A Colony of Bal8ches had settled themselves for some time
in the Districts of Feroh-nugur, where in the reign of Mahmed-shah
an extraordinary man had appeared amongst them. This
was one Camcar-qhan, a man who had good luck enough to
acquire a character, and also influence enough to obtain the
Fodjdary of the Gurd, that is of the rounds about the Capital
and its environs. Several times he had been entrusted with the
command of Panip8t, and some other Districts, where he had found
means to bring to order and submission that whole territory, which
was full of refractory, ungovernable people; and this conduct
had drawn the applause of the Minister who in general left him
in possession of both his office and his conquests. One of his
Officers, named Bahadyr-qhan, who had raised his character
during his master’s life, had recommended himself so well to the
Minister Umad-el-mulk, as to obtain the Fodjdary of Soharen-p8r,
from whence he was re-called to his assistance, on the war
breaking out between Ahmed-shah, the Emperor of Hindostan,
and his then Vezir, Ab8l-mans8r-qhan; in which expedition he
assisted his protector so well, that he was thought worthy of the
highest dignities, being promoted to the grade of seven thousand
horse, with the insigné of the Mahi or Fish. But a peace
having been concluded, and Umad-el-mulk having come to an
agreement with Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, this Bal8ch, now a man of
great character and eminent dignity, retired to a spot at twelve
cosses distance from the Capital, where he raised a fort and a
town which he called Bahadyr-p8r, after his own name, making
it his residence, as well as that of his family; so that in process
of time it came to be known under the name of Bahadur-gur.
Meanwhile his master, Camcar-qhan, dying soon after, dissensions
arose between his children and his Commanders; of which
S8r8dj-mull, the Djatt, availed himself to fall upon the Bal8ch
Colony, and to make himself master of Revari and Feroh-nugur,
of which he kept possession. He wanted also to render himself
master of Bahadyr-gur; when the Bal8ch thinking himself an
unequal match for such an aggressor, applied to Nedjib-ed-dowlah
for assistance, and spoke vigorously on the impropriety
of neglecting his protection. The remonstrance had little effect;
and the Djatt Prince, finding from this cautious behaviour of
Nedjib-ed-dowlah that he was afraid of a war, became the more
daring, and he requested the Fodjdary of the environs of Shah-djehan-abad,
called the Fodjdary of the Gurd or Circuit, and that
of Carvar. Nedjib-ed-dowlah unwilling to see matters come to
a rupture, sent him a person of consequence, called Yac8b-qhan,
a brother of the Abdali-king’s Vezir, and who had sometimes
commanded in Shah-djehan-abad, as Governor-General. The instructions
to this envoy were to endeavour, by mild words, to
bring matters to a pacification, so as to smother the seeds of
tumult and war. The envoy had brought with him the Radja
Dilir-sing the Catri, as his associate, and two pieces of M8ltan-chintz,
of exquisite beauty*,
as a present; and these being
elegantly painted in those favourite colours of the Gentoos,
yellow and pink, proved a present exceedingly welcome to
S8r8dj-mull, who ordered their being made into a Djammah
or Gown for his person, immediately. The conference being
interrupted by this incident, Yac8b-qhan rose, and in taking his
leave, he said: “My Lord Radja, I hope you shall not resolve
upon anything, as I shall come again to-morrow.” S8r8dj-mull
answered, that if he came for a pacification only, he had
better not come at all. “By all means,” added he, “do not
come.” The negotiation ending there, Yac8b-qhan returned
with one Kerem-ollah, a faithful servant which Nedjib-ed-dowlah
had given him, and being arrived in this Minister’s presence, he
commenced discoursing on the possibility of bringing matters
to a pacification by fair words and patience. My Lord, interrupted
Kerem-ollah, “If there is the least spark of honor left in
your breast, you shall come to war immediately; there is no
other remedy, and no other party. And this is the result of
the whole embassy.” Nedjib-ed-dowlah, turning towards him,
answered: “True, and I hope to do for this uncircumcised.”
