that those two men being ambitious, and at the head of a great force, had of themselves conceived aspiring thoughts of dominion, and had applied to the Marhatta General for his support. Be it as it may, these two Commanders, either because they resigned of themselves the service, or because indices of a malevolent disposition had been perceived in their conduct, were both dismissed about the year 1159.
It was in this same year, and at the beginning of the rains, Aaly-verdy-qhan celebrates the nuptials of his two grandsons, Seradj-ed-döulah and Ecram-ed-döulah. that Aaly-verdy-qhan assembled his relations and friends of Azim-abad, to celebrate the nuptials of his favourite grandsons, Seradj-ed-döulah and Ecram-ed-döulah. Hadji-ahmed, their paternal grandfather, had for some particular reasons excused himself, and did not come to the feast; but Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan and Abdol-aaly-qhan arrived with their consorts, families, and dependants. The nuptials were celebrated with the utmost pomp and magnificence. The feast commenced by the nuptials of Ecram-ed-döulah, the younger brother. The reason was, that Ata-ollah-qhan’s daughter, the virgin that had been betrothed to Seradj-ed-döulah, had died two or three years before; and it was intended by marrying Ecram-ed-döulah first, to another daughter of that nobleman’s, to console and oblige Rabiah-begum, their mother, a Princess who was niece to Aaly-verdy-qhan, as well as consort to Ata-ollah-qhan. One thousand Qhylaats were bestowed on that occasion on the Viceroy’s relations, kinsmen, friends, favourite Commanders, and household servants; and two thousand more on occasion of Seradj-ed-döulah’s nuptials; nor was any one of those below a hundred rupees; and numbers were of a thousand, and several more above that sum. Several persons of high distinction were besides complimented with jewels according to their respective rank and station; and for a month together or more there was a continual feasting, and a continual series of entertainments at the palace of Aaly-verdy-qhan, and that of his eldest nephew and son-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, where all comers were received without exception; nor was there a family or middling or low in the city that did not partake of the festivity, by receiving several times tables of dressed victuals, called in India T8rrahs; nor did any one of those T8rrahs cost less than twenty-five rupees, and some did cost a great deal more; and thousands and thousands of such prepared T8rrahs or entertainments were sent all over the city to every Mussulman’s house. There is no describing the illuminations, feux de joyes, and the artificial fires that seemed to have set both heaven and earth in a blaze, and to have given the inhabitants of M8rsh8d-abad an idea of the Garden of Arem.* It was in this time of public and private festivity, that Sàyd-ahmed-qhan, second nephew and son-in-law to Aaly-verdy-qhan, married his own daughter to Fahr-eddin-hussëin-qhan, son to Sèif-qhan, to whom she had been betrothed; and as that young nobleman, in consequence of the Government and riches hereditary in his own family, was extremely wealthy and oppulent, and had made preparatives equal to those of Aaly-verdy-qhan himself; Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, who enjoyed high offices and dignities, and was nephew to the reigning Prince, felt himself fired with emulation in such a manner, as not to betray the least inferiority in his expense. In this manner the three nuptials were celebrated with equal magnificence and pomp. By one of those accidents that disconcert the best laid schemes of men, the virgin, three days after her being carried by the bridegroom to his home, which day is always dedicated to bathing, and is called Chöuty,* died suddenly, a death that amazed all the world, and was ascribed by many to a variety of causes, the most probable of which was then reputed to be an indigestion. Some ascribed it to the practices of one of the father’s favourite women, who took umbrage at the profusion of presents made to the bride. Be it as it will, the bridegroom who if he had acted prudently and moderately, would in all probability have been complimented with another daughter, unaccountably gave way to his suspicions and resentment, and took it into his head that they would make away with him likewise, and that the tragedy was only at its commencement. He quitted M8rsh8d-abad without taking leave from any of these illustrious Princes with whom he had come to contract an alliance, and returned to P8rniah, a precipitation by which he dishonoured his character and family, whilst he rendered himself ridiculous by such a want of decorum.
