CHAPTER III.
MIÁN DÍN MUHAMMAD AND MÍAN YÁR MUHAMMAD.
On the death of Mián Nasír Muhammad, he was
Mián Dín Muhammad son
of Nasír Muhammad,
succeeded by his son Mián Dín Muhammad.
As he began to grow in
importance and power, the landholders
and governors of the neighbourhood rose against him,
Mír Panwhár, whose chief town Fatehpur had been taken
possession of by the Siráís, went with a complaint to the
Emperor of Dehlí*
and brought an order for Mírzá Khán
Piní†
directing him to fight with the Siráís. This chief
tried his best repeatedly to subdue the enemy but was each
time repulsed. The Emperor therefore sent Amír Shekh
Jahán to set matters right. Guided by Mír Panwhár,
Shekh Jahán attacked the Fakírs or the followers of the
Mián. Feróz Wírar proceeded from Derah Kulí to meet
him, and made a sudden nocturnal attack on the Amír’s
army at the village of Kharelah,‡
to the general confusion
of the latter. He was soon after joined by the army
despatched from Khárí and the two armies of Fakírs
totally defeated the Amír’s forces. Alahyár Khán, the
governor of Bakhar fled, but being succoured by Kambar
Khán Bróhí returned and fell upon the Siráís all of a
sudden, causing them great loss. However, when the
Siráís moved again under Mírán Sháh to meet him, he
made peace with them and went away.
After a short time the Panwhárs again began to make
Fighting of the Kalhórahs
with the Panwhárs and the
Afgháns.
a head against the Fakírs, and the
Siráís of Márakpur¶
marched against
them and completely defeated them,
bringing a large tract of country into their possession.
The Panwhárs, being now subjugated, submitted to the
Siráís and began to lead a quiet life in subordination
to them.
There still remained some disagreement with the
Afgháns of Piní, the governor of Siwí and Shikárpur.
For a short period there was fighting between them and the
Siráís, till the Emperor’s son, prince Muhammad Muizzuddín,*
hearing of the death of Shekh Jahán and of the
defeat of Alahyár Khán came down to Sind from Láhór.
Learning of the prince’s approach, Mián Dín Muhammad
sent his youngest brother Mír Muhammad with Kásim and
Khamal to Bakhar, in order to welcome him and win him
over on his side. They succeeded in doing so and the prince
much pleased with the Mián, returned towards Láhór.
About that time Maksúdah, the elder brother of
Fighting of the Kalhórahs
with the imperial
army and the capture of
Mián Dín Muhammad.
Bahár Sháh, who was a foolish and
vain person, believing that the prince
had gone away without knowing how
brave the natives of the place were
and wishing to give him a proof of his bravery, took some
troops with him and attacked and plundered Máthelah
and slaughtered a number of people at Uch. When the
prince heard of this rude and arrogant behaviour of the
Mián’s men, he became very angry and returned with the
imperial army and laid waste Khárí and its dependent
villages. Mián Dín Muhammad could do nothing in
opposition to him and thought it prudent to remain quiet.
When however the prince passed on to Siwístán,†
where he
halted for about 6 months, the Mián went over and
submitted to him. A strong imperial detachment, was
then sent to bring up his dependents, but the Siráís
would not easily give in. A pitched battle was faught at
Khór near the stream of Gáj, where both the sides
showed great bravery. The Emperor was represented by
Rájah Kájsing Bhattí and Súríjmal of Udhepur, and the
Siráís were commanded by the Mián’s brother Yár
Muhammad, assisted by Tájah, Jádah and Bakhtár Fakírs
of the Óthwál tribe. Blood flowed in streams. Every
one of these heroes was killed, together with a large
number of people. The Mughul force was ultimately
defeated, and the prince had no alternative but to return
with Mián Dín Muhammad as his captive. The latter
spent the remainder of his life at Multán.
Meanwhile Dín Muhammad’s brother Mián Yár Muhammad
Mián Yár Muhammad goes
to Kalát.
went to Kalát where at first
the Bróhís of the place fought severe
battles with him, but after all peace
was made between them and they allowed Mián Yár
Muhammad to live among them on his giving his two
sons Mír Muhammad and Muhammad Khán as hostages
for keeping the peace. This event occurred in the year
1111 A.H. (1699 A.D.).
During the next two years, Yár Muhammad led an
unsettled life in Kalát and the Siráís were mostly quiet
and secluded. After that period, however, that is, in
1113 A.H. (1701 A.D.) when Rájah Fakír and other
Siráí chiefs joined him, Yár Muhammad took a solemn
promise from them to abide by his commands, and taking
Altás Khán Bróhí with an army to assist him, marched
to his hereditary country.
Passing Zaidí and travelling along the lake Manchhar,
Miáu Yár Muhammad invades
Sind and recaptures
the chief places.
he came to the villages of Sanóh and
Nenak in the tálukah of Hatrí.
Then marching further, he first took
Sámtání from Kaisar Panwhár and encamped at Káhah.
From there, he sent on his brother Mír Muhammad with
some Siráí chiefs, who conquered the country up to
Márakpur and Gáhí Jamshed, and retook the fort of
Fatehpur. Soon, they were joined by Mián Yár Muhammad
himself. Altás Bróhí now seeing that the Siráís were
sufficiently strong and did not much require his services,
withdrew to his native place.
The number of the Siráís now went on increasing, as
Shikárpur fixed as the
central city under the name
of Khudábád.
different parties, who had dispersed
some time before, returned and joined
their comrades. They took possession
of Kacherah*
and came to Shikárpur the chief city
of the Panwhárs. They called it Khudábád and fixed it
as their camp. From this centre, parties were sent in
different directions, till, they recovered Khárí and Kadiárah†
and dispossessed Malak Alah Baksh brother to
Bakhtáwar Khán of Ládkánah.
Seeing no other help at hand Bakhtáwar Khán hastened
to prince Muhammad Muizzuddín at Multán and asked
his help in the matter. But the prince could not be
induced by his entreaties to take his side. Unfortunately
about the same time the prince resolved to go to Bakhtáwar
Khán’s territory, but the latter, fearing some bad
result tried to dissuade the prince. This step, however,
only irritated the prince who, after some fighting, defeated
and killed Bakhtáwar Khán.
Meanwhile the envoys of the Siráís were working at the
Siwí given to Mián Yár
Muhammad by Prince
Muizzuddín.
prince’s court to win him over. Soon
the prince came and stopped at
Bakhar, and entrusted Siwí, vacated
by Bakhtáwar Khán, to Ghází Khán Dódáí. As that
chief was found unable to manage the affairs of that part
of the country, the prince removed Ghází Khán and gave
the charge to Malak Alah Baksh, brother to the deceased
Bakhtáwar Khán. The charge next fell into the hands of
Islám Khán and Káím Khán Nahárs successively, but as
none of them governed the hilly country satisfactorily,
the prince gave it over to the agents of Mián Yár
Muhammad and directed that the Mián should appear
before him to receive the honour personally.
Accordingly Mián Yár Muhammad proceeded to meet
Mián Yár Muhammad
appointed as the imperial
agent, with the title of
“Khudáyár Khán.”
the prince and at Darbelah the charge
of Siwí was formally given to him
by the prince’s envoy Khwájah Husain
Khán, with the title of “Khudáyár
Khán.” Thenceforth, Mián Yár Muhammad became
one of the imperial agents or governors.
After giving charge of Khánpúr to Mír Amínuddín
Mír Shahdád Tálpur distinguishes
himself in fighting
at Derah Ghází Khán
for the Emperor.
Khán, of Shikárpur to Sanjar Khán,
Mubárak Khán and Hót Khán Dáúdpótáhs,
and of Siwistán to Ghulam
Muhammad Sukhání, the prince left
Bakhar for Multán and thence to the Deráhs*
to settle
the affair of Sháh Muhammad, son of Ghází Khan. In
the fighting that ensued with that chief, Mir Shahdád
Tálpur Balóch who had been sent by the prince in
command, distinguished himself greatly for his bravery and
skill, as he settled the whole affair to the entire satisfaction
of the prince, who raised his position and conferred more
favours upon him. The land of Pat Bárán was given as a
jágír to the Mír.
After these events Mián Yár Muhammad’s two sons
The Pinís and Dáúdpótahs
revolt but are punished.
Núr Muhammad and Muhammad
Khán, who had been so long in Kalát,
came to Khudábád. Siwí was first
left in charge of Mír Muhammad, Yár Muhammad’s
brother, and then in that of Muhammad Dáúd Khán.
During their time, Rahím Khán Pránk and Daolat Khán
Piní raised the standard of revolt, but they were promptly
punished.
For a short time, the Dáúdpótahs also fought with the
Siráís for supremacy, but they were so much crushed that
they completely gave in and thenceforth permanently
remained subordinate to them.
All the above events took place during the first 9 years
Mián Yár Muhammad gets
Jhól, Rópáh and other
places.
of Mián Yár Muhammad’s rule. The
next 9 years were spent in peace and
enjoyment, except for the war with
Jhók*
in which too the Mián was successful. And for
these services, part of Jhól and several villages in
Shamáwátí and Cháchikán were ceded to him as a jágír.
After Nawáb Shákir Khán’s departure the Mián also got
the parganah of Rópáh on a farming contract.†
In short, after a successful rule of 18 years, Mián Yár
Muhammad died on Monday or Tuesday the 15th of
Zíkaad 1131 A.H. (1718 A.D.).
CHAPTER IV.
THE RULE OF MIÁN NÚR MUHAMMAD IN SIND.
Mián Núr Muhammad succeeded his father with the
Mián Núr Muhammad or
Nawáb Khudáyár Khán.
title of “Khudáyár Khán.” For the
first three years his younger brother
Dáúd Khán would not submit to him
and tried to oppose him, but ultimately yielded and paid
allegiance to him.
In the 4th year of his rule, i.e. 1135 (1722 A.D.) the
He fights with the Dáúdpótahs.
Dáúdpótahs revolted and took certain
aggressive measures. They fought
with Mullá Jiand Abrah, who was
the Mián’s agent in charge of certain villages in the
parganah of Jatóí of the tálukah of Bakhar. They
further trespassed on the parganahs of Shikárpur, Khánpur
and other villages, that formed the jágír of Mír Abdul-wasía
Khán and would not give any explanation to the
said Khán. Mián Núr Muhammad therefore, sent
Thariah, one of his confidential men, to the Emperor*
requesting that under the circumstances the jágír might
be conferred on him in his own name, and at the same
time marched against the Dáúdpótahs. After some hard
fought battles he besieged them in the fort of Shikárpur
and compelled them to submit. At last that division of
the country was divided into four parts or shares, two
shares being given to the original owner of the jágír, one
to the Dáúdpótahs and one being retained by the Mián
himself, who after taking some hostages, returned to his
capital.
The Dáúdpótahs did not long remain quiet. Again and
again they gave trouble, but were as often defeated and
dispersed, till in 1139 A.H. (1726 A.D.) Mián Núr
Muhammad Khudáyár Khán fixed his residence at Shikárpur
and sent his army to extirpate them finally. The
army pressed them hard in the fort of Dablí, but through
the intercession of some Sayyeds they were pardoned and
swore solemnly never to revolt again.
The result of all this was that the land of Nahárs, that
The Dáúdpótahs completely
subjugated.
had lately fallen into the hands of
the Dáúdpótahs, came back into the
owner’s possession, and the Dáúdpótahs
were scattered in confusion over certain parganahs
of Multán, e. g. Pahlí, the territory of Imámuddín Jóyah
and Faríd Khán Lakhwírah, Náin, Baháwalpur, the territory
of Hánas Sammah, Patan of Bábá Faríd and the
country near the settlements of the Afgháns. Within
two years, however, they were reduced to straitened
circumstances and were obliged to seek service under the
Mián who gave them suitable pensions and places in the
tálukah of Bakhar, which had only recently come into
the hands of the Siráís.
Similarly Shekh Hamíd and Shekh Usmán Rónkahs,
noteworthy zamíndárs of the suburbs of Multán, emigrated
to Bakhar and entered the service of the Mián.
In the year 1142 A.H. (1729 A.D.) Murád Kalerí,
Certain chiefs of the
country near Siwí brought
into subjection.
known as Ganjah, was appointed as
an agent in charge of Siwí, and
brought into subjection powerful
chiefs like Kaisar Khán Magsí, the zamíndár of Ganjábah,*
Mírú Kódrí Rind, the chief of Shóran, descendants
of Guhrám Láshárí, the chief of Siwí, Miró Buldí, the
chief of Kachhí, Mahyán Erí and Lahná Máchhí, big land
owners of Bhág Nárí, Kálá Khán and other chiefs of the
tribe of Bázóí, the owners of Dhádar and other Balóch
zamíndárs of Kóhistán, and Bahár Khán Amrání the
chief of Kanganí.
Mián Núr Muhammad now commenced hostilities with
Hostilities with Mír Abdulláh
the Khán of Kalát.
the Khán of Kalát, who was a Bróhí
and who proudly called himself
“the royal Eagle of Kóhistán” In
1143 A.H. (1730 A.D.) he marched and took the fort of
Kartah from Mubárak Khán, after a severe blockade and
fight, in which Ismáíl Khán Bróhí was defeated and
Kákar Bróhí was killed. After these events Mír Abdulláh
Khán, the Khán of Kalát thought it expedient to
conclude peace with the Mián, which was ratified by his
giving two daughters in marriage to the two sons of
Mián.
Unfortunately, in 1144 A.H. (1731 A.D.) a force of
Bróhís, in open contravention of the terms of the peace,
invaded the land of Káchhah and plundered that part of
the country. To punish them for this, Mián Núr Muhammad
himself marched out and encamped at Ládkanah.
From there he despatched some brave chiefs to fight with
Mír Abdulláh Khán. At Jandehar, where Mír Abdulláh
Khán had arrived in advance, a pitched battle was fought
which ended in the complete overthrow of the Bróhís and
the death of their ruler.
In 1145 A.H. (1732 A.D.) the Mián’s son Muhammad
Marriage connections between
the Kalhórah and
Bróhí chiefs.
Murádyáb Khán went to Khiár and
Wankár with a few selected chiefs
and celebrated his marriage with a
daughter of Murádalí Khán, a cousin of Mír Abdulláh
Khán; and in the next year his other son Khudádád Khán
also married a daughter of a kinsman of his. Thus the
connection between the Siráís and the Bróhís became
stronger and closer by these marriages.
Then arose the rumours of Nádir Sháh’s coming, and
Siwistán and Tattá secured
by Mián Núr Muhammad.
Mián Núr Muhammad began to send
envoys to him to prepare the way
for their friendship. In 1149 A.H.
(1736 A.D.) the division of Bakhar was completely secured
by the Siráís, Siwístán or Sehwán having already been
brought into their possession. Next year 1150 A.H.
(1737 A.D.) Tattá was obtained from the Emperor of
Dehlí, and Shekh Ghulám Muhammad was deputed to
have charge of it.*
That same year, Nadir Sháh*
having conquered Kandhár
The Mián’s son Muhammad
Murádyáb defeats the
invading armies of Dhárájah
and Kakrálah at Tattá.
determined to pass through Sind
on his way to Hind, and intimated
the same to the ruler of Sind.
Accordingly Mián Núr Muhammad
went to Ládkánah in order to keep a firm possession of
that division, and sent his son Muhammad Murádyáb to
Tattá, where he arrived at the close of Zíkaad of
1151 A.H. (1738 A.D.). Ráná Ajmal, the ruler of
Dhárájah and the Jám of Kakrálah rose to oppose him.
They brought down ships from the sea to the river
and commenced war both by land and by water. The
ships came as far as Khát and from there up to Nasarpur.
They commenced fighting and plundering on both the
sides of the river. But as the guns were soon placed
along the banks and fired by the Siráís, the enemy were
driven back and pursued till they were compelled to
submit.
Soon after this, Nádir’s approach spread confusion
Nádir Sháh’s invasion and
Mián Nur Muhammad’s
flight to Umarkót where he
is taken prisoner.
throughout the country. In the
beginning of Shawwál of 1152 A.H.
(1739 A. D) Muhammad Murádyáb
Khán left Tattá and joined his father,
who fled to Umarkót for shelter, having sent away his
heavy baggage to Talhár. Early one morning, before
Mián Núr Muhammad left the fort, as he had determined
to do, all of a sudden, Nádir Sháh appeared at the gate.
The Mián had no alternative but to surrender, having tied
his own hands like an offender. The king carried him
with his camp and came to Ládkánah.
Accepting a gratification of one million of rupees
Mián Núr Muhammad
confirmed as a ruler by
Nádir with the title of Sháh
Kulí Khán.
Nádir returned from there to Tattá.
He confirmed the Mián in his own
country, with the title of “Sháh Kulí
Khán” and departed with the Mián’s
two sons Muhammad Murádyáb and Ghulám Sháh as
hostages. At the same time he left Siwí in the hands of
the Afgháns and Shikárpur in those of the Dáúdpótahs as
used to be the case some years back.
On the 11th of Muharram 1153 A.H. (1740 A. D.)
Nádir’s envoys at Tattá.
Sultán Sámtiah appointed
as the Mián’s agent at the
place.
Nádir Sháh left Ládkánah, and about
the close of Zíkaad, his generals
Sálih Khán Bayát and Sháhwerdikhán
Karat, who with some other officers
at the head of several columns had spread themselves
from Umarkót over the whole of Sind, came to Tattá,
having brought with them, Shekh Shukrulláh and Mastí
Khán Jóyah from the town of Agham, about 3 kos from
Tattá. From Tattá they proceeded with the above prisoners
under Nádir’s orders to join his camp. At the same time,
a number of noblemen and chiefs of the city accompanied
Áká Muhammad Karím Isfahání to pay respects to the
king. The king received them kindly and sent them back
with suitable presents and appointments. Áká Muhammad
Karím was appointed as an envoy for the people of
the place, and Sultán Sámtiah was posted as agent or
administrator of Tattá, on behalf of Mián Núr Muhammad,
Shah Kulí Khán.
In 1154 A.II. (1741 A.D.) the tribe of Shórah, who
Chiefs of Shórah and
other tribes defeated and
punished by the Mián.
during the period of anarchy consequent
on Nádir’s arrival, had shaken
off the Mián’s yoke, began to assemble
at Kand, Manání Aresar and Khír in the tálukah of
Chákar Hálah, under the command of Húnd son of
Shórah, and to display great audacity. Mián Núr
Muhammad marched against them and without much
trouble completely extirpated them. He next punished
Tamáchí, Tógháchí, Tharú, Silah, Káhah and Ású Súmrah,
the chiefs of parganah Wangah in the tálukah of
Cháchikán, as they would not pay the fixed tribute.