War between
Nedjib-ed-döwlah
and S8r8dj-mull.
After saying so much, he sent for his sons, Afzyl-qhan, Soltan-qhan,
and Zabetah-qhan, and ordered them to keep themselves
in readiness to cross the Djumnah to-morrow, at Rhadj-ghat; he
also directed several Commanders of his, then present, to attend
with their troops. These were Saadet-qhan, Sadyc-qhan, Man-qhan,
and Mahmed-qhan-bangash, with some others. “You must
cross over early to-morrow,” said Nedjib-ed-dowlah, “and fight
this proud uncircumcised.” And they prepared themselves
accordingly; but the distance being so small, S8r8dj-mull was
beforehand with them, and at the head of his troops, he had
already crossed the little river Heniden, and commenced intrenching
himself on its banks over against the ford of the Djumnah.
Nedjib-ed-dowlah, prevented by this manœuvre, advanced by the
Gandj or Mart of Shah-dera, of which he took possession; but
which he left behind him, as a good post to secure his rear. After
which he ordered Afzol-qhan, his eldest son, to charge at the
head of his vanguard, and the engagement commenced directly.
S8r8dj-mull had placed apart from his army a body of ten thousand
of those horse mounted and disciplined after his own
method, and anxious to determine on what part of the enemy
they should fall first, he quitted their ranks, and advancing between
the two armies, with a small number of friends, of which
Kelim-ollah-qhan, son to Yahya-qhan, his Monshy or Secretary,
was one, he was galloping up and down, to examine the field of
battle, and to make his choice, after which he stopped awhile
to make his considerations. Whilst he was thus standing, there
passed by him some of Afzol-qhan’s troopers, who having been
beaten by Mansaram the Djatt, who commanded S8r8dj-mull’s
vanguard, were flying by troops one after another. The few
people that were with S8r8dj-mull, represented the impropriety
of his remaining so near the enemy with only a few friends
about his person; and Kelim-ollah-qhan, with Mirza-sëif-ollah,
respectfully insisted on his returning. He paid no attention to
what they said, and seemed intent only on considering the enemy’s
motions. They both renewed their instances, and he gave
no answer; but sending for another horse, he mounted, and stood
in the same place. Whilst he was mounting, it happened that
Sëyd Mahmed-qhan, Bal8ch, better known under the name of
Sëyd8, was just flying close by him with about forty or fifty
troopers; when one of these turning about recollected S8r8dj-mull’s
features, and advancing to Sëyd8, he cried, That the man
he was seeing there alone with a few men, was no other than
S8r8dj-mull himself. “I know him well,” said the man; “shall
we miss such an opportunity? If we do, we shall never see
it again.” Sëyd8 hearing these words, turned about and fell
upon S8r8dj-mull; and one of his men, singling the Djatt Prince,
smote him with his sabre, and cut off one of his arms, which by-the-bye
was maimed and actually entangled. Whilst the arm
was falling off, two other men rushed together upon him and
S8r8dj-mull
slain in a singular
manner.
soon dispatched him, as well as Mirza-sëif-ollah and Radja Amur-sing,
and two or three more. The few remaining, put spurs to
their horses, and fled towards their own people. But one of
Sëyd8’s troopers taking up the severed arm, fixed it on the spear
of a standard, and carried it to Nedjib-ed-dowlah. The latter
could not believe it to be S8r8dj-mull’s, and continued doubting
of it for two whole days together. But it was past doubt in the
Djatt army, which had retreated with still a formidable countenance.
