In the reign of the Emperor Akber* Calla­pehar*, an aumeer from the time of Baber*, who was a brave soldier, and reputed to have the power of working miracles, invaded Orissa, by the road of Jarkhend, at the head of twelve thousand cavalry. The reigning prince of the country, at that time, was rajah Muckunt Deo*, whose custom it was to hold his court for six months, and spend the rest of the year in sleep. During the latter time, whoever presumed to disturb him when asleep, was sure to be put to death. When the rajah heard of the approach of Callapehar, he built the fort of Barahbatty*, and there shut himself up, and slept according to custom. Callapehar having defeated his armies, subdued all the country, and took prisoner the Rannee* his wife, with a great booty. He then besieged Barahbatty, but no one yet dared to awaken the rajah. At last some of his servants thought of the expedient of making the hautbois perform an air, which roused him from his lethargy, and informed him of his situation; but all opposition was now in vain, and he fell like grass before the edge of the conqueror’s sword. From that time Orissa was annexed to the empire, and received into the pale of Islamism.

The following miraculous powers are attributed to Callapehar. As far as the beat of his drum could be heard, the ears and feet of the idols fell off; and it is pretended they are now in that condition, although, to blind Hindoos, they appear perfect, and are still worshipped by them*.

Mirza Mohammed Said*, Hajee’s second son, who was naib foujdar of Gorahghaut, and Rungpoor, on the part of Sirafraz Khan, relying on their support, desolated those fine districts by his oppressions. He obtained forces from Shuja Khan, and employed them against the rajahs of Coatch Bahar and Dinajepoor*, who confiding in their riches and strength, wanted to make themselves independent. Moham­med Said, partly by force, and partly by arti­fice, for which his whole family were so pecu­liarly famous, got possession of those countries, together with the immense treasures which the rajahs and their ancestors had amassed. On account of his conquest of Coatch Bahar, as well as to please his father, Shuja Khan gave him the titles of Khan, and Bahadre.

When Moorshed Khuly Khan obtained the naib soobahdary of Orissa, Shuja Khan gave the government of Jehangeernagur to Sirafraz Khan, who sent thither, as his deputy, Ghaleb Aly Khan*, a syed of the imperial family of Persia; and Jesswunt Roy*, who had been moonshy to Jaffer Khan, was appointed his dewan, to have the actual management of all affairs; and in order to please his sister Nefeeseh Begum, the office of darogha of the nowareh was given to Morad Aly Khan, the son of the late Syed Rezee Khan, and who had married a daughter of Sirafraz Khan. Rajbullub* was at that time a mohurrir in that department. Jess­wunt Roy, upon his arrival at Jehangeernagur, was invested with the sole management of the reve­nues, and every other department. He had been educated under Jaffer Khan, whose example he emulated in piety, integrity, and indefatigable attention to business; and in making his arange­ments for the benefit of the government, studied to render them conducive to the general ease and happiness of the people. He abolished the odious monopolies which had been introduced by Moorshed Kuly Khan, and Meer Hubeeb, and also the impositions they had laid upon grain. When Shayisteh Khan took his leave of Jehangeernagur, to return to Dehly, he shut up the west gate, and wrote over it an execra­tion, against any future governor who should presume to open it, till he had reduced the price of grain to a dumree* a seer. The gate had con­tinued shut to this time, when Jesswunt Roy having made the requisite reduction in the price of grain, had it opened. The rich province of Jehangeernagur, by the prudent administration of a system of sound policy and humanity, was cultivated in every part, and resembled a gar­den in the season of spring. Jesswunt Roy was universally famous for his justice; and his wise administration gained great credit to his patrons Shuja Khan, and Sirafraz Khan. Some time afterwards, when Morad Aly Khan, son in law to Sirafraz Khan, was appointed to succeed Gha­leb Aly Khan, as naib of Jehangeernagur, he made Rajbullub the peishkar of the nowareh, and began his government with many acts of oppression. Jesswunt Roy was so much disgusted at his conduct, that he applied for leave to quit his office; and upon his resignation, the new government gave a loose to their rapacity and violence, till they reduced the country to its former state of poverty and desolation.

Budy ul Zeman*, a zemindar of Bhirbhoom, having entirely thrown off the yoke, whereby the government was deprived of the revenues of 1,400,000 beegahs of cultivated land, Sirafraz Khan, who had the charge of that district, sent thither, by the way of Burdwan, a large force, under the command of Meer Sherefed­deen*, and Kojeh Bussunt*, an eunuch of his seraglio. Upon their approach, the rajah thought it prudent to submit, and throw­ing himself upon their protection, accompanied them to Moorshedabad, where, after wait­ing upon Sirafraz Khan, he was brought before Shuja Khan, and obtained pardon, upon engaging to pay the Emperor a tribute of three lacks of rupees annually. Keerut Singh*, zemindar of Burdwan, became security for the performance of his engagements, when he was permitted to return to Bhirbhoom.

Shuja Khan, according to the custom of Sul­tans and great Omrahs, gave orders, during his life time, for erecting a mosque and his mauso­leum. They were accordingly built in Deh­pareh, on the banks of the Bhagrutty, opposite to Moorshedabad.

Whilst Nadir Shah* was at Dehly, and just after the death of Khandowran*, Shuja Khan took to his death bed. He sent to Orissa Yahia Khan*, and Doordaneh Begum*, the son and wife of Moorshed Kuly Khan. He then appointed Sirafraz Khan his heir, upon condition that he would regard the Hajee, the Royroyan, and Juggut Seat, as the repre­sentatives of his father, and implicitly follow their advice in all affairs of moment. Although Sirafraz Khan had no cordiality towards these men, yet for fear of offending his father in his last moments, he promised to obey his com mands. Shuja Khan then formally delivered over to him the government, and after bestow­ing some presents upon his favourite servants, paid the debt of nature. Sirafraz Khan ordered his body to be interred in the mausoleum at Dehpareh.