In 1155 A.H. (1742 A.D.) Muzaffar Alí Khán Bayát,
Beglarbegí, who had gone to bring some ships that had
been ordered by Nadír Sháh to be built for him at the
port of Súrat, came to Tattá from Karáchi port, Nawab
Sháh Kulí Khán (Mián Núr Muhammad) came to receive
him at Tattá, where they spent about two months and a
half together, after which period Muzaffar Alí took his
departure.
In 1156 A.H. Tahmásb Kulí Khán, the chief of Jaláir
Fresh anarchy in Sind in
consequence of Tahmásb
Kulí Khán’s coming.
had been sent by Nádir Sháh to
punish the Dáúdpótáhs. Mián Núr
Muhammad thought it expedient to
remain quiet and not take any part in the affair. Consequently
anarchy broke out anew in Sind, during which
Sultán Sámtiah, the administrator of Tattá and Shekh
Shukrulláh were called away by the Mián and the charge
of the place given to Razábeg the king’s envoy and
another noble by name Fázilbeg. These two thought it
proper to conclude a treaty of peace with the Ráná of
Dhárájah and Sájan Ramah, the Hindú chiefs of neighbouring
states. But when subsequently the Mián received
Tahmásb Kulí Khán, who departed with the Mián’s third
son Atur Khán as a hostage, Sultán Sámtiah and Shekh
Shukrulláh were again sent to take up the administration
of Tattá.
In 1157 A.H. (1744 A.D.) Shekh Shukrulláh defeated
Fighting with certain
Hindú chiefs.
Jám Hothí, the chief of Kakrálah
and killed him, and placed Jám
Máhar in his place. The next year
the Mían himself proceeded to attack the fort of Kánjí,
and took it. As the Hindús of Kachhí had, after the
conquest of Kánji, come to Badín and other neighbouring
places, the Mián determined to punish them. In 1158 A.H.
Bahár Sháh and other Fakírs, who had been deputed for
the purpose, completely overpowered them. Sultán Sámtiah,
being now dead, was buried on the Maklí hill and
his place given to his son Masú Fakír.
In 1160 A.H. (1747 A.D.) at the instigation of the
Fighting with the Ráná
of Dhárájah who is killed
treacherously.
Ráná of Dhárájah some hundreds of
hill tribes invaded the town of Tattá.
Masú Fakír, Shekh Shukrulláh and
Búlah Khán Naomardiah Jakhrah,*
advanced to meet
them. As the hill people had been sacrilegious enough
to pass through graveyards without respect for the tombs
or the spirits of the dead, they were completely routed on
the third day, though on the other side there were
comparatively few persons. Getting this news, the Mián’s
son Muhammad Khudádád Khán came to Tattá with a
large army. Masú Fakír was removed from the charge
of Tattá and Biláwal Fakír Náij was appointed in his
place, who immediately marched against the Ráná’s fort.
The Ráná betook himself across the river and left the
place to some of his men to defend. But they could not
stand against such an overwhelming force. The fort fell
into the hands of the Mián’s son, who returned victorious
to his father. Shortly after this Shekh Shukrulláh caused
the Ráná to be killed by Bijár Jókhiah, who treacherously
secured his presence to discuss terms of peace.
In 1161 A.H. (1748 A D.) Ahmad Sháh Dúrání, who
The Mián receives the
title of Sháhnawáz Khán
and his sons return from
Persia.
settled the boundaries of Nádir Sháh’s
share of the country with the
Emperor of Dehlí, and secured it for
himself,*
confirmed Mián Núr Muhammad
as the ruler of Sind, giving him the new title of
“Sháhna wáz Khán.” In the next year, the Mián’s sons
Ghulám Sháh and Atur Khán, who had been taken away
as hostages, returned from Persia. In 1163 A.H.
(1750, A.D.) Gul Muhammad Khurásání became the
Miáns agent at Tattá. In the same year news was
received of the Miáns third son Murádyáb Khán’s arrival
at Muscat and the death of Shekh Ghulám Muhammad,
who had been in his company. Accordingly Shukrulláh
Khán was ordered to proceed immediately to bring the
young nobleman home.
In 1164 A.H. (1751 A.D.) ships left for the port of
Muscat, but Shekh Shukrulláh died soon after. In due
course of time Muhammad Murádyáb Khán arrived and
was received with great affection by his father, who entrusted
him with the entire management of the financial
business of the state, and appointed Khudábád to be his head
quarters. Sháhnawáz Khán, who used to be at Khudábád,
came to reside at the new built town of Muhammadábád.
Khudádád Khán, who during the absence of his
elder brother, had put on the turban of an heir-apparent,
had now to resign that honourable position to the rightful
owner Murádváb Khán. Being much chagrined and
mortified at this, he left his native land and went to
Hindustán. But Muhammad Murádyáb Khán soon
proved a failure as a financial manager and so that office
was taken back from him.
In the beginning of 1166 A.H. (1753 A.D.) it was
The king comes to Sind
and Diwán Gidúmal is sent
as an envoy to him.
rumoured that Sardár Jahán Khán
was coming to Sind. And about the
close of the year a different rumour
was circulated to the effect that the king himself was
coming in order to pass on to Hindustán.*
On the 4th
of Muharram 1168 A.H (1755 A.D.) information was
received that the king had moved from Muhammadàbád
to the sand-hills. Diwán Gidúmal was therefore sent in
a hurry as an envoy to meet him at his camp and assure
him of the Mián’s loyalty and faithfulness, and if possible
to induce him to turn back without marching further by
the route. The Diwán met the king’s camp at the bridge
of Sakhar.†
As the king was angry and out of humour,
the Diwán could not get an audience for 3 days. At last
the king encamped at Naoshahrah. Here Diwán Gidúmal
was fortunate enough to secure the king’s audience and
to conciliate him.‡
It was about this time, on the 12th of Saffar of the
Death of Mián Núr Muhammad
and the election of
his son Murádyáb Khán.
same year 1168 A.H. (1755 A.D.)
that the ruler of Sind Mián Núr
Muhammad died of quinsy or the
inflammation of the throat in the vicinity of Jesalmer.§
The nobles of the state lost no time in electing the late
ruler’s eldest son Muhammad Murádyáb Khán to the
throne. That young nobleman, fearing lest he might be
again given away as a hostage, had left his father on the
way and betaken himself in a different direction, from
which he had to be brought to fill the vacant throne.
This ceremony of enthronement took place on 16th, i.e. 4
days after the late Mián’s death.
CHAPTER V.
THE RULE OF MIÁN MUHAMMAD MURÁDYÁB KHÁN.
On receiving the news of Mián Núr Muhammad’s
Different agents appointed
by the king’s orders.
death, the king, who had again been
influenced by the slanders of some
malicious people of his court, named
Ismáíl Khán Piní to be his agent in Sind, and the latter
had already proceeded as far as Muhammadábád, and had
sent off a few men under Sayyed Sháh Muhammad to
Tattá, and others towards the sandy desert, where they
pillaged the villages of Thár and Hingórjah. Soon after
the arrival of lsmáíl Khán’s men, one Sálih Khán came
to Tattá on behalf of the late administrator Gul Muhammad
Khán Khurásání to collect the revenue demands.
But just before that the king’s ambassador Muhammad
Beg Shámalí had come to Tattá and appointed Áká
Muhammad Sálih as the agent in charge of Tattá and
taking some nobles of the place had started for the royal
camp. Sálih Khán’s men would not allow Áká Muhammad
Sálih to carry on the State duties. When Muhammad
Beg Shámlú, who on receiving orders to that effect had
sent back the nobles, arrived at the camp, he was blamed
for not making a good selection for the collection of
revenue at Tattá. A fresh order was therefore issued
appointing Kází Muhammad Mahfúz to the post. Again
the nobles were required to pay respects to the king at
his camp.
While the Kázi’s eldest son was quarrelling with Sálih
Muhammad Murádyáb
Khán appointed to be the
ruler with the title of Nawáb
Sarbuland Khan.
Khán as to who should collect the
revenue and other Government dues,
information was received that the
king had appointed Muhammad
Murádyáb Khán to be the ruler of Sind with the title of
“Nawáb Sarbuland Khán.” It would appear that all
this time the late Mián’s envoy Díwán Gidúmal had been
at work in the court of the king and had now succeeded
in securing the king’s good will, as the chiefs and nobles
had paid allegiance to the king and Muhammad Atur
Khán had been given up as a hostage. So the nobles
went direct to Umarkót to meet their new ruler, who on
receiving the honour now marched to his capital. Shekh
Zafarulláh was appointed to be the administrator of Tattá
and once more there was peace and order at that place.
Díwán Gidúmal had joined Muhammad Murádyáb
The reception of the
Mián at Nasarpúr.
Khán in the vicinity of Umarkót and
had given him the order of rulership
and the robe of honour, which he had
brought from the king. The plain near Nasarpúr was
adorned with tents and flags to be the first camp of the
new ruler on his return to his country. The Mián
encamped at the place and spent several days there,
founding a new town at the place, calling it Murádábád
after his name.
About the close of the year he determined to settle the
The Mián marches against
the Jám of Kakrálah and
defeats him.
affair of the Jám of Kakrálah. He
marched against him and defeated
him after several battles. The Jám
was removed from Kódáriah and confined at Kakrálah,
his head-quarters. The land of Óchtah, Lanjárf, Mirán
and Kachah was taken into his own possession by the
Mián, who fixed upon the last named place to be the
chief centre of stores, and strengthened each of the above
places with a fort.
For the next two years the Mián ruled the country
The Mián’s rupture with
his nobles, who conspire
against him.
quietly and satisfactorily, but in the
fourth year of his reign, symptoms
of misrule and confusion began to
appear, as he altogether changed his behaviour and commenced
ill-treating the Siraí chiefs and oppressing his
subjects. Having been much annoyed and hard pressed
owing to the pecuniary demands of the king, Mián Muhammad
Múrad determined to retire after sweeping his
country clean of whatever he could lay his hands upon.
With that object in view he had already commenced
sending up his treasures to the port of Mascat. About
the close of the year he thought of starting from his
capital and while passing through the territory of the Jám
of Kakrálah, of laying waste to it and plundering it. He
therefore proposed to send a large army to that State.
The Siraí chiefs, who on the occasion of the last treaty,
had sworn on the Korán not to make any breach of the
terms, opposed him, and refused to join him in the undertaking.
They withdrew, and combining together promised
to espouse the cause of Mián Ghulám Sháh and to put him
on the throne.
Mustering strong among themselves on the night
Muhammad Murád
dethroned and Mián Ghulám
Sháh elected.
preceding 13th Zí-Hajj, 1170 A.H.
(1757 A. D.) the Sirái nobles beseiged
the Mián’s residence and took him
and his favourite chiefs prisoners. The next morning his
brother Mián Ghulám Sháh was placed on the throne.
He tried his best to please the nobility as well as the
common people, who had been much oppressed by Muhammad
Murád.*
Soon after the Áshúrah (the 10th of Muharram) of the
The town of Alahábád
founded, and the revolt of
Muhammad Murád’s brother
Ahmadyár Khán.
new year, that accursed town was
surrounded by the floods of the river,
so that Mián Ghulám Sháh deserted
it and built another city near his
father’s Muhammadábád and called it Alahábád. All the
chiefs and nobles recognized him as their ruler and paid
homage to him, except Ahmadyár Khán, brother by the
same mother to Muhammad Murádyáb, who was then at
Khudábád, and Maksúdah Fakír, son of Bahár Sháh, who
at first left his father’s side with the intention of adhering
to Mián Ghulám Sháh’s cause, and subsequently came
and entered the Mián’s service, apparently to avoid unpleasant
results.
Meanwhile Atur Khán, who was a hostage with the
The Mián’s other brother
Atur Khán appointed as
ruler by the royal decree.
king, represented his case in person
very strongly and succeeded in
having the order of rulership passed
in his own name. Hearing this, Ahmadyár Khán began
to collect forces. The Siraí chiefs now repented of what
they had done and knowing that Atur Khán had been
duly appointed as a ruler by royal decree, thought it
prudent to submit to him. Mián Ghulám Sháh therefore
had no other alternative but to move with his whole
army to the sandy desert on 25th of Saffar of the same
year. After he had travelled a few stages, Maksúdah
Fakír having received letters from Atur Khán to that
effect, set Muhammad Murádyáb at liberty, and deserting
Miáu Ghulám Sháh’s cause, and taking some Siraí chiefs
with him started to meet the newly appointed ruler, while
Mián Ghulám Sháh with Rájah Líkhí, a few other
friendly chiefs and a selected band of soldiers hastened
away to a distance.
CHAPTER VI.
THE RULE OF MIÁN MUHAMMAD ATUR KHÁN.
Finding the country vacant, Muhammad Atur Khán
General feelings against
Muhammad Atur Khán.
had no difficulty in entering it.
Ahmad Yár Khán considered it expedient
to move towards Naoshahrah
and fix his residence there. In the beginning of Rabíussání,
Muhammad Murádyáb also arrived to join his brother.
In fact he and the Siraí chiefs entertained hopes that
Atur Khán had taken all that trouble and secured the
rulership for him, being his elder brother. But Atur
Khán was too ambitious for that. Without even meeting
his brother, he ordered him to be taken and settled at
Khudábád. Although this conduct of his, increased bad
feelings in the minds of the nobility towards him, still
since he had been appointed by the royal decree, they
could only submit to him ostensibly. The officers began
to hate him; the revenue began to fail; the king’s
demands for tribute and other government dues began to
increase. All these things combined to make the new
ruler disgusted with the country, whilst the people, being
much oppressed by him, began to curse him and wish for
his dethronement.
Meanwhile Mián Ghulám Sháh passing some time in the
Mián Ghulám Sháh
marches against Atur Khán
and defeats him at Lóhrí.
State of Udhepúr, returned to Baháwalpur,
where he spent 3 months.
Being encouraged by the state of
things in Sind, he left his son Muhammad Sarafráz Khán
with his baggage and dependents at Baháwalpur and himself
started for Sind, about the middle of Ramazán.
Muhammad Atur Khán hearing of his approach proceeded
to meet his adversary. On the last day of Ramazán, he
arrived at Lóhrí*
and fixed his camp on the bank of
Umarkas, just outside the town. Here Mián Ghulám
Sháh came with his selected band to measure arms with
him. After some fighting at a distance with guns and
arrows, he crossed the water and came to close quarters
with the enemy. A hard fight took place which ended
in the defeat of the ruler of Sind. Atur Khán, Ahmad
Yár Khán and Maksúdah were put to flight disgracefully,
and the whole army with all its baggage came into the
possession of Mián Ghulám Sháh. That day and the next,
which was the Ramazán Íd, or holiday, he celebrated his
victory, and then taking the Siráí chiefs with him, he
came from Lóhrí to Siwistán or Sehwán.†
As during this short period Muhammad Murádyáb Khán
Mián Ghulám Sháh comes
to Siwistán and thence to
Alahábad and Muhammadábád.
had died, Mián Ghulám Sháh tried
his best to conciliate the minds of
that deceased ex-ruler’s followers.
About the close of Shawwál 1171
A. H. (1758 A. D.) he returned to Alahábád, where he
was met by his son and his other party. After spending
a few days there, he moved to Muhammadábád, where he
remained up to the end of the year.
In the beginning of the next year 1172 A. H. (1759 A.D.)
Atar Khán goes to Kalát;
subsequently joins the
King’s camp and returns
with an imperial army in
succour.
difficulties again arose making matters
complicated. Muhammad Atur Khán
and Ahmadyár Khán in their flight
after the above defeat went straight
to Kalát, where the ruler of the place,
Muhammad Nasír Khán‡
on the strength of the friendship
he bore to Mían Ghulám Sháh, retained them with him
till the King’s army arrived in that country to punish
him and defeated him. The two brothers then joined
the royal army on their return to the camp. There
they employed means to re-secure the rulership of Sind,
and eventually succeeded. Ahmadyár Khán remained in
the king’s camp, while Atur Khán was sent back with an
army commanded by Atáí Khân to reinstate him on the
throne of Sind.*
Getting this news, in the month of Rabiussaní 1172
The town of Sháhbandar,
founded by Mián Ghulám-Sháh.
A. H. (1759 A. D.) Mián Ghulám
Sháh moved to Kujah, a deserted
town. He ordered all the residents
of the part of Orangá to remove to Kujah, which once
more became a populous town and which he named
Sháhgarh. He appointed it as his head-quarters, and
in its vicinity he founded a new fort, calling it
Sháhbandar. He built a castle and collected all materials
of war there. He then left that place together with the
State prisoners he had with him in charge of his son Muhammad
Sarafráz Khán and himself advanced to meet his
brothers.
Muhammad Atur Khán was already advancing with
Peace concluded between
Mián Ghulám Sháh and
Atur Khán and the country
divided between them.
his Afghán forces †
laying waste the
country on his way, Maksúdh being
the leader of the advance party. At
Cháchikán the two armies met. For
some time indecisive fighting went on, but eventually
Atur Khán losing all hope of success, sought for peace,
which was concluded. The country of Sind was divided
into three shares. The share extending from Sháhgarh
to the limits of Nasarpúr and Tattá, fell to the lot of
Míán Ghulám Sháh, and Tattá with the remaining portion
of Sind was given to the two brothers, as their two shares.
Accordingly Míán Ghulám Sháh went to Sháhgrah and
Atur Khán left for Naoshahrah.
Up to the month of Ramazán matters went on quietly.
Disagreement between
Atur Khán and his brother
Ahmdyár Khán.
Then, as it was destined that the
whole country should fall into Mián
Ghulám Sháh’s possession, disagreement
broke out between the two brothers, Atur Khán
and Ahmadyár Khán. It was represented to the king of
Dehlí that Atur Khán was incapable of carrying on the
administrative duties of a country. It was therefore
arranged that Ahmadyár Khán should leave his son with
the king as a hostage and himself go to Sind, with the
sanad appointing him the ruler of that country.
Hearing of this, Mián Ghulám Sháh started for the
The whole of Sind falls
into the hands of Ghulám
Sháh, and Atur Khán flees.
conquest of Sind in the month of
Ramazán 1172 A.H. (1759 A.D.)
When Atur Khán learnt that Ghulám
Sháh was coming from one side and Ahmadyár Khán
from another, he lost heart and fled from Naoshahrah.