The second day Nedjib-ed-dowlah having received a
visit from Yac8b-qhan, shewed him the arm, and the latter at
once affirmed it to be S8r8dj-mull’s, not only from the maimed
appearance, but also from the sleeve which was on it, and which
happened to be of that very Calico of M8ltan which S8r8dj-mull
had put on in his presence. After this the death was ascertained,
and it became public. This death is an event the more extraordinary,
as it had always been observed of S8r8dj-mull, that in
all his battles he never exposed his person to unnecessary danger,
but reserved himself in some eminent spot, from whence he was
issuing his orders, often boasting that battles were to be gained
by art and conduct much more than by courage and forwardness.
But at this time, however, probably because fate had
overtaken him, he seemed to have forgotten this caution, and he
remained almost alone in that dangerous spot, where at last he
was cut down, and where, by his death, he relinquished to Nedjib-ed-döwlah
a victory which no one had expected.
He was succeeded by Djevaher-mull, the eldest and most capable of his sons, but who, listening only to sentiments of Dissensions in his family. pride and resentment, quitted the highroad of discernment and common sense by which his father had always distinguished the favorable moment, and sent for a body of Marhattas whom he took into his pay. After which, he besieged the Citadel of Shah-djehan-abad, to which Nedjib-ed-döwlah had retired. The siege lasted forty or fifty days, when the young man, tired of such a tedious work, proposed an accommodation through the mediation of Radja Dilir-sing, and the Marhatta General, Malhar, who agreed that they should give the meeting to each other in the Plain of Qhyzur-abad, where in fact they had an interview, and where the war and troubles were brought to an end. After this treaty, Djevaher-mull took into his pay Somro the Franghi, or European, the same, who after having been raised from an abject state to honours and to power by his master, Mir-cassem-qhan, forgot the high obligations he was under to him, and betrayed him into Shudjah-ed-döwlah’s hands, by which he effectually ruined his benefactor and his whole family. Nor did he prove more faithful to his new master; he gave him the slip, and carried away thousands of flint muskets, many field-pieces, and a quantity of artillery, all which had been Mir-cassem-qhan’s property. From that day he became independent. It was this man whom Djeavher-mull took into his service. Proud of this junction, and finding himself at the head of vast treasures as well as a numerous army, he attacked Radja Djehi-sing-seväi, successor to Maha-radja Dehiraj, and besieged him in Djehi-nugur. But there at last he met with what he deserved for his perpetual encroachments, and quarrelsome disposition; for although he had the advantage of an army disciplined by his father, and a good artillery served by Somro, he was shamefully beaten by the Radjp8ts, and obliged to return with his full measure of shame and loss. But no sooner was he arrived in his own country, than he put to death a number of persons that had been for years together in his father’s service, and some of them in his favour. After all these executions he put one Häider, a Chopdar of his own, at the head of his affairs and of his army; a measure that lost him the hearts of his troops, and shocked his Commanders to such a degree, that one of them resolved to fall upon him and to put him to death. The man having found a favourable moment, killed him upon his very Mesned. He was succeeded by Räo Ratan-chund, one of S8r8dj-mull’s sons. This Prince happening to be impotent, desired nothing so much as virile powers, and on that account he listened to the suggestions of a certain Bäyraghi, or Attit-fakyr, who pretending himself skilled in Alchemy, obtained from his credulity several sums of money. When the impostor saw himself pressed for the remedy in question, he found no other way of extricating himself than that of killing his patient. Under pretence, therefore, of wanting to be alone with him in a retired place, he fell upon the Prince and killed him; and after such an execution he was making the best of his way out of the Palace, when he was stopped and put to death in his turn. Räo Ratan-chund was succeeded by his brother, Nevol-sing; but a younger brother of his, by name Rendjit, having gained the favour of one Hansïa*, one of his father’s concubines, took possession of the Fortress of Dig, and of all the treasures and stores hoarded up there; by which revolution so many new dissensions and troubles arose in the country, that the principality seemed dismembered; and that formidable power, raised with so much policy and valour by his father, was entirely stripped of its energy, and reduced to its original insignificancy.
Good character of Nedjib-ed-döwlah.