But as we have so often mentioned Ata-ollah-qhan, the reader will not object to our giving here some account of that nobleman. Ata-olla-qhan was a near relation of Car-taleb-qhan, who was himself a cousin-german of Shudjah-qhan, once Viceroy of Bengal. On Aaly-verdy-qhan’s appointment to the Government of Azim-abad, Ata-ollah-qhan had been invested with the Government of Acbur-nugur-Radjemahl, in which office he remained for a length of years, with the grade of six thousand horse, and the command of as many effectual ones; he was also decorated with the insignia of a fringed Paleky and a kettle-drum, and with the titles of Yzaz-ed-döulah-bahadyr-Sabut-djung.* But we shall soon have occasion to mention him again in this history.
After the death of that daughter of his which had been
betrothed to Seradj-ed-döulah, that young Prince was married to a
daughter of Mirza-iredj-qhan’s, a nobleman whose history is in
Some account
of Mirza-iredj-
qhan, father-in-law
to Seradj-ed-döulah
few words as follows: His grandfather, Mustapha-c8ly-qhan, was
Divan or Prime Minister to, and in high favour and trust with,
Aazem-shah, son to Aorengzib; and so long as that Prince made
his residence at Ahmed-abad, being Viceroy of G8djrat, he was
after him the principal man in that kingdom, where he enjoyed the
highest offices and dignities. That nobleman had three sons:
Acbar-c8ly-qhan, (father to this Mirza-iredj-qhan) Shah-c8ly-qhan,
and Mirza-mahmed-naky; all three, noblemen of high rank and
character, and greatly esteemed, especially the two former.
Mustapha-c8ly-qhan dying in Azem-shah’s life-time, Shah-c8ly-qhan,
to whom that Prince had bestowed the command of the
artillery some days before his giving battle to his brother, Bahadyr-shah,
was found amongst the slain; and his elder brother, Acber-c8ly-qhan,
who had been appointed Governor of Baghal-p8r, repaired
to Bengal, where mindful of the cosequences of a change
of times, he lived with honor and credit during the whole of
Feroh-syur’s reign. His son, Mirza-iredj-qhan, attached himself
to the Séyds, and in particular to Hossëin-aaly-qhan, the youngest
of the two, with whom he was united in friendship, as well as
with Ghaáiret-aaly-qhan, cousin-german to Hossëin-aaly-qhan,
with whom he always appeared with splendour at Court. On
the catastrophe that befell the two Séyds he attached himself to
the famous Ser-b8lend-qhan, whom he accompanied into G8djrat,
being in high favour with that General. He parted with him,
however, and repaired to Bengal, where Shudjah-qhan, who knew
all his family, and had a high esteem from them all, took him near
his person, and always shewed him the utmost regard. He was
in the battle which Ser-efraz-qhan gave to Aaly-verdy-qhan at
Gheriah, where he lost his son, and where he was grievously
wounded. After this, he retired to his house at M8rsh8d-abad
without ever appearing at Court; but Aaly-verdy-qhan, who knew
his merit, sent for him, took him in his service, and constantly
shewed himself his friend and patron. He was much esteemed
in that Prince’s Court, and had particular connections with him;
and as that Prince was fully apprised of the eminent character of
all his ancestors, and he knew all the lustre of his family, he
proposed to him a match between his daughter and Seradj-ed-döulah,
to which Mirza-iredj-qhan consented. After the consummation
of the marriage, the Viceroy desirous to raise his new relation
to dignities and employments, bestowed upon him some of the
best Governments in Bengal, over and above the command of a
brigade; and it was this brigade that stood in arms whilst all
was festivity in M8rsh8d-abad, on account of Seradj-ed-döulah’s
wedding; and it was to him that orders were given to keep a
watchful eye upon the quarters of the suspected Afghan Commanders.
The weddings and festivities being over, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan
and Abdol-aaly-qhan with their consorts and families,
took their leaves of the Viceroy and their noble relations, and
returned to their palaces and offices at Azim-abad. But as soon
as they were departed, the two Afghan Commanders, who figured
amongst the principal officers of the army, as being at the head
of six or seven thousand horse of their own nation, suddenly asked
and obtained leave to return to Derbanga, their native country;
and having received their arrears in full, they set out for Mongher,
from whence they crossed over in boats; and two months had
already elapsed since this departure, when Mir-aaly-ashgar-kobra,
who had been sent for by Ata-ollah-qhan on the fame of his
character, made his appearance at M8rsh8d-abad.