On the Íd holiday, Mián Ghulám Sháh got this news
near Nasarpúr and he immediately advanced to take
advantage of the situation. As Ahmadyár Khán was yet
far away, the country fell easily into the hands of Mián
Ghulám Sháh’s men. In the reign of Atur Khán the
people of Tattá had suffered a great deal. A party of the
tribe of Jókhiah had fallen on the place and in open daylight
plundered the quarter of Mulah Talahtí. The
Afghán forces had further oppressed the people on account
of the weakness of the ruler. So they were now very
glad to hail a new ruler.
On the 2nd of Shawwál of the same year, Mián Ghulám
Mián Ghulám Sháh comes
to Ládkánah and Siwistán
and punishes the rebellious
Khósahs.
Sháh received a letter from Muhammad
Atur Khán stating that he was
going to leave the country for good and
that he and his brother Ahmadyár
Khán might do whatever they liked with it. Being
still more encouraged by this news, Mián Ghulám Sháh
advanced further and secured the men left behind by
Atur Khán to his own side. He came as far as Ládkánah.
He put to death all the Khósah chiefs, who had invaded
and plundered Khúdábád in the period of anarchy, and
posted a permanent force about the place to keep a watch
over that tribe and to chastise them whenever necessary.
Then coming to Siwistán he took the fort of Jóyah and
Laknallí, which had served as a rendezvous of the
Khósahs, and killing some of the ringleaders of that side
and capturing others, he retraced his steps.
Mián Ghulám Sháh now heard that Muhammad Atur
Mián Ghulám Sháh defeats
Atur Khán at
Ubáórah.
Khán and Maksúdh Fakír, being
assisted by some Dáúdpótah chiefs,
especially Bahádur Khán, were coming
prepared for fight. Accordingly he marched with his
army to meet them. Coming to Ubáorah, he gave them
battle, and completely defeated them, killing Bahádur
Khán and another chief named Basásar. Victorious and
happy at having made his path clear, he turned back to
the centre of his country.
On 25th Muharram, 1173 A. H. (1760 A. D.) Mián
The Jám of Kakrálah is
defeated and put to flight.
Ghulám Sháh fixed his camp at the
new built town of Sháhpur and sent
for his son from Sháhgarh. He had
already sent Muhammad Káim, as the administrator of
Tattá and the latter did his best to relieve the residents of
the place from the oppression of the old officers and the
tyranny of the Afgháus.
In this year, Jám Desar, the chief of Kakrálah, who
during Mián Ghulám Sháh’s absence at Sháhgarah, had
taken the offensive was defeated and driven away by
Muhammad Siddík Wais and other generals, who had
been specially sent for the purpose, On 7th Saffar 1174
A.H. (1761 A. D.), the Jám was compelled to leave the
fort of Ábád and seek shelter in Kachh. His son,
Hardárjí, who some time before had come to the camp of
Mián Ghulám Sháh, was detained by the Mián as his own
aide-de-camp.
CHAPTER VII.
THE RULE OF MIÁN GHULÁM SHÁH.
* In the beginning of the next year 1175 A.H. (1762 A.D.)
Mián Ghulám Sháh appointed
ruler of Sind by a
royal decree, with the title
of ‘Sháh Wardí Khán.’
a royal sanad was received confirming
Mián Ghulám Sháh as the ruler of
Sind, giving him the title of “Sháh
Wardí Khán,” and bringing an
elephant, a robe of honour and some other presents. In
the same year the Mián again marched as far as Khánpúr
in order to punish the Dáúdpotahs, but at the intercession
of the Sayyeds of Uch he pardoned them and returned
without going further.
In 1176 A.H. (1763 A.D.), on the 9th of Rabíussání
Mián Ghulám Sháh invades
Kachh and makes
peace with the Ráo.
the Mián marched towards Kachh in
order to punish the Hindús of that
place. He took the fort of Sindrí on
his way, and on the heights of Járah†
mountain killed
about 6000 men of the Kachhí’s. Continuing his victorious
march he came to within 12 koss of Bhuj, plundering
the villages and towns in the vicinity of that city. He
took the sea-ports of Busta and Lakhpat. At length at
the entreaties of the Ráo of Kachh and on his suing for
peace the Mián marched back, arriving at Sháhpúr on the
2nd of Rajjib 1177 A.H. (1764 A.D.).
In 1178 A.H. (1765 A.D.) Mián Ghulám Sháh again
Another invasion against
Kachh and fresh treaty with
it.
invaded Kachh and took the fortified
town of Mórú on his way. Coming
to within 10 miles of Kachh, he made
a halt. The Ráo of Kachh again applied for peace and
a fresh treaty was concluded. Returning from Kachh
he went to the old Sháhpúr instead of the new, which
town he found uncomfortable on account of the excessive
wind and dust.‡
About this time the king conferred a
fresh title of “Samsámuddaolah*”
on Mián Ghulám Sháh,
in addition to the former one, in consideration of his brave
deeds and successful management of State affairs.
Not long after this, Muhammad Atur Khán, whose
Atur Khán surrenders.
companions like Maksúdah, had died
and left him alone, repented and
surrendered to Mián Ghulám Sháh, who showed him
great kindness and kept him in his company.
In 1181 A.H. (1767 A.D.) Mián Ghulám Sháh was
Mián Ghulám Sháh
entrusted with the administration
of the Derahs.
entrusted by the king with the charge
of the Derahs†
whence some disturbance
was reported. Accordingly in the
beginning of Rabíussání, the Mián started for that division.
In the course of three months he settled all matters
and restored peace and order there. Taking some hostages
from the chiefs of the place, he returned to Sháhpúr.
Unfortunately during this interval, the force left by the
Mián at the Derahs had to fight with the natives of the
place headed by their chief Nasrat. This confusion
induced the king to send Sardár Jahán Khán as his agent
to settle and administer the State affairs there. The Sardár
came, dismissed the Mián’s officers and appointed his own
in their place. In 1183 A.H. (1769 A.D.) however, Derah
Gházi Khán was lost to the Sardár, and Mián Ghulám
Sháh had again to go in that direction to settle the country.
He succeeded in quieting the country once more. And as
a reward for this remarkable piece of the service, the
remaining portion of Derah Gházi Khán, that used to be
attached to Multán, was given to the Mián and its
governor made subordinate to him.
On his return from the Derahs in Zíhajj, 1183 A. H.
The city and fort of
Haidarabád, founded by
Mián Ghulám Sháh.
Mián Ghulám Sháh went straight to
Nerúnkót, where in Zíkaad of the
previous year, 1182 A.H. (1768 A.D.),
he had commenced a strong fort with the view of turning
that city into his future capital. This fort, which was
built on hilly high ground was named Haidarabád. And
there the Mián remained for the rest of his life.
After Gul Muhammad Khán Khurásáni and Muhammad
The administrators of
Tattá.
Káim no other administrator
was appointed at Tattá. In the
Muharram of 1184 A.H. (1770 A.D.),
however, Habíb Fakír Náij was put in charge of the
place. Habíb was succeeded by Muhammad Husain, but
he soon returned and resumed the same charge. After
Habíb was removed Murád Fakír Nizámání was made the
administrator of Tattá and continued as such up to 1188
A.H. (1774 A.D.).
In 1184 A.H. (1770 A.D.) for several reasons the charge
Matrimonial connection
between the Mián and the
Ráo of Kachh.
of the Derahs was taken from Mián
Ghulám Sháh by the king and given
back to Sardár Jahán Khán. In this
year the Ráo of Kachh gave the hand of a daughter of
his cousin Wesújí in marriage to the Mián and the
marriage was celebrated with great pomp and splendour
on both the sides. In consideration of this relationship,
the towns of Bustá Bandar and Lakhpt Bandar and others
that had been conquered by the Mián, were returned to
the Ráo.
It was in the year 1185 A.H. (1771 A.D.) that a
The rain of flesh, a strange
phenomenon.
wonderful physical phenomenon was
seen in Sind. In about a bígah of
land, near Dhand Ohattí, pieces of
flesh fell in rain. Each piece was more in weight than a
seer of Súrat. A few pieces were brought to the Mián.
The flesh resembled the flesh of a pig, both in smell and
colour. It was thrown to dogs, but they would not eat it.
In 1186 A.H. (1772 A. D.) foundation was laid for a mud
The death of Mián
Ghulám Sháh.
fort on a hillock to the south-west of
the fort of Haidarábád and for the
protection of the same. The hillock
was sacred to Hají Muhammad Makaí*
and was called
after his name. His remains had been buried there and
round his tomb a spacious grave-yard had been formed.
As a large number of tombs had to be razed to the ground
to lay the foundation of the fort, it proved to be a bad
omen on account of the disrespect that was shown to the
dead, especially to the saint. Unfortunately, soon after
the fort was built, Mián Ghulám Sháh died all of a sudden
on the 2nd of Jamádil-awwal of the same year, having
been attacked by paralysis on the previous day only.*
About this time Ahmad Sháh Durání died and with the
Death of Ahmad Sháh
Durání and accession of his
son Taimúr Sháh to the
throne.
assistance of his prime minister Sháh
Walí Khán his younger son Sulaimán
Sháh succeeded him to the throne.
His elder son Taimúr Sháh, who was
at Khurásán at the time of his father’s death, hastened
to the capital, killed Sháh Walí Khán, removed his
younger brother from the throne, and occupied it himself.
CHAPTER VIII.
THE RULE OF MIÁN MUHAMMAD SARAFRÁZ KHÁN.
The next day after Mián Ghulám Sháh’s death his son
Muhammad Sarafráz
Khán confirmed by the new
king with the title of
“Khudáyár Khán.”
Mián Muhammad Sarafráz Khán was
placed on the throne of Sind with the
unanimous consent of the nobility of
the Fakírs, or followers of the late
Mián. Taimúr Sháh, the new king, hastened to send a robe
of honour with his sanad confirming the new ruler with
the title of “Khudáyár Khán” in addition to his father’s
title. The Derahs were also attached to him. Mián
Muhammad Sarafráz Khan therefore prepared to go in
that direction and started about the close of Zulhajj of the
same year 1186 A.H. (1772 A.D.) He had to spend some
months in settling the affairs of the Derhas, and on the
12th of Rabíussání, 1187 A.H. (1773 A.D.) he returned to
Haidarábád.
About the close of Shuabán, 1188 A. H., the Mián set
The Mián goes to Kachh
and Gujrát,
out for Kachh. On the way he took
the fort of Bajham. The Ráo of
Kachh received the Mián with distinction
and was consequently left in undisputed possession
of his country. From Kachh the Mián passed into the
limits of Gujrát, where he received homage from the big
Járejah chiefs, Náthahji of Gujrát and Dáúdji of Kaniárá
Kót. The Mián then returned to Parkaran.*
In the
beginning of Shawwál, he returned to the newly built town
of Khúdabád.†
We have said above in Chapter III that, at the time of
The influence of the
Tálpurs at the Courts of
Kalhórah rulers.
Mián Yár Muhammad’s rule Prince
Muizzuddín, who had come to Bakhar,
had sent Mír Shahdád Khán Tálpur
Balóch to fight with Ghází Khán, the chief of the Derahs,
and that for the bravery and tact he had shown in settling
the affairs of that division, the prince gave him the land
of Pat Bárán as a jágír. This Mír Shahdád is the first
ancestor of the Tálpurs, of whom we read in the history
of Sind.‡
Subsequently it appears that the Mír attached
himself to the court of the Mián, taking the latter, as a
spiritual guide, as well as a chief, as was the fashion in
those days. Gradually he became the chief councillor of
the ruling chief and acquired a great deal of influence in
political affairs. When Mián Muhammad Murád, became
unpopular, it was through Mír Bahrám, the son of Mír
Shahdád, that the nobles conspired and dethroned him, in
favour of his brother.§
In 1172 A.H. (1759 A.D.) when Mián Muhammad
Atur Khán, the then ruler of Sind, brought the imperial
Afghán army to reinstate him, Mír Bahrám was on the
side of Mián Ghulám Sháh in the fight that ensued and
that ended in the victory of the latter. During Mián
Ghulám Sháh’s reign, Mír Bahrám enjoyed the high
esteem of that ruler. On his death, his successor Mián
Muhammad Sarafráz too regarded him as his chief councillor
and prime minister. As Mír Bahrám had grown
old, his son Mír Bijár often took place in the council-hall,
proving himself to be a worthy son of a worthy father.
As the Mián was very fond of the Mírs, Rájah Líkhí,
Mián Muhammád Sarafráz
becomes suspicious of Mír
Bahrám and his sons,
through the jealousy of
Rájah Likhí.
who was also one of the chief
courtiers, became jealous of them.
Rájah is said to have been an illiterate
and foolish person. He was
naturally of a bad and mischievous
temper. Having formed a resolution to bring about the
fall of the Mírs, he began to back-bite them to the Mían,
telling him that Mír Bahrám had sent him secret messages
repeatedly tempting him to conspire against him (the
Mián). He advised the Mián to take necessary precautionary
measures before it was too late. Rájah went on
slandering the Mír in this strain whenever he got an
opportunity to do so. Although the Mián knew him to
be a mischievous person and would have been the last
person to believe his whispers against a wise counseller
and a brave soldier like Mír Bahrám, still, perhaps, it was
destined that he should do so. Accordingly the Mián
began to show signs of distrust of the Mír, gradually
grew cold towards him and finally turned his face from
him. Díwán Gidúmal, the old and faithful secretary of
the ruling family, interceded and tried to bring about a
reconciliation between the Mián and the Mír. “My
master” said he “Pay no attention to what these
michievous people tell you. Those who fan the fire very
closely, run back, when it kindles into a blaze. Do not
be rash and hasty, to make an enemy of such a party, or
else it will end in a revolt and you will come to grief.
If you have any fear of the Mír’s doings, be more kind
and obliging to him. This will compel him to be a
staunch adherent of yours.” But as fate would have it,
the Mián would not agree with the old Díwan’s suggestion.
Perceiving coldness in the behaviour of his master Mír
Mír Bahrám’s consultation
with his sons.
Bahrám determined to plan some
decided course for himself. With
this object in view, he privately consulted
his two sons, Mír Bijár and Mír Sóbdár thus,—“My
sons, we are soon to receive our lot at the hands of our
master. You know we have sworn on the Korán to be
faithful to him and he has sworn to be kind to us. If,
now, without any reason he causes some harm to us, we
must quietly bear it, leaving him to the punishment of
God. My wish now is, that for some time you must leave
me to my fate and go somewhere else. This may kill
envy and restore good feelings in our master’s mind. But
if the matter comes to the worst, still you will be safe.”
Following the hint, the eldest son Mír Bijár set out on a
pilgrimage to Mecca, but the younger son Sóbdár would
not leave his old father’s side, and notwithstanding his
sire’s wish that he should look after the safety of himself
and his fámily, Mír Sóbdár determined to stay and abide
by the will of God.
One day Mír Bahrám had come to pay his respects to
Murder of Mír Bahrám
and his son Sóbdár by
treachery.
Mián Muhammad Sarafráz, in the
usual manner, when some of the chief
courtiers were present in his court.*
The treacherous Mián gave a letter, that he had received
from Mír Bijár at Mascat to the old Mír to read. The
latter put on his spectacles, and while he was reading the
letter, a servant named Husain, who had been posted
behind him with previous instructions, gave a sudden
blow with his sword to the Mír from behind, cutting off
his head. The Mir died immediately.†
Taking advantage of the occasion, some persons rushed
out with swords to despatch Mír Sóbdár, before the
tragical news was known. Mír Sóbdár was at that time
conversing with Alah Baksh, the eldest son of Rájah
Líkhí. Seeing the swordsmen coming and perceiving foul
play, he lost no time in killing Alah Baksh there and then.
Then he had to confront his assailants, who surrounded
him on all sides. He bravely killed a number of the
murderers, but at last fell under the heavy blows of the
the assailants. This occurred in the year 1188 A.H.*
(1774 A.D.)
Mír Sóbádár died leaving four sons, viz., Fateh Alí Khán,
Mir Fateh Khán’s attack
and Mían Sarafráz’s flight
from the fort of Haidarábád.
Ghulam Alí Khán, Karam Alí Khán
and Murád Alí Khán. They were all
young. Mír Fateh Khán upon whom
he had looked as a brother, waited for
a time, expecting the arrival of Mír Bijár†
when he thought
that they would lay plans together to revenge themselves
on their enemies. But as he did not receive any news of his
coming soon, Mír Fateh Khán lost patience. Not being
able to bear the pain any more, he collected a number of
Balóches and attacked the fort of Khudábád. He killed
the keepers quite unawares and entered the fort amidst
the consternation of the inmates. Mián Sarafráz had no
other alternative but to secretly leave the fort with 5 or 6
attendants for the river through a jungle, and occupying
a fisherman’s boat he hastily sailed for the fort of Haidarábád,
reaching the latter place, before day-break, that
very night. Here there was plenty of treasure and of
military stores to enable him to fight, but as fate was
against him, he lost heart and left that place too.
The next day when it was known that Mián Sarafráz
Mahmúd Khán placed
on the vacant throne and
the fort of Haidarábád
attacked and taken.
had fled, his brother Mahmúd Khán
was placed on the vacant seat at
Khudábád, and Mehráb, the Chief
of the Jatóis given to him as his
minister.*
Mír Fateh Khán then marched with his forces
against the fort of Haidarábád. Seeing the intrepidity
of the Mír and fearing the revenge of Mír Bijár, most of
the chiefs and nobles, including Rájah Líkhí, and
Alahbakhsh Jhinjan, left the side of Mián Sarafráz and
joined Mír Fateh Khán in his expedition. They all soon
appeared before the gate of the fort and laid siege to it.
Within a week the fort was taken and an entry made.
The next moment Sarafráz appeared abusing Rájah Líkhí
to his face for his faithlessness and mischief and repenting
of having got his loyal chiefs, the Mirs, killed. But it
was too late now. The keys of the treasures were handed
over to Mír Fateh Khán, who refused to keep them as
representing the sole master of the place. “Far be it
from me” said he, “that I should call myself a ruler.
Mír Bijár is our chief, and when he comes he will mete
out proper punishment to his enemies. What I have
done is not to get traeasures but to quench the fire of my
heart.”
As there was no other alternative, the wily Rájah Líkhí
kept the keys with himself and appointed his own son
Tájah to be the chief manager of the fort. He now had
an ample opportunity to spend money and win over some
of the chiefs, in order to be prepared for the fight that might
ensue with Mír Bijár, when he came. He secured the
services of Alahbakhsh Jhinjan, Peróz Pitáfí and the chief
of the tribe of Khósabs, whom he knew to be on bad
terms with the Mírs.
Mír Fateh Khán now thought it proper to withdraw to
Withdrawal of Mír Fateh
Khán and the ascension of
Mián Ghulám Nabí to the
throne.
his derah or head-quarters, that were
at a short distance from the city.†
Rájah Líkhí not liking the proximity
of the Mírs’ quarters took Mahmúd
Khán with him and went to Kháhah, where in the midst
of waters flowing on all sides, he thought himself safe
and able to carry on his nefarious plans. With the
consultation of his mercenary counsellers, he determined
to give the government of Sind into the hands of some
Kalhórah chief, connected on the mother’s side with the
tribe of Júnejahs, whom he knew to be numerous and on
inimical terms with the Balóches. He therefore entering
into conspiracy with his comrades, elected Mián Ghulám
Nabí, son of Miàn Núr Muhammad (Khudá Yárkhán) and
raised him to the throne instead of Mahmúd Khán, as
he was related to the Junejahs.*
CHAPTER IX.
THE RULE OF MIÁN GHULÁM NABÍ KHÁN.
Mián Ghulám Nabí was a very good man. Like his
Death of Rájah Líkhí.
father he was wise, religious, and
generous. His brother Abdunnabí
was taken away and confined in a fort. Though Rájah
Líkhí had assisted him in coming to the throne and
therefore he was obliged apparently to show kindness to
him, at heart Mián Ghulám Nabí hated him. He paid
no attention to his slander against the Balóches, whom
he knew to be a brave and faithful tribe.
About this time news of Mír Bijar’s return from Mecca
was received and Rájah Líkhí became ill at ease. The
approach of a dreaded enemy was a blow to him, which
he did not long survive. They say he ended his life by
poison. Whatever be the true cause of his death, he had
a son, as wicked as himself, to step into his shoes. But
Mián Ghulám Nabí entertained as much disgust towards
him as for his late father. For, it is said, that the Mián
often remarked that he smelt blood from him and that he
had the look of a murderer about him.
Mír Bijár, who had become a Hájí now, returned from
Mír Bijár’s arrival from
Meccá through Kalát.
Meccá and at first came to Kalát,
where he was received very warmly
by Muhammad Nasír, the Khán or
ruler of that country.*
He expressed so much affection
towards him that he exchanged his turban with the Mír
showing thereby that they were like brothers and would
stand by each other to the very utmost. The Khán
ordered that an army be sent with the Mír to help him in
taking vengeance over his enemies, but the latter refused
to accept the kind offer, saying that he felt ashamed to
draw an army against his own country, and that he
depended for help upon God. As he approached his
native land, he was met in the way by a mourning party
of his relations consisting of Mírs Abdulláh,†
Fateh Alí,
Fateh Khán, Ghulám Alí, Suhráb,‡
Alahyár, Thárah and
other Balóch Chiefs. They then wrote letters to the
people of Sind in general, complaining of the cruel and
cowardly behaviour of Rájah Líkhí and his son Tájah, and
appealing to them for sympathy, which the public were
not backward in expressing sincerely in return.
When Mír Bijár arrived within twelve miles of the
Mír Bijár goes to the fort
of Umarkót but leaves it
soon at the false entreaties
of Alahbakhsh Jhinjan.
capital he prudently made a halt
there for some time in order to
know the feelings of his countrymen.
He was anxious to know which of
the chiefs visited him for the sake of welcome or condolence,
and which of them showed signs of disaffection.
Of course Mían Ghulám Nábí dared not do anything
without the sanction of Tájah Líkhí, who prevented him
from showing the least favour to his enemy. Aláhbakhsh
Jhinjan, as well as the Jatóí and Pitáfí Chiefs and others
made common cause and determined to oppose the Mír,
for, they thought any submissive behaviour would only
make him tyranical to them. So they addressed a letter
with the Mián’s seal to Mír Bijár, asking him why he had
made such a long stay near head-quarters and telling him
that if he intended to fight he might advance, or else
leave the place. This letter gave the Mír a clear idea of
the feelings of his enemies. While his younger relations
prepared to measure arms with their opponents and became
loud with indignation, Mír Bijár appeared quite
cool and prevented his comrades from taking offensive
measures. Without giving any reply to the letter, the
very next day he moved to Umarkót with all his dependents
and baggage. He occupied the fort driving away
the Khósahs, who lost no time in communicating the
news to head-quarters. Immediately Tájah Líkhí took
Mián Ghulám Nabí with him and marched with an army
to Umarkót. Seeing that it was impossible to remove
the Mírs from the fort, he hit upon a trick to obtain that
end without bloodshed. Alahbakhsh Jhinjan, being appointed
leader for the time, went to the Mír and commenced
excuses for his past behaviour, speaking ill of the
Líkhís. He told him that he was sorry for the letter
that had been sent to him and which had been written
against the wishes of the Mián and that the Mír must
look to the respect and pleasure of their common master
and vacate the fort. He swore to the fact that all had
determined to punish the Líkhí for his mischief. Mír
Bíjár was a noble hearted person. He ordered his
baggage to be immediately removed from the fort, and
himself with his people marched out to a secluded place.
As soon as Mír Bijár believing the deceitful Jhinján’s
Tájáb Líkhí sends a force
to occupy the fort of Umarkot
and is attacked by
Mír Bíjár.
words left the fort, it was occupied
by 2000 men sent by Tájah Líkhí,
with necessary provisions. Mír Bijár
now saw clearly the trick that had
been played upon him. He waited for about two months
and when he found that his adversaries continued on the
defensive, he sent his challenge to Tájah Líkhí, calling
him to meet him in the field of battle, without giving
any trouble to the Mián. When Tájah got this message,
he called his comrades to the presence of Mián Ghulám
Nabí, to arrange a plan for fighting with the Mír. Mián
Ghulám Nabí earnestly suggested that peace should be
made with the Mír, but they were for fighting. The
Mián was helpless. He was carried as a puppet at the
head of a large army, numbering 30,000 men. The
moving figure among the chiefs was Tájah Líkhí who was
assisted by Alahbaksh Jhinjan, Peróz Pítáfi, Muhammad
Hasan Khuháwar and Mehráb Jatóí, each at the head of
his own squadron, together with a large force of Khósahs
and Afgháns. This army marched out to meet Mír Bijár
in response to his challenge.
Mír Bijár had 6000 Balóches with him, all veteran
Battle at Lányárí in the
Shahdádpur Talukah and
murder of Mián Ghulám
Nabí.
soldiers and all determined to sell
their lives dear. With these he
advanced to meet the enemy. The two
armies met at Lányárí, in the Tálukah
of Shahdádpur and blood began to flow in streams.
When Peróz Pitáfi, the chief leader of the Mián’s forces
fell, Mián Ghulám Nabí, seeing that his generals were
losing ground and falling one after another, hastened to
send one or two of his chief attendants with the Korán,
to the Mír entreating him to get him out of the difficulty
as he felt himself quite a prisoner in the hands of
these wicked men. When Tájah Líkhí heard of this,
he became very angry. Taking a handful of his cruel
band he came to Mián Ghulám Nabí and despatched him
with a blow, telling him “We knew that this was your
object and that you were in the very beginning favourably
inclined to the Mír; as you were against us, we won’t
allow you to continue longer in that happy position.”
They then turned back and coming to the river, got into
a boat and sailed away to Sháhgarh. This event occurred
in the year 1190 A.H. (1776 A.D.)
As soon as the confusion subsided and Mír Bijár learnt
that the enemy had murdered Mián Ghulám Nabí and
had fled, he was very sorry and went immediately to the
spot. Seeing the dead body of the late ruler of Sind he
sat on the ground lamenting loudly for him. Then he
ordered a rich coffin to be prepared and sent the body off
to Haidarábád, under the escort of a number of men. At
the same time he sent an army in search of the villains
who had committed such a murderous act.*
Seeing that the Mír’s star was rising, most of the chiefs
of the opposite side, like Alah Bakhsh Jhinjan, Muhammad
Hasan Khuháwar and Mehráb Jatóí, came and paid
homage to him. The Mír was too noble-minded to remember
their past behaviour, and readily pardoned them.
We have seen that Muhammad Sarafráz was already in
Muhammad Sarafraz,
Atur Khán, Mahmúd Khán
and Mír Muhammad murdered
in cold blood, by
Abdunnabí at Haidarábád.
the fort of Haidarábád. He had his
two sons Atur Khán and Mír Muhammad
with him. His brother,
Mahmúd Khán, whom the Mírs had
raised to the throne after Muhammad
Sarafráz’s flight, being decoyed by the rebel chief, had
subsequently joined them in the fort. Mián Ghulám
Nabí had purposely kept them there, as he knew them all
to be claimants to the throne. Ghulám Nabí’s brother
Abdunnabí, who had charge of them all, learning of his
brother’s death, became ambitious to secure the vacant
throne. He therefore lost no time in calling the band of
Júnejahs, who used to keep watch on the four noblemen,
and instructing them to quietly despatch them. The
instructions were readily carried out and the heads of
four innocent men fell quickly to the ground.
CHAPTER X.
THE RULE OF MIÁN ABDUNNABÍ KHÁN.
† After the recent victory Mír Bijár fixed his head-quarters
Mián Abdunnabí called
from Haidarábád by the
Mír and proclaimed the
ruler of Sind.
at the new town of Khudábád.
Seeing that there was no other
Kalhórah chief living, he was obliged
to call the murderous Abdunnabí
from Haidarábád to fill the throne, vacated by his brother.
Abdunnabí was only too ready to obey the summons. He
started immediately and in one day arrived at Hálah
Kandí,*
where he was met by the Mír and other chiefs
the next morning. The Mián was led in a procession to
the shrine of Makhdúm Núh and there the turban of
rulership was placed on his head. He was then escorted
to Khudábád in great pomp and lodged in the palace of
Muhammad Sarafráz Khán.
As might be expected, Mír Bijár became the chief
minister and counsel of the new ruler; consequently the
administration of State affairs was carried on on just and
improved principles, to the great happiness of the people
in general.
The first act of the new ruler was to call Alah Baksh
Alah Baksh Jhinjan and
Tájah Líkhí made prisoners.
Jhinjan to his presence in an open
court, to reproach him for his disloyalty
in taking the side of the
villanious Líkhí against his own masters, and to order his
confinement. Meanwhile Tájah Líkhí also fell into the
hands of the Mír’s forces. The wretched man was
brought in chains to the Mián together with his children
and near relatives. As the Mián had the murder of his
innocent brother fresh in his memory, he ordered his
execution. The noble-minded Mír forgetting his revenge,
came foward to intercede for him. He entreated the
Mián to pardon him and his life was spared.
Since the time of Mián Sarafráz Khán the revenue of
The king’s army under
Izzatyár Khán invades Sind
and is defeated by the Mír
in the District of Shikárpur.
Sind had declined considerably, and
consequently the fixed annual tribute
could not be paid regularly into the
royal treasury. It was represented
to king Taimúr Sháh†
by certain envious people that the
Balóch tribe was in great power in Sind; that an Abbásí
chief had been made a nominal ruler; that the reins of
government were really in Mír Bijár’s hands, who had
become very powerful and headstrong; that he would
not be disposed to pay annual tribute; and that he would
not come to his senses unless he was chastised for his
arrogance. Naturally the king was angry and ordered
an expedition against Sind, under the leadership of
Izzatyár Khán, who was an Abbásí himself and had been
with the king as an hostage for some years past, being a
cousin of Mián Abdunnabí Khán. As he had been a
candidate for the vacant throne, the king appointed him
as ruler, to the exclusion of Abdunnabí Khán, who had
been elected by the Mír. An army of ten thousand men,
consisting of Durání and Bábarí Afgháns under the command
of Mahfúz Khán, was ordered to accompany
Izzatyár Khán. Kamruddín, the king’s agent for the
Derahs*
was directed to defray the expenditure of the
expedition from the revenue of that Division, and also to
furnish an additional force of Afgháns and Balóches.
Hearing of this movement, the Khósahs, who lived about
the place, and who had a tribal feud with the Mírs,
collected in vast numbers and joined the newly appointed
ruler. At the same time, royal orders were issued to the
Governors of Multán and Shikárpur, as well as to the
chiefs of the Dáúdpótahs and Bróhís,†
to assist Izzatyár
Khán as far as lay in their power.
When the above detachments assembled, the number
reached to 30,000. Izzatyár Khán now addressed the
following letter to Mír Bijár Khán—“O brave chief, you
must know that Abdunnabí has been set aside by the
king and I am appointed in his place. If you come and
pay allegiance to me you will continue as the fortunate
possessor of administrative powers as hitherto. I am not
a stranger. I am a grandson of Khudáyár Khán. But
if you will not submit and seek to fight with me, then
you will gain nothing and cause the death of many
innocent people for nothing.” To this, Mír Bijár sent
the following reply—“I am obliged to you for the letter.
You have taken the trouble of coming to Sind as a
claimant to the throne, but you must know, that you
come to fight with your own uncle, who is like a father
to you. I am pledged to remain faithful to him. Victory
and defeat are in the hands of God. I am bound to stand
by Mián Abdunnabí. I shall soon be with you, along
with my master, and so good bye for the present.”
Mír Bijár now called his brave Balóches, who numbered
about 18,000 men. He started with that force, in the
company of Mián Abdunnabí Khán. After hasty marches,
he arrived at Lóhrí on the river.*
Two hundred boats
were ready and a bridge was instantly put on the river.
In one or two days, the whole force passed over and came
to Shikárpúr, where the enemy’s forces had halted.
Before long, martial music sounded, flags were seen
moving, and the Afghán and Balóch adversaries joined
in a close fight. A fierce battle raged now, as there were
brave soldiers on both the sides.†
After all, the Afghán
force gave way and was succeeded by the Khósahs, who
too did not stand the Balóch charge very long but were
put to flight in great confusion, after a large number of
them had been cut to pieces. Izzatyár Khán and Mahfúz
Khán saved themselves by galloping away on fleet horses,
leaving behind their tents, elephants, and other baggage.
They did not halt till they had joined the king’s camp.
Some of the Afghán chiefs, including the Governor of
Shikárpúr, took shelter within the walls of the fort, to
which the victorious army of the Mián and the Mír now
laid siege. It soon fell into their hands. The Mír issued
an order preventing his soldiers, on pain of death, from
plundering the place, or harming the inmates, because,
said he. “This is the city of the king and we are all his
servants.” The next morning, all the Afghán chiefs were
called one by one and asked to give their names and
parentage. After this ceremony was gone through each
of them was presented with a dress of honour, a horse and
way expenses, and dismissed.‡
The recent defeat of the Afgháns gave ample opportunity
The king himself marches
towards Sind and Mír Bíjár
proceeds from Shikárpúr to
pay respects to him.
to the Mír’s enemies to excite
the anger of the king. They said he
had been disrespectful to the king
and arrogant, and that unless the
king himself marched against him and made an example
of him for other chiefs, the prestige of royalty would
be irretrievably despised and lost. Accordingly, king
Taimúr Sháh started with a large army for Sind, with
Mahfúz Khán in his company. When Mián Abdunnabí
Khán and Mír Bíjár got this news, they coolly sent their
man to Lólirí, to throw a bridge of boats on the river for the
king to pass over. Proceeding a few stages from Shikárpur
the Mír sent a letter to the king, in a very respectful tone,
telling him that his enemies had slandered him to his
majesty, that he was still true and loyal to him and that
after he had paid his respects to him and given proofs of
faithfulness personally, his majesty would be satisfied with
his conduct. At the same time the king also heard that a
bridge of boats had been prepared at Lóhrí for him to pass
over. The king received this letter at about two stages from
Shikárpur. His anger was much appeased and his heart
inclined to the Mír. Shortly after this, the king was met by
the Mír, who had come with 30,000 Balóches to receive him.
A short conversation was enough to show to the king that
what the enemies of the Mír had spoken to him aganist
the Mír was all false and that the Mír was really a wise
man and a brave soldier. Seeing the king’s kindness
towards the Mír, the latter’s enemies in the king’s camp
began to fear for their own safety. Foremost of all
Mahfúz Khán earnestly entreated the king to return from
there without proceeding to Shikárpur. The king consented
to do so. He wrote a letter to Mián Abdunnabí,
confirming him as ruler of Sind, pardoning the Mír for
his fighting with the royal forces, and calling upon him to
be regular in sending the usual tribute. When this letter
was received by Mián Abdunnabí, Mír Bijár returned
to Shikárpur.
After a short time two Hindú Rajpúts, Ráthórs by
Murder of Mír Bijár by
treachery.
caste, came as envoys from the
Rájah of Jódhpur, to Mián Abdunnabí.
They began to visit the Mián
and the Mír by turns. One day, these two treacherous
Hindús came to Mír Bijár and told him that they had a
confidential letter of their Mahárájah with them, the
contents of which they wanted to communicate to him in
private. They hinted to him that the Rájah of Jódhpur
had received some secret letters from Mián Abdunnabí
speaking ill of the Mír. They said the letter referred to,
was in the Hindí character and so no other person could
read it to the Mír except themselves. They therefore
wanted to be with him alone in private. This was arranged
and Mír Bijár was left alone in the company of
the two envoys, who had two attendants with them. The
latter, however, sat at a respectful distance, together with
a native Hindú by name Ísar, who had brought the report
of the envoys to him. The two envoys sat very close to
the Mír and one of them taking out a letter began to read
it. He faltered, pretending not to be able to read or
understand the writing. So his companion drew close to
him. They then took the letter to the Mír, trying to
point out the writing to him. While doing so they thrust
their daggers, which they had concealed in the folds of
their dress, into the Mír’s bosom. The blood began to
flow in the room. The Mír jumped up in an instant and
with the sword lying by his side, cut the four treacherous
Hindús into halves. Then he fell down dead almost immediately,
before any help could arrive. At the time of
death the Mír expressed his pleasure at sharing the same
fate that had attended his own father and brother, and
the grandsons of the Prophet, viz., Hasan and Husain.
Thus died the wisest, bravest and most pious nobleman,
that Sind had ever produced.*
On the death of Mír Bijár, he was succeeded by his
Flight of Mían Abdunnabí
to Kalát out of fear.
son Mír Abdulláh, as the head of the
Balóch tribe. He was however not
present at the time of his father’s
death,†
and Mír Fateh Khán, being the eldest relation of
the late Mír, conducted the mourning ceremony, till Mír
Abdulláh joined him. Mír Abdulláh was a worthy son of
a worthy father and possessed all the virtues of his late
father. It was soon known to the Mírs that the death
of Mír Bijár was at the instigation of Mían Abdunnabí,*
a fact which they could not easily believe, knowing full
well that the late Mír had done nothing to deserve such
treatment at the hands of his lord and master. They
however thought it proper, to go and pay respects to the
Mían, after the mourning ceremony was over. Accordingly
Mír Fateh Ali Khán (Mír Sóbdar’s son), and Mír
Suhráb, (Mír Chákar’s son) accompanied their new chief
Mír Abdulláh, to the Mían. Mían Abdunnabí, who had
been stung by his own concience and feared the revenge
of the Balóches, believing that the Balóch chiefs were
determined to murder him, left his palace during the night,
attended by 200 of his confidential attendants from
amongst the Jatóís, Jhinjans and others, on fleet horses.
With the necessary provisions and gold loaded on camels,
he started for the river, which he crossed hastily; and
then, with the help of the Nuhmardís†
of Kankór left for
Kalát. At the same time, he sent his sons to the Rájah
of Jódhpúr.
When the Mírs learnt this, they thought it proper to
remove fear from the Mián’s mind, as they never meant
to do any harm to him. Accordingly, they sent some
trustworthy men of theirs with the Kórán to the Mián,
with the following message. “The word of God is
between you and us, and we swear by it that we have no
suspicions against you and that we mean you no harm.
Moreover some of your councillors are very mischievious,
and though they appear to be your friends, are really
your enemies. Beware of them. They take you from
door to door and make you a beggar before strangers.
Avoid them and return to your own country and rule it
as before. You will never find loyal men like us in the
whole world.”
The solemn messsage was duly delivered to Mián
Abdunnabí, but his councillors did not advise him to
comply with the request. On the return of the messengers,
therefore, the Mír called his companions to put some ruler
on the vacant throne. The chief men of the Kalhórahs
had already been murdered and none remained from
whom to select for the purpose. One Sádikalí Fakír,*
a kinsman of the late rulers, who was said to be a
respectable and sensible person, lived in retirement at
Khát, on the river. The Mír therefore took a detachment
of soldiers with him and went to escort him to the capital.
Arrived at the place, he placed the turban of rulership on
his head, and brought him on an elephant to the city
with pomp and glory.
CHAPTER XI.
THE RULE OF MIÁN SÁDIK ALÍ KHÁN.
Mián Sádik Alí Khán was placed on the throne, but as
Mián Sádik Alì Khán
elected by Mír Abdulláh to
be the ruler of Sind.
he was a pious man, he did not feel inclined
to engage much in worldly
affairs, and so the whole burden of
managing the State affairs fell on Mír Abdulláh Khán.
The latter tried his best to give satisfaction to the people
by having recourse to just measures. He repealed the
poll-tax and abolished the giving of presents to rulers,
which were in vogue at that time and had much
inconvenienced the people. As the fact was proclaimed
throughout the province, the people were very glad and
felt grateful to the Mír.
After a short time news was received that a large army
sent by Bajesing, the Rájah of Jódhpur, was coming from
the east to invade Sind, and another sent by Muhammad
Nasír Khán of Kalát, with Mián Abdunnabí was marching
from the north, joined by the mercenary forces of the
Nuhmardís. The Mír summoned his friends for consultation
and after some discussion they determined to face the
army of Jódhpur and then to meet the Bróhís. Preparations
were hurriedly made and on the third day the forces
were in motion towards the sandy desert.
When the Balóch forces left Khudábád, Mián Sádik
Défeat of the Jódhpur
forces by the Mír.
Alí Khán himself joined them along
with Mír Abdulláh Khán, who was
the Commander-in-Chief of the same.
They passed the waterless desert easily as they had carried
their own supply of water with them, and came to a hilly
tower, where they found about 100 men armed with
golden muskets posted in it. They were Rájahs and
Chiefs of the Ráthór tribe, among whom the most prominent
were Bajesing’s son and son-in-law. On the ground
had assembled an innumerable army, who, when they saw
the Balôches, flattered themselves with the belief that the
latter had been brought to the place by fate never to
return alive.
Mír Abdulláh now prepared to make an attack and
began to array his army. He himself headed the central
division, while he put Mír Fatéh Alí and Mír Suhráb on
the two wings. The advance guard was given in charge
of the veteran Mír Fatéh Khán, with Mirzó Fakír*
and
his son Bághah as his assistant, and consisted chiefly of
Nizámánís and Jamálís and Lighárís. The kettle drums
began to beat, the pípes began to play and war-cries rose
in the air. At first the fight went on with guns, subsequently
swords were brought in use. A very severe battle
ensued. It was a battle between the Balóches and
Rájputs.
At last Mír Fateh Alí Khán gained the upper hand on
his side and the Ráthórs were put to flight. Soon they
were followed by others, and a general route ensued. In
a short time the field was clear of the enemy, who disappeared
leaving a large number of Hindús dead and
wounded, together with their heavy baggage. Valuable
booty fell into the hands of the victorious Balóches,—tents,
earpets, guns, elephants, camels, etc. The solid golden
armlets alone, removed from the arms of the dead, were
enough to cheer the hearts of the Balóch conquerors.
The conquerors had hardly taken rest when a camelman
Abdunnabí with the Bróhí
forces defeated by the Mír
at the Chálak Bridge.
brought to their camp a letter from
Mír Fateh Alí’s brother Mír Ghulám
Alí, informing them that Mián
Abdunnabí had arrived as far as Ládkánah with a Boróhí
force, that had been given to him by Muhammad Nasír,
the Khán of Kalát, under the command of his son-in-law
Zarak, on the understanding that the Mìan, when reinstated,
would give him, in return, 3 laks of rupees and
some part of his country; and that the army had been
joined by Mehráb and Dhingánah Jatôís and by the Jhinjans,
Khósahs, Nuhmardís and other tribes. When Mír
Abdulláh got this news, he did not ungirdle himself. He
also required his comrades not to do so either. Without
losing time, he started from there in the direction of the
enemy whom he met at the bridge of Chálak. There he
halted opposite the enemy’s camp, Mían Abdunnabí,
believing that the Balóches had arrived there after hard
travelling and that they must be exhausted with fatigue,
advised his friends to attack them immediately and thus
to gain an advantage over them. Hastily therefore they
drew up their army in three divisions, the centre being
led by Mían Abdunnabí himself with the forces of the
Jatóís and the Khósahs, the right wing consisting of the
Kalátís or Bróhís under Zarak and the left of Nuhmardís.
Seeing the advance of the enemy in the above order, Mír
Abdulláh likewise divided his army in three divisions.
He made Mían Sádik Alí Khán who had been brought on
an elephant to the battle-field, with Mírzó Fakír and
his son Bághah, go against Abdunnabí Khán. Mír Fateh
Khán with the force of Nizámánís was appointed to fight
with the Nuhmardís; while he himself with his cousin
Mír Fateh Alí Khán on his right and Mír Suhráb Khán
on his left, determined to meet the Bróhís. The battle commenced
with guns. After a brisk contest Mír Fateh Khán’s
forces were pushed back. The Mír had received a bullet-wound
in the last battle with the Rájpúts and that had
more or less disabled him from fighting actively. At the
same time Abdunnabí gained the upper hand over the
column under Mían Sádik Alí and drove it back. Seeing
this state of things Mír Abdulláh re-doubled his courage
and called on his cousins to do the same. They left their
horses and sword-in-hand made a vigorous attack on the
centre of the enemy causing great confusion and killing
Zarak Bróhí, Mehrab Jatóí and a number of other veteran
soldiers. The result was that the enemy fled in confusion
leaving much booty for the Balóches. Once more victorious,
the Mían and the Mír returned to Khudábád.
Mír Abdulláh Khán now got an ample opportunity of
Mían Abdunnabí returns
with reinforcements under
Madad Khán Afghán and
other chiefs.
attending to peaceful measures for
the country. Meanwhile Mían Abdunnabí
returned to Kalát, when he
heard that Sardár Madad Khán
Afghán had come to Baháwalpur, the country of Muhammad
Baháwal, the chief of the Daúdpótahs, with a large
army from the camp of the King, and that out of fear,
Muhammad Baháwal had left his capital and gone away.
Abdunnabí sent a trustworthy messenger to the Sardár
with rich presents and splendid promises of gold, telling
him that he had been driven away by the Balóches from
his country and asking him to kindly help him. At the
same time, he sent messengers one after another to the
King’s camp calling Mahfúz Khán to his assistance.
Orders were issued by the king to Madad Khán to take
the army to Sind. Accordingly the Sardár came to Sind
and was met by Abdunnabí with the forces of Bróhís
and Nuhmardís. Madad Khán informed him that he had
to defray the expenses of the expedition from the time he
had left Baháwalpur and that half of the money promised
should be given to him at once in advance and the other
half might be given later on. Immediately Tahsíldárs
were appointed by him to demand and receive the money.
Abdunnabí being thus pressed very hard, had no alternative
but to tell Sardár Madad Khán, that he had his vast
treasures buried within his fort, that as soon as it was
taken from the enemy, the treasures would be at his
disposal, meanwhile the spoils gathered by the Afgháns
in the country would be enough to supply provisions for
the army. Knowing that these were false promises,
Madad Khán called Abdunnabí’s chief advisers Biláwal
son of Tájah Líkhí, Tájah Sámtiah and one other person*
to put them in chains. Next he ordered them to be put
in the stocks, and as he marched on to the capital of Sind,
he ordered the prisoners to be tortured in order to extract
the truth from them about the treasures.
Madad Khán came on like a wild hurricane plundering
Mír Abduláh advances
to meet Madad Khán in the
open field.
the country and devastating towns
and villages in his way. When he
crossed the river, heart-rending
complaints were carried by the poor people to Mír Abdulláh
Khán, who thought himself bound by duty to remove
their grievances. He held a council with his kinsmen and
proposed an immediate march to meet the Afghán Sardár
and checkmate him. Mír Fateh Alí and Mír Suhráb
seconded him in his proposal, but the old Mír Fateh Khán
did not join them in it. His brief argument was that the
king was the shadow of God and that they should not
draw swords against the king’s army. But the young
Mírs thought that the king should have God-like virtues
in him; that he should be merciful towards his subjects
and that it was inconsistent with his duty to allow poor
people to be plundered, or to levy cruel taxes for his
own pleasure. In short Mír Abdulláh, accompanied
by Mírs Fateh Alí, Ghulám Alí and Suhráb started,
leaving behind Mír Fateh Khán and Mirzó Fakír with
some of the Nizámání chiefs, who had taken his side.
After Mír Abdulláh Khán had travelled for two stages,
the old generals left behind became very uneasy without
them, and regretted not having joined them at the outset.
They therefore hastened to follow them, and overtaking
them, entreated the Mír with the Korán in their hands,
not to attack the king’s army without ceremony, but to
halt at the place for some days and let the enemy
commence hostilities and be the first to assault, and then,
they said, they might do what they liked in defence.
The Mír agreed to adopt the policy suggested by Mír
The Mír makes a long
halt, and Madad Khán sends
envoys to the Mír for peace
and then goes to Khudábád.
Fateh Khán and made a long halt,
where he had arrived, making preparations
meanwhile for the coming
fight. Soon information was received
that Sardár Madad Khán had arrived within 12 miles of
the Mír’s camp. While the Mírs were girding up their
loins, Madad Khán hearing that his adversary was so very
near, became more careful about himself and his camp.
A column of Bróhís and Nuhmardís was sent to reconnoitre,
and the advance guard was at once tripled. He
hastily summoned a council of war and came to the
conclusion that an attempt should be first made to bring
about peace with the Mír. Accordingly a Bábarí Chief,
with the Sardár’s Chief Secretary, were sent as envoys to
the Mír with the following message : “I know that you,
one and all, are brave warriors and wise men. Abdunnabí
is a fool and a mischievous person and is assisted by
men who are false and treacherous. I have already
punished them by putting three of them in chains. My
request is that you should go back to your native places.
I am coming with these fools to Khudábád as they say
they have buried their treasures in the fort of Haidarábád.
I know it is a lie and I wish to prove it so. For, then, I
shall be able to report against them to the king and speak
in your favour. I swear that I consider you all my
friends and have no idea of fighting with you.”
When the above message was delivered by the envoys,
the Mír gave robes of honour and horses to them. In
reply the following message was sent to the Sardár through
Alahdád*
and munshí Anbratrái, two chief attendants of
the Mír :—“We are obedient servants to the king and
consider you to be our friend, or rather a near relative, in
the positíon of an uncle. Some envious tongues may have
spoken against us to the king but we entertain hopes that
you will kindly set the matter right. As you advise, we
are ready to go back, but before receiving your message
we had sworn not to turn away from our adversaries. So
long therefore, as your army remains there, in opposition
to us, the oath cannot be broken by our turning back. If
really you intend to march on to Khudábád, you may do
so going along the river. After you pass another way,
we shall be free and will then move to Umarkót, where
our baggage is already lying.”
Sardár Madad Khán agreed to this and sent back the
Mír’s envoys with presents. He then ordered the Nuhmardís
to take the lead and guide on his army. Muhammad
Nasír’s Bróhí column followed the Nuhmardís and
he himself with his Afgháns went behind the Bróhís. In
this order the royal army moved to Khudábád, where it
arrived in one day and night.
As soon as they arrived at the capital, Abdunnabí
Oppression of Madad
Khán and Abdunnabí on the
people of Sind.
was pressed to produce the treasures
promised by him. To satisfy this
demand Abdunnabí was obliged to
send his men to collect gold and silver, wherever they
could find them. Madad Khán also left his own men to
their own ways to go about plundering towns and villages
and securing by force whatever valuables they could find
with the people. A reign of terror now Commenced.
Every one, high or low, rich or poor, was beaten and
deprived of his property, “even to the clothes on their
persons, to the shoes in their feet and to the mats in their
houses,”*
not to mention other kinds of oppression and
cruelty, that were practised on them by these unprincipled
and unchecked villains. Cries and wailings went up to
Heaven from every direction and all prayed to God for
immediate relief and mercy.†
When Mír Abdulláh Khán heard at Umarkót that the
Mír Abdulláh leaves
Umarkót with a large army
to help the people to oppose
Madad Khán.
people of Sind were being treated
mercilessly at the hands of the mixed
hordes of Afgháns, Bróhís, Nuhmardís
and Sindís, he was very sorry at
having followed Mír Fateh Khán’s advice in not opposing
the Afghán Sardár at the outset. He therefore again
called his cousins Mírs Fateh Alí and Ghulám Alí and
his uncle Mír Suhráb and after some close consultation
determined to march against Madad Khán, disregarding
the dissentient voice of the old Mír Fateh Khán. Immediate
orders were issued for the expedition and the
army was ready before the next morning. Mír Fateh
Khán perceiving the movements of Mír Abdulláh came
with his comrades and joined him at the very first stage.
The Mír reproached him openly for his mistaken policy
and held him responsible for the grievances of his
countrymen. Mír Fateh Khán, though admitting the
wisdom and advisability of the expedition, still recommended
the amicable settlement of affair by words instead
of arms. But the Mír quietly pursued his own plans and
started straight for Khudábád being still accompanied by
Mír Fateh Khán, who did not like to remain behind his
chief.
When Sardár Madad Khán heard of the approach of the
Correspondence between
the Mír and Madad Khán
and the disagreement of Mír
Fateh Khán.
Mír’s forces he became restless. He
issued urgent orders to march, and
the next morning he left Khudábád
and encamped about 6 miles from the
Mír’s camp. Here Mír Abdulláh sent—the following
message to the Sardár, through his envoy Alahdád—“You
were a great chief and I trusted your word. I never
thought that you would say one thing and do another.
You may be powerful, but that is no reason why you
should oppress the poor people and make them feel your
power. All are creatures of the same God and you should
fear that God or else His punishment will overtake you,
sooner or later.”
When the Sardár got this message, he was much
ashamed. He sent the following reply to the Mír with his
own confidential men. “O! noble Mír, your words are
noble. You are doubtless young in years, but old in wisdom
and experience. I value your advice and I myself do not
like to oppress the creatures of God. As Abdunnabí
would not give me the promised gold or even provisions
for the army, the latter was obliged to go about plundering.
Properly speaking, it is he who is responsible to God
for this oppression and not I. As for my words of honour
and the promise made by me, I assure you that I have
repeatedly sent letters to his majesty, recommending you to
be the administrator of this country, on condition that you
should regularly send the fixed tribute to the royal coffers.
I undertake to do the desirable, but if you are faithful to
the king and true to me, come to visit me, who am your
guest, with your kinsmen Fateh Alí, Fateh Khán and
Suhráb. But in the first place disband your army, for
that will be the proof of your faithfulness to the king.
Thereby you will gain your object, and your enemies will
be greatly disappointed.”
When this message was received, Mír Abdulláh declared
his inability to agree to it, as he said he could not dismiss
his men, who were all his brothren and castefellows and
would be offended with him for doing so. Mír Fateh Khán,
however, again appeared ready to second the Sardár’s
suggestion. Mír Abdulláh therefore in consultation with
Mírs Fateh Ali, Ghulám Ali and Suhráb, started with
their army to meet the enemy in the open field. At the
same time they nominally called Mír Fateh Khán to join
them, but the latter turned his face from them, and rode
away towards Umarkót with his band headed by Bághah
Fakír. After a quick march Mír Abdulláh with his men
arrived at Díngarh and encamped there.
When Sardár Madad Khán heard about the disagreement
Sardár Madad Khán goes
to Umarkót where Mír
Fateh Khán is induced to
visit him and to fall in a
trap, but he manages to
escape.
between the Mírs, he tried to
take advantage of their rupture.
He at once marched to Umarkót and
sent flattering messages to Mír Fateh
Khán, calling him to visit him and
promising to get him an honourable position. Mír Fateh
Khán agreed but wanted some assurance. Immediately
Sardár Nawáb Jang was sent by the Sardár, accompanied by
Muhammad Hasan, sent on behalf of Abdunnabí to pledge
word for their masters. They induced Mír Fateh Khán
to come and pay respects to the Sardár, and the Mír
instantly went to Sardár’s tent. After exchanging ordinary
compliments, the Sardár, at first, treated him like an equal,
and kept him pleased with words. After they had travelled
a few stages and encamped at Lóhrí, the Sardár showed
his true colours. He charged the Mír with having been
a rebel, and called upon him to pay two laks of rupees to
secure pardon and freedom. The Mír had no alternative
but to agree to pay the amount. The Sardár next asked
him abount the whereabouts of Mír Abdulláh and his
kinsmen Mír Fateh Alí and Suhráb, telling him at the
same time to write to them and to call them, or else he
would be punished. Dumb with fear, Mír Fateh Khán
wrote the letter dictated by the Sardár and despatched it
with a camelman to Mír Abdulláh. Mír Fateh Khán
coming to his own tent, a guard of 50 men was put over
him, to watch his movements. The Mír now, for the first
time saw that he had committed a blunder in deserting
Mír Abdulláh. He knew that the latter would care very
little for the letter sent by him, and could already imagine
what tortures he would receive after the reply was received.
He therefore determined to escape by some means. He
selected a few horsemen from among his followers and told
them outwordly to go to such and such a village and to
bring such and such a Hindú, that he might take money from
him to give to the Sardár. Secretly, however he instructed
them to wait in a particular place with some fleet horses.
The next night when the guards went to sleep, the Mír
made one of his men sleep in his own bed and putting on
a watchman’s dress left the place and was soon with the
men waiting for him. They galloped hard and did not
rest till they had arrived at the camp of Mír Abdulláh.
When the day broke, the Sardár heard of the escape of
Madad Khán goes from
Lóhrí to Díngarh where the
Mir’s camp is.
Mír Fateh Khán. Men were sent in
all directions in search of him, but
they returned unsuccessful. He soon
learnt that the Mír had safely joined his kinsmen at
Díngarh. His anger knew no bounds and he had the
watchmen beheaded. Forthwith he left Lóhrí and came
to Ubáorah, where he made a halt. From there he sent
messengers to Mír Abdulláh, expressing his friendship
to wards him and advising him not to believe Mír Fateh
Khán, who had not yet seen much of him and did not
know his intentions. “I am anxious” said he, “to meet
you, as I have Abdunnabí with me and I have sworn with
him to bring about reconciliation between you and by way
of recommendation to give his hand into yours. I therefore
urgently request you to meet me. Should you have
any misgivings about me, here, I send the Kórán to you
to assure you of my truthfulness. My object simply is
that this misunderstanding between you both should be
removed and that there should be peace in this country.
For, then, I can go back light-minded to the king and
satisfy him fully about you.”
The Mír was wise enough to see through the crafty
words of the cunning Sardár. His reply was therefore
short and to the point. “I am a man of one word, and
I have said already what I had to say. If I had no regard
for the king, I would, ere this, have come to you to set
matters right.” Immediately he asked Mír Fateh Alí to
make preparations for war and sent word to the Sardár to
expect him very soon. When Madad Khán got this reply,
he became very impatient. He determined to leave the
country for good and that very day crossed the river. He
dismissed Abdunnabí to shift for himself, but he carried
with him his three friends who had been prisoners with
him.*
CHAPTER XII.
THE RULE OF MIÁN ABDUNNABÍ AGAIN.
Left alone and helpless, Abdunnabí thought of trying
Abdunnabí is reconciled
to the Mír and is again recognized
as a ruler.
to be reconciled to the Mír. With
this object in view, he deputed
Bághah Fakír son of Mirzó Fákír to
go to the Mír and settle matters. At the same time he
entreated Muhammad Baháwal, the chief of the Dáúdpótahs
to help him in the affair. Fazlalí Khán’s help was
also sought in the same way.†
Muhammad Baháwal sent
his brother Sardár Khán, who accompanied by Fazlalí and
other chiefs, went to the Mír. Abdunnabí even succeeded
in enlisting the sympathy of Mír Fateh Khán, who
undertook to speak in his favour. Abdunnabí sent a copy
of the Korán to the Mír, with the following words written
in his own hand writing on the margin of the book,— “I
hereby commit to writing and swear by the word of God
that henceforth, I shall remain true to the Mír and will
not prove treacherous.” When the Korán was brought to
the Mír, he got up before it, out of respect. He kissed
it and placed it on his head. He read the words and
accepted them to be true, though he still suspected
treachery. For, there and then, he remarked to his cousin
Mír Fateh Alí “Brother, I lay my head as a sacrifice on
the Korán. I may soon join my grandfather and father
and uncle, and I leave my little children to your care. I
hope you will treat them like a father.” So saying the
Mír walked to the tent of Mián Abdunnabí, in the company
of other nobles. Abdunnabí apparently gave him a
very hearty reception. In the evening he returned the
visit to the Mír and seemed to repent of what he had been
doing so long. Soon they became friends as before and
travelled on together, till they arrived at old Khudábád.
Mián Abdunnabí was now treated as the ruler and the
Mír went over to his court every day, as the fashion was,
along with a few friends or attendants. Abdunnabí was
secretly watching for some opportunity to execute his
nefarious plan. As, however, he could not yet succeed,
he hit upon another treacherous plan. One night he put
on the dress of a beggar and taking an attendant with
him, came privately to the Mír’s residence. He then
addressed him in the following manner,—“O! wise Mír,
either kill me now or make me your prisoner. As I think
you have not yet full faith in the Korán, or my writing
on it, here I am alone and unarmed at your place. You
come to my place with a large number of men, which
shows that some suspicion still lurks in your mind about
me. Now do whatever you like to me.”
The Mír was much ashamed. He gave word to him
that in future he would visit him alone, as thereafter he
had no fear of him. The next morning the Mír sent
away his followers and forces to his own derah or
residence,*
along with his kinsmen and chiefs, Fateh Alí,
Ghulám Alí, Suhráb, Alahyár, Thárah†
and others. Only
he himself, Mír Fateh Khán and Mirzó Fakír remained
behind with a few Balóch attendants and officers. Thereafter
the Mír began to visit Mián Abdunnabí, with one or
two men only.
The Mián now began to laugh in his sleeve, pleased at
Murders of Mírs Abdullah
and Fateh Khán and Mirzó
Fakír by treachery.
the idea that he had at last got an
opportunity to get rid of his enemy.
One day he instructed a number of
his men to appear fully armed in the court the next
morning, when the two Mírs should come to visit him in
the usual manner. The morning came and Mír Abdulláh
with Mír Fateh Khán came to the court. Before they
entered the presence of the Mían, the latter asked some
men to require the Mírs to come to him without their
arms. The men communicated the order to the Mírs,
who thought the Mían was testing their faith and feelings.
For a minute they hesitated, seeing that some treason was
afoot, but they remembered the promise made by them on
the Korán, and resolved to become martyrs. Each of them
quietly removed their swords and handed them over to the
men. Instantly they were surrounded by the Mián’s
armed men and taken prisoners. At the same time some
men ran to the Mír’s tents, where about 100 Balóches were
staying, including Mírzó Fakír, who was confined to bed
owing to illness. A volley of guns was fired at them,
killing a large number of them. Those who survived
were killed with swords, though in doing so, about 200 of
the Mián’s own men lost their lives in the assault made
by the Balóches in their self-defence. An executioner
now appeared at the place, where the two noble prisoners
had been contned and where they were spending their last
moments in reading the Korán. First a blow was given to
Mír Abdulláh and his head rolled down by the side of the
Korán, reddening the sacred pages with his innocent
blood. The next blow was given to the old Mír Fateh
Khán, and his head, separated from his body, struck his
young relation’s head. Thus died these two noble and
innocent chiefs by the treachery of Mián Abdunnabí.*
Mír Abdulláh died leaving two little sons Ghulám
Mír Fateh Alí Khán
succeeds Mír Abdulláh,
occupies the fort of Díngarh
and proceeds against Abdunnabi.
Husain and Bahrám, and Mír Fateh
Khán died leaving two grown up
sons, Mírs Alahyár and Thárah. Mír
Fateh Alí Khán was formally declared
to be the head of the Balóches as
soon as the tragic news was received by them. All were
prostrated with grief at first, but they were soon up,
ready to be revenged on the murderous Abdunnabí. Mír
Fateh Alí Khán wanted to march against him without
any loss of time, but Mír Suhráb proposed to remove their
families and their heavy baggage to the fort of Díngarh
for their safety, and from thence to march against the
enemy. This proposal was approved by all and Mír Fateh
Alí Khán acted accordingly. They came to Díngarh and
occupied the fort. After the families and children were
comfortably lodged, Mir Fateh Alí Khán accompanied by
his brother Mír Ghulám Alí Khán, Mír Suhráb, Mír Fateh
Khán’s sons Alahyár and Thárah, and Bághah Fakír,
started with an army of six thousand selected Balóches.
As that army was small as compared with the enemy’s
army, Mír Suhráb offered to go to Wangah*
and bring
Nindah and other Balóch chiefs with their forces to assist.
The Mír permitted him to do so. Accordingly Mír Suhráb
left his nephew and went to Wangah.
When Abdunnabí heard that Mír Fateh Alí Khán had
Advance of Abdunnabí
to meet the Balóches.
come with a Balóch army to the
battle-field, he advanced with his
forces to meet him. He appointed
Muhammad Hasan Khuháwar to be the Commander-in-Chief
and to go in advance with his Khuháwars. He was
also joined by Biláwal, the son of Rájah Líkhí with a
large squadron. Ghulám Hasan, the son of Alah Baksh
Jhinjan, marched next with his tribesmen. He was
followed by Tájah Sámtiah, Dhingánah Jatóí, Peróz
Kalerí, Peróz Tálpur, with their respective forces, together
with large hordes of Nuhmardís, Khósahs and Afgháns
under the leadership of Sardár Khán and Is-hák Khán.
The number of these fighting men exceeded thirty thousand.
Proceeding with the above forces Mián Abdunnabí came
The battle of Hálání and
the defeat of Abdunnabí.
to Hálání†
about 6 miles from the
Mír’s camp and halted there. Seeing
that the enemy had come prepared to
fight, Mír Fatehalí Khán, without waiting for succour
to be brought by his uncle Mír Suhráb, marched on to
meet them. The two armies met and the bloody work
commenced. Muskets and bows were brought in use at
first. Then the turn of swords came. While the fight
was hot Mír Suhráb arrived with 3,000 brave Balóches.
The leader of the enemy’s advance guard Muhammad
Hasan fought creditably, but he soon fell under the sword
of Mír Fatehalí Khán. His brother Bákar hastened to fill
the vacant place, but he too did not long survive his
brother. Then the Mír ordered a general attack on the
enemy from all sides. Mír Suhráb accordingly fell on the
party of Sámtiahs and cut down Tájah Líkhí and his
brother Alahdád. Mírs Ghulámalí, Alahyár, Thárah as
well as Bághah Fakír each made havoc in the enemy’s
line in his own way, killed a large number and took
others prisoners. In short Abdunnabí could not stand
against the vehement attack of the Balóches and gave
way. He plunged into the water of a lake that was close
to the battle-field and made his escape with a few attendants,
leaving his friends to shift for themselves. Crossing
the lake with some difficulty, he betook himself to the
river and putting himself in a boat went to the other side.
Then he fled once more straight to the hills. The above
battle was fought in the year 1196 A.H. (1782 A.D.)*
The flight of Mián Abdunnabí was followed by a general
route of his army. After gaining this victory, Mír
Fateh Alí Khán came to Naoshahrah †
and halted there.
Biláwal Líkhí was pursued by a force, but escaped by sea
to the Hálár mountains to seek help from the Hindús.
Tájah Fakír, the son of Mehráb Jatóí, and Dhingánah
Jatóí, having repented of having taken the side of the
cowardly Abdunnabí came and joined the Mír with their
forces. The Mír received them well and appointed Tájah
to his father’s post, giving Tájah’s place to Dhingánah.
CHAPTER XIII.
THE ASCENDENCY OF MÍR FATEH ALÍ KHÁN TÁLPUR.
Mián Abdunnabí had long before this privately given
Death of Mír Suhráb’s
brother Ghulám Muhammad
at the hands of Rájpúts.
Umarkót to Bajesing, the Rájah of
Jódhpur, by taking a sum of money‡
The Rájah accordingly put a garrison
of Rájpúts into the fort. When they received the news
of the Mír’s victory, they sent messengers to the Rájah
informing him of the fact, and requesting him to send
fresh supplies of provisions and forces for defence against
an attack by the enemy that appeared to be now most
probable Accordingly the Rájah sent a hundred camel-loads
of provisions and 2,000 men to Umarkót, and they
were on their way to that place. Unfortunately, Mír Ghulám
Muhammad, brother to Mír Suhráb Khán, had been
out on a hunting excursion in that direction and happend
to meet this party of Rájpúts. The Mír, with his party
which consisted of about one hundred men, attacked the
advance party of the Rájpúts, who were not more than
300 men. About 100 out of these were cut down by the
Balóches and the remaining 200 fled back to join the main
column. They were pursued by the Balóches, who were
ignorant of the large numbers coming behind. But they
soon found their mistake, for they were surrounded by the
overwhelming force and one and all cut to pieces, after
themselves killing 300 Rájpúts. This event occurred in
the year 1201 A.H. (1786 A.D.)
When Mír Suhráb came to know of this event, his grief
Revenge of Mír Suhráb.
and anger knew no bounds. Instantly
taking an army with him he
started to wreak vengeance on the enemy. He was
followed by fresh columns sent to his assistance by Mír
Fateh Alí Khán. They soon overtook the Rájpúts, in
their own country, and killed a large number of them.
After plundering the country and razing to the ground
several idol-houses, the victorious Balóches returned to
their native place.
For the third time now, Mían Abdunnabí went to Kalát
Abdunnabí’s going again
to Muhammad Nasír for
help and the correspondeuce
between the latter chief and
the Mír.
to seek help from Muhammad Nasír,
the chief of the place. He promised
to give him half of Sind in return
for his services. But the chief had
not forgotten the losses already
suffered by him on the Mían’s account in fighting with
the Balóches. And so he refused to do anything in the
matter, seeing that neither the royal forces, nor the Rájpúts,
nor the Nuhmardís could help him successfully
against the Balóches. But the Mían repeated his entreaties
and appealed to his good sense and feelings.
Muhammad Nasír was thus obliged to stir once more in
his case. But before collecting his forces, he wrote a
letter to Mír Fateh Alí Khán, requesting him to send a
wise ambassador of his, in order that he might discuss with
him on various important political matters. The Mír
agreed to the suggestion and sent Kaisar Fakír Nizámání,*
an old counseller of his to the court of Kalát. At the
interview that ensued between him and Muhammad
Nasír, the latter sent the following message to the Mír:—
“This shameless Abdunnabí has come to me for the third
time to seek help. I have told him clearly that I do not
wish to do anything in the matter, but he still presses in
moving terms. I have therefore determined to get him
away somehow and have promised to give him a force to
take him safely up to Khudábád. After that I have nothing
to do with him and you may deal with him, then, as
you wish.” He told the ambassador to request the Mír not
to oppose his force, but to go out on a hunting excursion
about the time, to show that the plan had not been prearranged.
Theenvoy returned to the Mír and communicated
the proposal to him. The Mír wrote a reply to the chief of
Kalát agreeing to the proposal but telling him to instruct
his force to come up to the river only and not to cross it.
“If they cross the river this side,” said he, “they should
not consider us far off; any one coming this side will be
liable to be treated rudely and punished.”
Soon after this, Mír Fateh Ali Khán, started on a hunting
The Mír’s withdrawal
from the capital on a sham
excursion.
excursion in the direction of Wangah.
The Balóches learning the true facts,
hesitated to go with the Mír, as they
were unwilling to let their enemy go unpunished. But
on the Mír’s persisting in carrying out the plan that he
had considered most expedient, the Balóches gave in and
followed their leader. When they arrived at Nasarpur,
they asked the Mír’s permission to proclaim to the people
of different towns the desirability of their joining the Mír
in the excursion for fear lest in his absence the enemy do
harm to them or plunder their towns and villages. Many
people accordingly joined the party. Unfortunately some of
the rude Balóches of the hills of Káchhah, who had arrived
about this time, seeing the Mír with his army at a long
distance, were induced to plunder certain villages. The
Mír on getting the news, was very angry. He compelled
them to return the stolen property to the owners and
insisted that they should never do such a thing again.
From Nasarpur the Mír proceeded to Wangah, where
he spent about two months in amusing himself with
hunting, at the same time watching anxiously that the
arrangement made be carried out without any bad result.
Meanwhile Mián Abdunnabí taking an army of Bróhís,
Arrival of Mián Abdunnabí
with the Kalát force at
Hatrí in the Siwistán
District and his ill-treatment
at the hands of the
same force.
given to him by Muhammad Nasír,
came to Hatrí in the District of
Siwistán. He had chosen a place for
crossing the river, but wanted to await
the arrival of a Rájpút force, for
which it appears he had secretly arranged with the Rájah
of Jódhpur. He would not dismiss the Bróhís who became
impatient to go back, especially as they demanded provisions
and money. He was therefore obliged to hint to
the Bróhís to secure the necessary expenses by plundering
the country. But as most of the villages about the place
had been purposely deserted by the residents the Bróhís
could get nothing by such means. They therefore became
clamorous and prepared to go back without ceremony.
Abdunnabí had sent men to ask the Rájpút forces to come
faster, but they said that unless the Mián crossed the river
first, they would not come to his help. Hearing this
Abdunnabí became very uneasy. The clamorous Bróhís
had no alternative but to plunder Abdunnabí’s own camp,
carrying away horses, camels, tents, in fact anything on
which they could lay hands. They deserted him and
started for their native country.
At this crisis Abdunnabí thought it better to leave the
place and take protection in the district of the Derahs,
and he forthwith started in that direction. The Rájpút
force, having waited long on the borders of theír country
and hearing that Abdunnabí had gone away without
crossing the river, returned to their capital. This event
occurred in the year 1197 A.H. (1783 A.D.)
When Mír Fateh Alí Khán got the above news, he left
The Mír returns to Khudábád
and punishes the Nuhmardís
and other refractory
tribes.
off hunting and returned to Khudábád.
On his way, arriving at
Haidarábád, he ordered Bághah Fakír
to go and punish the Nuhmardís and take them prisoners.
This general collected 200 boats in order to cross the river
and go against that tribe. The Nuhmardís hearing of the
expedition against them surrendered and sought the Mír’s
pardon, which was granted them.
Soon after this, Ghulám Alí son of Kaisar Fakír
Nízámání, who was the administrator of Tattá and Háji
Ahmad Khizmatgár (or servant) were ordered to march
with a large army to Kakrálah. Accordingly the two
generals went to that capital of the Hindús, slaughtered
a large number of them, and returned to their places.
Mír Fateh Alí Khán now left Khudábád and fixed his
residence at Sháhpúr. From there he sent Hájí Ahmad
to go with a strong force to take the fort of Haidarábád
by siege.
After some days, the news arrived that Mián Abdunnabí
The Mír sends his envoys
to the Court of King Taimúr
Sháh.
after spending some days in the
Derahs, had gone to the camp of
King Taimúr Sháh, in order to seek
justice at his hands. Diwán Gidúmal, the faithful courtier
of the Mír, was the first to get the news and he advised his
master to send some envoys to the King’s Court to plead
his own cause against the complaints of the Mián. The
Diwán’s suggestion was seconded by Mír Ghulám Alí and
was willingly accepted by the Mír, who elected Sayyed
Ibrahím Sháh*
and Kaisar Fakír Nizámání with Mirzá
Ghulám Alí to go as ambassadors to the royal court. The
party soon left for their destination.
Fazlalí Khán, a chief of the Dáúdpótahs, who was on
The Mír assists the chief
of the Dáúdpótahs against
Akhtiyár Khán.
very friendly terms with the Mír,
having been driven away from his
country by Akhtiyár Khán, a neighbouring
chief, came to the Mír appealing for help. The
Mír promptly responded to his appeal and started with
large forces in the company of Fazalí Khán. Arriving
within the territory of Akhtiyár Khán, they commenced
predatory excursions. The chief was so much frightened
by the action of the Balóches that he quietly came forward
and surrendered. The bordering tracts which formed the
bone of contention or the cause of dispute between the two
chiefs were ceded to Fazlalí Khán and two laks of rupees
were fixed as indemnity for war expenditure to the Mír
on Akhtiyár Khán. As the money could not be paid by
the chief, within the fixed period, he left his brother in
the fort and himself escaped at midnight to seek shelter
somewhere else, as Abdunnabí had done. The next
morning, when the Mír heard of his flight, he sent a
column in pursuit of him and blockaded the fort, which
soon fell into the hands of the Mír together with its
occupants. But Muhammad Baháwal the ruler of the
Daúdpótahs arrived in time to intercede for them, and on
receipt of the indemnity from the people of the fort, they
were pardoned.
Mír Fateh Alí returned to Sháhpur and there got a
The fort of Haidarábád
is taken.
letter from his General Hájí Ahmad
informing him that he had taken the
fort of Haidarábád, without much
bloodshed, for the magazines in the fort had accidentally
caught fire*
and had facilitated the taking possession of
it.
It has been mentioned that Abdunnabí after spending
Abdunnabí and the Mír’s
envoys at the court of the
king.
some time in the Derahs had gone to
the court of Taimúr Sháh, complaining
against the Mír and that the Mír too
had sent his envoys to represent and defend his cause.
Abdunnabí’s cause was espoused by Mahfúz Khán, who
constantly recommended him to the king for favour.
Meanwhile the Mír’s envoys submitted a petition to the
king on behalf of their master, describing in details the
mischievous conduct of Abdunnabí in very pathetic terms.
“How long” wrote Mír Fateh Alí Khán in his letter,
“May I trouble your majesty with the enumeration of
his cruelties. He murdered my uncle, who had always
served him faithfully. He murdered my dear relations
Abduiláh and Fateh Khán in cold blood. He wrote one
thing on the Korán and did another. He paid no reverence
to the word of God. Then, what did he not do to
his own relations, young and old, who all died cruel deaths
at his treacherous hands. All these men have gone to
the august court of God with complaints against him and
will surely find justice there. Such a person is unworthy
of your majesty’s favour and help.”
The above letter had the desired effect as it moved the
king in favour of the Mír. The envoys, at the same time,
succeeded in enlisting the sympathies of some of the
influential courtiers, who now and then began to speak
highly of the Mír. In the conversation that ensued in
the court on the subject in question, the Mír’s envoys
showed great cleverness in proving Abdunnabí to be a
villain of the deepest dye. The result was that the king
issued an order to the effect that the province of Sind be
divided into two halves, one-half going to Abdunnabí and
the other half to Mír Fateh Alí Khán. An officer was
appointed to go as an arbitrator and divide the country,
and a force under the command of Bóstán Khán and
Ikhlás Khán was directed to accompany Abdunnabí to
reinstate him in his portion of the country. This was
done, because Abdunnabí feigned fear of the Balóches,
who, said he, were numerous and might cause trouble.
The Mír’s envoys duly communicated to the Mír the
The Mír moves with an
army to meet the royal forces
bringing Abdunnabí.
king’s decision, and not being quite
satisfied with it, they stayed behind
to make a further attempt in favour
of their master, their object being to secure for him a
sanad for the whole country, to the rejection of Abdunnabí’s
claims.
When Mír Fateh Alí Khán got the news, he marched
with 40,000 Balóches to Lóhrí in order to meet the royal
forces coming with Mián Abdunnabí. The latter hearing
of the approach of the Mír, thought it proper to halt and
inform the king about it. Meanwhile the Mír’s envoys
at the court had succeeded in their attempt and had a
sanad issued in favour of the Mír as against the Mián, and
an order to Abdunnabí and the two generals to turn back
to the king’s camp. The Mír’s envoys were given robes
of honour and were sent back with presents. They
immediately wrote to the Mír preventing him from sending
the army across the river and informing him that
their object was gained.
Soon the king’s order was received by his generals and
The return of the royal
force and the death of
Mahfúz Khán.
they turned back with Abdunnabí
whose despair and chagrin might well
be imagined. His patron Mahfúz
Khán tried to console him and promised to get him an
estate in the district of the Deráhs for his maintenance
from the king. But unfortunately for Abdunnabí before
the Khán had travelled over two stages, he fell ill and
died. This event further disconcerted Abdunnabí, who
now lost all hopes of getting Sind back or any landed
estates. He was therefore compelled to accept retirement
with dignity.*
The Mír’s envoys soon arrived bringing with them the
Mír Fateh Alí Khán is
appointed the ruler of Sind.
sanad of his appointment as ruler of
the whole of Sind, together with the
royal presents consisting of a robe of
honour and some Arab horses. Mír Fateh Alí Khán
putting on the robe took his seat on the masnad amid
loud acclamations of joy and congratulations from the
Balóches.
THE RULE OF MÍR FATEH ALÍ KHÁN.
After a time, some of the Balóch chiefs severed their
The king again sends a
force to reinstate Abdunnabí.
connection with Mír Fateh Alí Khán
for certain reasons and retired from
public service. When Abdunnabí,
who was living on pension, heard of this, he sent a person
with his petition to king Taimúr Sháh. The latter was
at Jalálábád then. The Mían stated in the petition that
disagreement had broken out between Mír Fateh Alí
Khán and the Balóch chiefs; that Mír Suhráb had
written to him calling him and promising to join him;
and that if his majesty would assist him at such a juncture,
he would get back his heriditary right and pray for
his kindness. The king felt compassion for him. He
ordered an army to go under the command of Ahmad
Khán Núrzáí and Bóstán Khán to reinstate Abdunnabí.
At the same time an order was sent to Muhammad Nasír,
the Bróhí ruler of Kalát, to despatch a force to join
Abdunnabí and Bóstán Khán. Accordingly that chief
sent a force under a grandson of his, who joined the royal
column at Derah Ghází Khán. The joint forces then
crossed the river and came to the country of Muhammad
Baháwal Khán Dáúdpótah. The latter, out of fear, fled
to the sandy desert. The forces thence proceeded to Sind,
plundering the country along the march.
Mír Fateh Alí Khán, though very anxious to check
Mír Fateh Alí Khán advances
with an army and
defeats the royal force.
the attacking forces, did not like to
infringe the rules of etiquette by
opposing the sovereign power. He
therefore sent Sayyed (Ághá) Ibráhím Sháh as an envoy
to the king, to request that as he had been regularly
paying his annual tribute and sending other presents, his
majesty might not be so unkind towards him.
Soon information was received that the enemy had
arrived on the borders of Sind. The Mír immediately
ordered the collection of forces, which work was entrusted
to Mír Ghulám Alí Khán. Meanwhile at the suggestion
of Bághah Fakír, he ordered that the families and children
of Balóches be taken to Kachh and Jesalmer, so that they
should be safe from the assaults of the enemy. Ahmad
Khán Núrzáí had now advanced as far as Lóhrí. At this
juncture Mír Suhráb Khán wrote on a blank page of the
Korán, calling on Mír Fateh Alí Khán to come with his
army to fight against the enemy and assuring him
solemnly that he was ready to join him. Accordingly
the Mír started with his army to meet the enemy. He
destroyed the bridges made for the enemy’s army to
cross the river. When he arrived within two stages
of the enemy, Mír Suhráb sent some excuses for not
joining the Mír, and forgetting the solemn promises
made on the Korán, left for Sháhgarh. He locked
himself up in the fort and waited there to see what
the result of the engagement would be. The Mír had
now no help but to proceed against the enemy alone. He
had 2,000 men to fight against 40,000 Afgháns. There
was a big canal flowing between them, the water in which
was very deep. The Afgháns were in possession of it.
When Mír Fateh Alí Khán arrived on this side of the
canal, he commenced firing guns at the enemy, who
readily responded. Amidst this fire the Mír ordered his
horsemen to plunge into water and swim across the canal.
They then fell on the enemy, sword in hand. A bloody
battle ensued. Bostán Khán and the Bróhí chief, the son of
Zarak,*
were killed and Ahmad Khán Núrzáí was put to
flight. Retreating about 6 miles, Abdunnabí advised
Ahmad Khán to make a halt there in order to be able to
make a sudden nocturnal attack on the Balóches. But
Ahmad Khán had already lost heart and seeing a detachment
still pursuing him, he lost all hopes of escape even.
He was therefore obliged to sue for protection to the Mír,
who called back his detachment. This event occurred in
1202 A.H. (1787 A.D.).
When king Taimúr Sháh heard of Ahmad Khán’s defeat
King Taimúr Sháh himself
marches against the Mír,
but he returns from
Baháwalpur.
he was very angry. Immediately, he
started with a large army for Sind.
At Kandhár he was joined by Prince
Mahmúd Khán. He then proceeded
straight against Shikárpur. The men had to suffer much
in the way for want of water. At Multán, Muhammad
Nasír Khán Bróhí joined his camp. Next, the king
encamped in the territory of Muhammad Baháwal Dáúdpótah,
who had already fled to the desert out of fear.
Mír Fateh Alí Khán hearing of the approach of the king
wrote a petition to him giving an explanation of his conduct
in reference to his fight with Ahmad Khán. “I tried my
best,” said he, “to avoid fighting, but Ahmad Khán would
have nothing but war. I was therefore obliged to take the
defensive. Unfortunately the Khán was defeated. If I
had not checked my Balóches, none of the Afgháns with him
would have returned safely.” When the king got this letter,
he held a council. Most of the councillors were of opinion
that it would be impossible to administer the country of Sind
through some Afghán Chief or any other person and that
Mír Fateh Alí Khan was a fit person for the post. About
the same time the king received a letter from princes
Zamán Khán and Ayyúb Khán at Kábul informing him
that Sháh Murád Khán, the Súbahdár of Balkh, had
raised the standard of revolt and was marching against
Kábul with an army of Turcomans and other tribes. At
such a juncture, therefore, the king had no alternative but
to march back to Kábul.
When Mír Fateh Alí Khán heard of the king’s
The Mír returns to
Haidarábád which is made
the Capital.
return to Kábul, he returned to
Haidarábád, where he arrived in 11
days. At the same time he wrote to
his brothers Mír Karam Alí Khan and Mír Murad Alí
Khán, who had gone to Thar with their families, to come
back to Haidarábád. These events occurred in the year
1204 A.H. (1789 A.D.). In the same year two forts were
built in Thar, viz., Fatehgarh and Islámgarh,*
that were
80 miles apart. The Rájahs of the neighbouring States
objected, but the Mír paid no regard to their objections.
The town of Haidarábád was now selected by the Mír
to be his future capital. Accordingly he built some
houses in the fort for himself and his brothers and removed
from Khudábád to that place. Some mosques
were built, namely, those known by the names of Mulla
Rahmatulláh’s mosque, Tálibsháh’s mosque (which is
near the fort gate and had originally been built by Mìan
Ghulámsháh) and Máí Khairí’s †
mosque. All these
buildings were built in the course of 9 months.
Next year 1205 A.H. (1790 A. D.) Taimúr Sháh after
Another royal force is
sent to Sind but peace is
made and the Mír is again
confirmed as the ruler.
quenching the rebellion in Balkh and
chastising the ringleaders, again sent
an army to Sind under the command
of Páindah Khán, who came to
Shikárpur by ordinary marches. Mír Fateh Alí Khán
advanced to meet him. Arriving near the place, he made
a halt in order to know the feelings of the General of the
royal forces. The latter, who had been already instructed
to try to settle the matter without bloodshed, sent some
envoys to treat for peace which the Mír was already
anxious to secure. After some discussion it was settled
that the Mírs should in future give as much tribute to the
King as the Kalhórahs used to pay to the late King
Ahmadsháh. The treaty was drawn up and signed.
Páindah Khán presented a dress of honour, an elephant
with a howdah and a sword set with jewels, to the Mír,
on behalf of the king and gave him a fresh sanad with
the signature and seal of the king, confirming him as the
ruler of Sind. To acknowledge this favour, Mír Fateh
Alí Khán sent his envoy, Díwán Jaspatrái*
with rich
presents to Kábul. On his return, the Mír put on the
dress of honour and riding the elephant came to Haidarábád,
with the pomp and glory of a ruler. This happened
in the year 1207 A.H. (1792 A. D.).
It has been mentioned before, that Zarak Khán, son-in-law
The Division of Kúrs is
acquired by the Mír.
to Muhammad Nasír, the Khán
of Kalát was killed, while fighting
for Abdunnabí with the Mír. As a
compensation for that loss, Abdunnabí had ceded the tract
of country watered by Kúrs or streams of rain water to
the Khán.†
Now that the Mír had become the sole ruler
of Sind, he wanted to have back that division. Before
taking it by force of arms, he was advised by his brother
Mír Ghulám Alí Khán to apply for it to the king by
giving some plausible reason. This was done and the
king ordered the Khán of Kalát to return that part of
country to the Mír. The Khán raised some objections
and made some excuses, but he was after all obliged to
comply with the king’s mandate. The division was
accordingly taken back about the close of the above year.
Next year 1208 A.H. (1793 A.D.) Taimúr Sháh died
Death of Taimúr Sháh
and the division of Sind
among different Mírs.
and was succeeded by his third son
Zamán Sháh. According to the old
custom, the new king sent a dress
of honour to Mír Fateh Alí Khán with a fresh sanad confirming
the former one. After that, Mír Fateh Alí Khan
had no occasion to go out and therefore remained in his
capital. He divided the country of Sind into seven shares.
He retained three shares for himself, gave two shares to Mír
Suhráb Khán,*
one share he reserved for his own relations
and one he gave to Mír Thárah Khán, Mír Mahmúd
Khán, Mír Ghulám Husain Khán, Mír Bahrám Khán,
and other Tálpurs.†
Similarly Balóches and tribesmen
were divided into 3 parties for the 3 sets of Mírs, who
began to live independently in their own divisions of
country. Mír Thárah gave a part of his share to Mír
Fateh Alí Khán for the contribution of the annual tribute
to be given to the king, but Mír Suhráb Khán wanted to
have direct connection with the sovereign power by paying
his share of tribute directly. In this way seven years
passed away peacefully.
In 1216 A.H. (1801 A.D.) about the close of Zulhajj
Death of Mír Fateh Alí
Khán.
Mír Fateh Alí Khán fell ill with a
carbuncle. Seeing his end near, he
made his will, appointing his brother
Mír Ghulám Alí in his own place. After 5 or 6 days he
expired on the 10th of Muharram 1217 A.H. (1802 A.D.).
His body was taken to Khudábád and buried there in
order that his bones might rest with those of his grand
relations.‡
CHAPTER XV.
THE RULE OF MÍR GHULÁM ALÍ KHÁN.
The coronation ceremony of Mír Ghulám Alí Khán
Battle with Mír Thárah
Khán at Mírpúr.
took place on the 16th of Muharram
1217 A.H. (1802 A.D.). It is said
that on the day of Mír Fateh Alí
Khán’s death, a son was born to him, who was called
Sóbdár Khán.*
Balóch chiefs of different places came to
the capital to condole with Mír Ghulám Alí Khán on the
death of the late Mír and to congratulate him on his
becoming ruler and being blessed with a nephew. Mír
Suhráb Khán came for the same purpose and was received
well by the Mír, but Mír Thárah Khán, who lived at his
own town of Mírpur and had been dissatisfied with some
of the Mír’s arraugements, did not come to visit him on
such an occasion. He entertained certain vain thoughts
and sought an excuse to openly fall out with the Mír.
This he soon got.
One day a villager belonging to Mír Thárah’s division
stole some melons from the field of another villager
belonging to Mír Ghulám Alí Khán’s division. The thief
was taken to the Mír’s Kárdár, who kept him in confinement
by way of punishment. The Kárdár of Mír Thárah,
coming to know of this, came with a number of people
and by force released the man. In the riot that ensued
two or three men of both the sides lost their lives. The
matter coming to the notice of Mír Thárah Khán, he
assembled his forces to wage war with the Mír. Mír
Ghulám Alí Khán, not being disposed to fight with a
relation, tried to pacify him with words. But Mír
Thárah would not be pacified. At last Mír Ghulám Alí
Khán was obliged to send his uncle Mír Mahmúd Khán
with an army and some guns to Mírpur. At the Tandrah†
of Nindah the two armies met. Mír Thárah Khán had
dug a ditch round his camp and placed guns there to
repel the enemy. Mír Ghulám Alí Khán divided his
army into two columns, one he kept under his own
command and another he gave to Táhar Khizmatgár, a
servant of his. The action began with a cannonade, then
followed musketry firing, and lastly swords were drawn
by the combatants. A bloody battle was fought, in which
many lives were lost on both sides. Mír Thárah Khán
was at last wounded and taken prisoner. He was taken
in a litter with appropriate respect, to Haidarábád. In
this battle 410 men of Mír Ghulám Alí’s army and 300
of Mír Thárah’s were killed. Mír Thárah was well
received and treated kindly by Mír Ghulám Alí Khán.
After he was quite cured, he was sent back to Mírpur
with some elephants, horses and other presents. This
event occurred in the year 1218 A.H. (1803 A.D.).
About the close of the same year, Shujául Mulk succeeded
King Zamán Sháh succeeded
by Shujául Mulk.
his brother Zamán Sháh on the
throne of Kábul. As Zamán Sháh had
proved himself a cruel person, his
wazír, Fateh Khán left him and went to Kandáhár, where
he instigated prince Mahmúd Khán to claim the throne
as a right and promised to espouse his cause. Previous
to this, Fateh Alí Sháh Kajár, the king of Persia, had
defeated Zamán Sháh and taken him prisoner, at the same
time torturing him by passing a red hot iron wire through
his eyes. On receiving the news, the chiefs of the State
raised Shujául Mulk to the throne. This event occurred
in the year 1215 A.H. (1800 A.D).
In 1218 A. H. (1803 A. D.) Shujául Mulk invaded
Shujául Mulk invades
Sind, but returns after
taking indemnity and
tribute.
Sind, with a large army. The people
of the province were so frightened
that most of them deserted their
towns and villages fleeing to the
sandy desert of Thar. Mír Ghulám Alí Khán taking an
army with him marched to Shikárpur to face the enemy,
having left his brother Mír Murád Alí Khán in his own
place at Haidarábád. Arriving at Ládkánah he was met by
Mír Suhráb Khán. After some consultation, they sent
envoys to the king’s wazír Háfiz Sher Muhammad
Khán, requesting him to settle the matter amicably.
Accordingly it was arranged that the Mírs should pay
ten laks of rupees there and then, and promise to pay 5 laks
as a tribute every year regularly. The terms were
accepted and the king marched back to Kábul. The
Mír then returned to Haidarábád.
About this time Muhammad Nasír Khán, the Khán of
Treaty and matrimonial
connection with the Khán
of Kalát.
Kalát died. His sister Máí Zainab
put her nephew Mahmúd Khán on
the vacant seat of rulership. Though
there had been disagreement between the Mírs and the
late Khán, Mír Ghulám Alí Khán thought it advisable to
renew the old friendship with the new Khán. With that
object in view he sent envoys to condole with the Khán’s
sister and her nephew on their recent bereavement and
to moot the matter of renewing the friendship. Soon a
treaty was made and signed by both parties, who promised
to remain friends in future and never to transgress the
boundaries then existing between their territories. At
the same time, a matrimonial arrangement was made by
which Máí Zainab gave the hand of her niece to Mír
Ghulám Alí Khán. Preparations for the marriage were
accordingly made. Máí Zainab came to Bhágnárí where
Mír Ghulám Alí Khán also came with his relations and
kinsmen. More than 40,000 men met on the occasion
and the marriage was celebrated with great pomp. After
3 days Mír Ghulám Alí Khán started for Haidarábád with
his bride and attendants.
Shortly after this, Sayyed Zulfikár Sháh, one of the
The Mír’s army invades
the Baháwalpur territory,
but a treaty is made.
respectable Sayyeds of Uch, being
ill-treated by Muhammad Sádik Khán,
the chief of the Daúdpótahs, brought
a complaint to the Mír. The latter wrote a letter of advice
to the Khán recommending the Sayyed to him. But
Muhammad Sádik Khán instead of showing kindness
began to harass and annoy the Sayyeds of Uch all the
more. This angered Mír Ghulám Alí Khan, who sent
Táhar Khizmatgár and other headmen, to invade the
Baháwalpur territory and to chastise the ruler of the place.
When this army arrived in the said territory, they took
possession of several places after some fighting. Muhammad
Sádik Khán was at last obliged to sue for peace, which
was granted. It was settled that the land granted in
charity to the Sayyeds of Uch by the elders of the Khán,
should remain in their possession, that the district of
Sabzalgarh*
be ceded to the Mír and that the Khán’s son
Baháwal Khán be given up as a hostage, pending the
carrying out of the terms of the peace. Accordingly Táhar
with his own forces and the hostage, returned to Haidarábád.
When he reached Kashmór, which formed the
boundary of Sind, he sailed by boat for Haidarábád and
dismissed the Balóches who had been with him. In 3 days
he arrived at the Tandah*
of Háji Mír Khán and halted
there, having informed the Mír beforehand. The latter
sent his son Mír Muhammad Khán to receive the Dáúdpótah
prince and to escort him to the fort of Haidarábád.
The Mír treated Baháwal Khán very kindly, and after
keeping him for some time allowed him to depart to his
native country. The district of Sabzalgarh was annexed
to Sind and thenceforth remained under the rule of the
Mírs.
In the same year, a famine occurred in Kachh to such
Famine in Kachh and
Sind and the Mír’s generosity
in that respect.
an extent that the people of the
country flocked to Sind in large
numbers, selling their children for
Rs. 3 or 4 per child. Corn became a great scarcity in
Sind, jwárí and bájrí selling for 6 seers per kórah rupee.†
Mír Ghulam Alí Kbán distributed heaps of corn in charity
among the poor and famine-stricken people. After some
time, when the famine had subsided, the Kachhís returned
to their native country. Rái Bhárah, the Ráo of Kachh,
hearing of the miseries of his people, wrote a friendly
letter to the Mír requesting that the children sold and
purchased in Sind be returned to him. Accordingly the
Mír ordered Fakírah Khizmatgár‡,
his chief minister, to
collect such children from all the Balóch chiefs and
ordinary people, who had purchased them, on payment,
from the Mír’s treasury, of the prices paid by them. They
were then sent to Bhuj with some trustworthy men of the
Mír, through the British Resident. For this act of grace
and mercy the Ráo of Kachh as well as the British Government
were very much pleased with the Mír and felt
grateful to him.
After two years of peaceful reign had elapsed, Mír
Death of Mír Ghulám Alí
Khan.
Ghulám Alí Khán happened one day
to go on a shooting excursion. He
shot a deer, which he began to slay.
In the act of slaying it, the deer moved its head, and the
point of its horn grazed the back of the Mír’s foot causing
a wound, which bled profusely. The physicians of Sind
tried their best to stop the bleeding by applying acids,
which caused a great deal of swelling and pain. Ultimately
the wound proved fatal and Mír Ghulám Alí Khán
died on the 6th of Jamádissání 1227 A.H. (1811 A.D.)*
CHAPTER XVI.
THE RULE OF MÍR KARAM ALÍ KHÁN.
Though Mír Ghulám Alí Khán had a son, viz., Mír
Encouragement of art,
science and trade.
Mír Muhammad, on whose head his
father’s turban was placed, his brother
Mír Karam Alí Khán, became the
ruler of Sind. His coronation ceremony was performed
after 7 days of mourning on account of the late Mír’s
death. The Mír carried on the administration of Sind in
consultation with his younger brother Mír Murad Alí
Khán. In fact since the time of Mír Fateh Alí Khán the
four brothers had lived together so affectionately and
ruled the country with one another’s advice so wisely,
that they were termed “The four friends.”
Mír Karam Alí Khán was a very just and wise ruler.
His reign was a peaceful reign in which no war took
place. Consequently he had ample time to devote to the
promotion of art and science and to the encouragement of
commerce. Being a literary man himself, his court was
crowded with poets and learned men. He contracted
friendship with Fateh Alí Sháh Kájár, the then king of
Persia, and consequently envoys used to come and go
between the two rulers, exchanging presents. As the
Mír was fond of swords, rich and beautiful swords were
imported from different countries*
and many good sword-makers,
as well as good writers, painters, besides men of
art and science, came from Persia and Khurásán to live in
the town of Haidarábád.
In the reign of Mír Karam Alí Khán two men became
Some note-worthy persons
of thís reign.
celebrated in Sind. The first was
Sayyed Muhammad Ráshid Sháh who
was a well known saint and spiritual
guide,†
and the other was Sábit Alí, who was a Sindí poet.‡
The latter wrote a number of elegies describing the
martyrdom of the Imáms or grandsons of the prophet,
under the orders of Yazíd.
As mentioned in the beginning of this chapter the Mír’s
envoys used to go to Persia with presents for the king of
that country. A few years before this time, war had been
going on between Russia and Persia about the province of
Georgia, the Governor of which Heracleus had shaken off
the yoke of Persia and had since been defeated and put to
flight. Heracleus’ son Gurgín Khán was then assisted by
Paul, the then Czar of Russia, against the invasion of
Muhammad Khán, king of Persia. Some bloody battles
were fought, after which Georgia passed out of Persia’s
hands and became a dependency of Russia.
In the above wars several Georgian children had been
seized by the Persian invaders and sold in the Bazárs of
Isphán, the capital of Persia. Among these were Mirzá
Khusróbeg, Mirzá Fredúnbeg, Mirzá Muhammad Bákar
and a few others, who were brought by the Mír’s envoys
from Persia to Sind. Mír Karam Alí Khán had no issue,
though he had four harams (wives). So he became very
fond of Mirzá Khusróbeg, who was the first Georgian
brought to him and who was the son of a Georgian chief,
who had fought in the late wars in the cause of his country.
The Mír looked upon him as an adopted son and treated
him accordingly. He was naturally an intelligent person
and soon rose to be an influential courtier and minister.
The other Georgian, Mirzá Fredúnbeg, who came later,
was equally treated kindly and was attached to Mirzá
Khusróbeg, both of whom thenceforth lived together as
relations and members of one family.*
The third Georgian
Mirzá Bákarbeg was retanied by Mír Murád Alí
Khán. Many other foreigners came voluntarily from
different places about this time and became permanent residents
at Haidarábád, as already mentioned.
Mír Karam Alí Khán was the first ruler of Sind
A commercial treaty with
the British Government.
who contracted friendship with the
British Government†
It was in his
reign that Major Skeene came from
Sir John Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay, as an envoy,
with some rare presents for the Mír and his brother. The
Major was to come from Kachh, and the Mír sent a
number of officers to receive him at the boundary of Sind
and to escort him to the capital. The envoy was received
by the two brothers in open court and was shown great
kindness. After some interesting conversation, the Mírs
retired to their residence in the Tandáh of Nawáb Walí
Muhammad. After two or three days the British envoy
again got an audience and a commercial treaty was drawn
up, signed and sealed by the Mírs. There were three
conditions in it, viz:—
| 1. |
That no European should employ any native in his service. |
| 2. |
That the officer coming to take the survey of the river Indus,
should not be prohibited from or hindered in doing his
work. |
| 3. |
That any person coming through Kachh, with articles of
trade, bearing a pass from the Governor of Bombay, should
be free from any tax or toll. |
|
After the treaty was signed Major Skeene returned to
Kachh. |
After this treaty free communication commenced between
Sind and Bombay. Before this time the people of
Sind going on a pilgrimage to Mecca, were greatly troubled
by the Portuguese, and therefore merchants were afraid of
trading with Bombay and other ports. But now it was
widely proclaimed that traders could safely visit Bombay
and other places by sea. The result was that commerce
was greatly encouraged and foreign articles began to be
sold in the bazárs of Sind.*
In 1230 A. H. (1814 A. D.) Sháh Shujá being defeated
Shujául Mulk comes to
Sind, but is driven away by
the arrival of King Ayyúb
Sháh.
by Muhammad Azím Khán came to
Haidarábád. It may be mentioned
here that when Mahmúd Sháh
with the assistance of Fateh Alí Sháh,
king of Persia, took his step-brother, Zamán Sháh prisoner
and blinded him, the chiefs of Kábul raised the blinded
prince’s brother Shujául Mulk to the throne. But he was
soon removed and Ayyúb Sháh placed on the throne to
represent the dynasty of Ahmad Sháh Duráni. This
prince too proved a failure like his predecessor. Mahmúd
Sháh being afraid of Azím Khán went to Herát and settled
there. Sháh Shujá who entertained great fear of Azím
Khán and other Afghán chiefs fled to Jalálábád, and
thence to Sind. He came so secretly to the town of Haidarabád
that no one knew about him. He put up at a place
near the Tandah of Aghá Ibráhím Sháh on the bank of
the Phulelí, the big canal flowing to the east of Haidarábád.
When Alí Baksh son of Fakírah Khizmatgár, who
was the Kótwál of the town, informed the Mírs of the
ex-King’s arrival, the latter sent some tents and kanáts
and provisions to him. After two or three days, the Mírs
paid him a visit and did their best to console the deposed
king and to keep him comfortable. An army was soon
collected that escorted him to Shikárpur.
When Muhammad Azím Khán heard this, he instigated
Ayyúb Sháh to march with an army to Sind to fight with
the Mírs, and frighten away Sháh Shujá. The two armies
met at Shikárpur, but soon a treaty was made by which
the Mírs promised to pay 12 laks of rupees as indemnity
to Ayyúb Sháh, acknowledge his superiority, use his coin,
and give up the cause of Shujául Mulk. Sháh Shujá
hearing of this, decamped quietly during the night and
went to Ludhiáná. The next day the Mírs held an
interview with Muhammad Azím Khán and then started
for Haidarábád, the Afghán prince returning to his capital.
In 1233 A. H. (1817 A. D.) information was received
Preparation to meet Rájah
Ranjít Sing of the Paujáb
at Shikárpur.
that Rájáh Ranijít Sing, the ruler of
the Panjáb had taken Mithan Kót
and intended to invade Sind and that
he had already sent his grandson Nihálsing with a large
army and artillery. The Mírs consulted among themselves
and with the Balóch chiefs and resolved to oppose the
Sikhs beyond Shikárpur. With that object in view Mír
Karam Alí Khán issued orders to all the tribes of Balóches
and Siráis to collect at Haidarábád. But Mír Murád Alí
Khán’s plan was different. He said to his brother that it
was impossible to fight with a person like Ranjít Sing,
who had conquered the whole country from Pesháwar and
Kashmír to Karnál and had taken Multán, Mithan Kót
and Derahs, that had been in the possession of the brave
Afgháns. He therefore suggested that assistance be
sought from the British Government, who were on very
friendly terms with them. After some discussion, the plan
was considered to be the best and the most expedient.
Accordingly a letter was written to that effect to Sir John
Malcolm, the Governor of Bombay. Sayyed (Ághá)
Ismáíl Sháh, the son of Sayyed Ibráhim Sháh was sent as
an ambassador to Bombay to arrange for the succour.*
After the departure of the Sayyed the Mírs taking about
30,000 men with them together with some guns and war
engines, started to defend the borders of their country.
Coming to Khairpur they were joined by Mír Suhráb
Khán with his forces. And the whole army now proceeded
to Shikárpur.
Meanwhile Sayyed Ismáíl Sháh, had arrived at Bombay.
Sir John Malcolm had gone home and had been succeeded
by Lord Elphinstone. The Sayyed was received well by
the Governor and was allowed 30 rupees for his daily
allowance. After their interview the Governor sent the
Mír’s letter, with his recommendation to the Governor
General at Calcutta. The latter wrote a letter to Rájah
Ranjít Sing telling him that the Mírs were on friendly
terms with the British Government with whom they had
made a treaty and that he must not think of going to
Sind or else they would be obliged to take the Mírs’ side.
The Rájah sent a reply that he had no intention of going
to Sind or fighting with the Mírs, whom he considered to
be his friends and that his grandson Nihálsing had gone
on a pleasure trip to Multán, Mithan Kót and Derahs to
spend Dasahrah holidays there. At the same time, he
wrote a friendly letter to the Mírs and sent it through
Sáwanmal, the Governor of Multán. The Mírs were very
much pleased to get this letter, and being quite at ease
now, returned to Haidarábád.*
In 1240 A. H. (1824 A. D.) Mír Murád Alí Khán fell
Dr. Burnes comes from
Bombay to treat Mír Murád
Alí Khán.
ill with a carbuncle. The physicians
of Sind tried their best to cure it, but
without success. The Mír remained
confined to bed for a very long time. The two brothers
then wrote a letter to Lord Elphinstone, the Governor of
Bombay, to send an English doctor to them. Dr. James
Burnes was accordingly sent to Haidarábád. On his arrival
the Mírs showed a great deal of kindness. The doctor too
showed very great cleverness in his art, for in about
20 days, Mír Murád Alí Khán got better and in a month
and a half no sign of the disease remained. The doctor
was given a good many presents and sent back to Bombay
viâ Kachh. A party of Balóches headed by a few nobles
was sent as an escort with the doctor, to go up to the
boundary of Sind. When the doctor arrived at Bhuj, he
spoke very highly of the Mírs to Major Pottinger, the
then Resident of Kachh, who was induced to write a letter
to the Mírs, and thenceforth the Mírs remained on friendly
terms with that officer.
In 1242 A. H. (1826 A. D.) the late Mír Fateh Alí
Revolt caused by Mír
Fateh Alí Khán’s son Mír
Sóbdár Khán.
Khán’s son Mír Sóbdár Khán, began
to be troublesome to the two ruling
Mírs, his uncles, claiming his hereditary
share of his father’s country. As has been noted
above, Mír Sóbdar Khán was born on the day of his
father’s death and since then he and the late Mír’s three
harams had been maintained by Mír Ghulám Alí Khán.
On Mír Ghulám Alí Khán’s death, his son Mír Mír Muhammad
Khán was nominally made the successor of his
father and given some parganahs as a jágír, by which
arrangement he used to live like a prince. When Mír
Sóbdár Khán reached the age of 25 years, he requested his
uncles to give him an independent means of livelihood like
that of Mír Mír Muhammad Khán. He also demanded a
share in inheritance of his father’s valuables and lands.
Mír Karam Alí Khán was willing to comply with his
request and to satisfy his demand, but Mír Murád Alí
Khán would not join him in that arrangement and so
they rejected their nephew’s request. After some days
Mír Sóbdár Khán went to Lar (Lower Sind) on the pretext
of shikâring. He was joined by Ghulám Alí Khán Tálpur,
son of Feróz Khán, the father of Khán Muhammad Khán,
residing at Ren, and some other Balóch chiefs. Mír
Sóbdár Khán had no money with him. He was therefore
obliged to sell the few jewels and valuable weapons he
had in his possession, through his Díwán Munshi Partábrái
and his chief adviser, Hósh Muhammad Habshí
(Abyssinian) and maintain his retinue, which went on
increasing. He now openly raised the standard of revolt.
Mír Murád Alí Khán, hearing of this, prepared to put
down the revolt. Taking an army of 800 men, he left
the fort to meet his nephew. As he began to shower
money on his dependents and sepoys, the Balóches enlisted
by Mír Sóbdár Khán deserted him and went over to Mír
Murád Alí Khán. So that in one day and night, the
number of Mír Sóbdár’s men decreased from about 8000
to 1200. Mír Sóbdar had now no alternative but to
entreat Mír Karam Alí Khán to interfere and settle the
matter amicably. The Mír accordingly brought about
reconciliation between the uncle and the nephew. At
the same time the young Mír was granted an allowance
similar to that, which had been granted to Mír Mír
Muhammad Khán. He was also given a similar share of
his father’s property.
A few days after this Mír Karam Alí Khán fell ill and
Death of Mír Karam Alí
Khán.
remained confined to bed for a long
time. At last he expired in 1244 A.H.
(1828 A.D.*)
His body was buried
on a hill to the north of Haidarábád. He was the first
Tálpur, who was buried at Haidarábád.†
Before this any
Tálpur dying, was removed to Khudábád and buried there.
It was in the reign of Mír Karam Alí Khán that a
terrible inundation of the river Indus occurred submerging
large tracts of lands and villages, and it was in his
predecessor’s time that snow had fallen in Sind.