began his journey understood that he must have entered Teliagarh that day and would reach Murshidabad in five or six days time. He himself submitted the petition which was intended Sarfaraz Khan and informed him of to be presented to "The disgrace the state of affairs. The petition ran thus: of my brother Haji Ahmad has now reached its climax. I have, therefore, come down to this place to see that my (fair name) prestige is protected. I hope that you will allow Haji Ahmad with all his relatives and dependents to depart." The great as well as the common folk were much surprised at the news. Sarfaraz Khan called together the nobles of the army and all his well-wishers. He also called Haji Ahmad and admonished him. Haji Ahmad began to talk very politely and mildly as suited the occasion and promised that he would at once ask Mahabat Jang to return if he obtained leave to go to him. Some were not disposed to grant him leave as they thought the statement of Haji Ahmad to be deceptive; others were disposed to believe in it. But Gholam Ghaus Khan, who was a respectable Sirdar of Sarfaraz Khan and was a brave man, submitted that Haji Ahmad be sent along with his family and his dependents to Mahābat Jang and that if he did not fulfil his promise he would be punished for his treacherous act. Sarfaraz Khan approved of his suggestion and sent Haji Ahmad along with his family and dependents to Mahābat Jang. Haji Ahmad after his arrival repeatedly sent representatives to Sarfaraz Khan and submitted that Mahabat Jang still owned allegiance to Sarfaraz Khan, and that Sarfaraz Khan should not therefore think of marching against him but that he should come out of the city; after having audience and representing certain facts to him Mahabat Jang would return. Sarfaraz Khan believed in the representation of Haji Ahmad and came out of the city. On the 22 Muharram 1153 Hijra, Allauddaula Sarfaraz Khan came out of Murshidabad with his men and encamped there. After three or four marches he reached Kahamara. From there he reached mauzah Karmak which is on the bank of the Bhagirathi and encamped there. On this side Mahābat Jang

also came nearer and distributed ammunition the same night. The next morning, riding on an elephant, he divided his army into three parts, and posted Rang Lall, who was a good Sirdar, to face Ghulam Ghaus Khan, and himself crossed the Bhagirathi with two divisions, one of which he sent to the rear of Sarfaraz Khan and with the other faced his front. Both sides opened fire. Gholam Ghaus Khan showed such conspicuous bravery and fought so intrepidly that Rang Lall was killed with a large body of his men and the rest took to flight. But suddenly the army of Mahābat Jang attacked the rear of Sarfaraz Khan and caused much confusion while Mahabat Jang and his men attacked Sarfaraz Khan's front. In this double fight some famous generals of Sarfaraz Khan were killed with a very large following and in the thick of the combat a bullet struck Sarfaraz Khan and killed him on the spot. The army of Sarfaraz Khan was also defeated. The driver of Sarfaraz Khan's elephant, seeing his master dead, took the elephant out of the battle-field and advanced towards Murshidabad. When Gholam Ghaus Khan's eyes fell on his master's elephant, he thought his master was taking to flight owing to his cowardice, and he therefore sent a horseman to bring the elephant before him. When the horseman came alongside the elephant, the driver said that his master was killed and that it was his corpse that he was taking back. The horseman returned and informed Gholam Ghaus Khan of the matter. On hearing the news the bright world looked dark to this brave, conscientious and faithful general. With his men he sprang on the army of Mahabat Jang like a lion and proved his manliness and bravery, till at last he was hin self killed together with his two sons and his friends and went to the everlasting Heaven. In the same way other generals of Sarfaraz Khan fought with Mahabat Jang's army, and Mahābat Jang gained victory over the son of his master, possessed himself of his tents, furniture, etc., and sent his brother Haji Ahmad towards Murshidabad. Haji Ahmad with the rapidity of wind and lightning reached Mushidabad and proclaimed the rule of Mahabat Jang by beat of drum. He removed the confu

sion and brought all the offices and treasury of Sarfaraz Khan in his possession. At the sad news of the death of Sarfaraz Khan, the cries and wailings of his family were heard. In this short narrative it would be difficult to dwell on the straits to which Allauddaula's family were reduced in consequence of this lamentable circumstance.

ACCOUNTS OF NAWAB MAHABAT JANG BAHADUR.

Nawab Mahabat Jang, whose real name was Mohammad Ali Verdi Khan, was in the beginning one of the office bearers of the King's Court. How and through what influence he came to Bengal from Hindustan has already been related in the description of Shujauddaula's rule. It is not necessary to re-narrate it here. In short, two days after the death of Sarfaraz Khan, Mahabat Jang in the middle of the month of Safar 1152 Hijra entered Murshidabad with great pomp and splendour and with much magnificence and grandeur sat on the masnad of the Viceroyalty of Bengal, Behar and Orissa and ordered public rejoicings. The aristocracy of the city were granted audience and presented His Excellency with nazars. Mahabat Jang obtained all the wealth and treasures that had been amassed by Jafar Khan, Shujauddaula and Sarfaraz Khan, which were worth more than a hundred crores. He sent one crore in cash and some other valuables worth about a erore, which he had gained on confiscating the house of Sarfaraz Khan, to Mohammad Shah. The King conferred upon him the title of Hisam-ud-daula and gave him the mansab of Haft Hazari and the privilege of keeping Mahi and Maratib. He gave the permanent (Subadari) governorship of Behar to his younger son-in-law Zainuddin Ahmad Khan whom he had left at Azimabad as his Deputy, and asked for him the title of Ihtishamuddaula Bahadur Haibat Jang, and a Palki, Jhalardar, the mansab of Haft Hazari (keeping 7,000 men) and the privilege of keeping Mahi, Maratib and Naubat and Alam. For his elder son-in-law, Nawzish Mohammad Khan, he asked the office of Haft Hazari (7,000 men) and for the title of Ihtishamuddaula Bahadur Shahamat Jang and conferred upon him these titles and privileges together with the office of Jahangirnagar

and the Diwani of (Khalsa Sharifa) Khas Mahal of Bengal. To his third nephew, Syed Ahmad Khan he gave the above privileges and the title of Mohamuddaula Bahadur Saulat Jang and gave him the Deputy Governorship of Orissa after taking it from Murshid Quli Khan, the son-in-law of Shujauddaula. He also honoured the other officers of his army who were concerned in shedding the blood of their innocent master Sarfaraz Khan with other titles and offices. Rai Alam Chand, the Dewan of Shujauddaula, was appointed to the office of Dewanship and was given the title of Rai Rayan, while Raja Janki Ram, the old Dewan of Mahabat Jang, was given the Dewanship of the other departments.

He marched against Murshid Quli Khan, the son-in-law of Shujauddaula, the Deputy Governor of Orissa, and obtained victory over him in a battle. Murshid Quli Khan together with his wife and children and all the wealth and treasures he had, embarked on board a ship and going towards the Deccan ended his life peacefully and in good circumstances under the protection of the Nizam-ul-mulk.

After this Mahābat Jang got possession of the whole of Behar, Bengal and Orissa and devoted his energies to the financial and political administration of the country and worked with great firmness and ability. He also collected all the things necessary for a governor and a noble for himself as well as for his nephews. He adopted Sirajuddaula, the son of his younger daughter Amina Begum, as his son, and gave him a princely education. He wished ardently that Providence in his merciful way may confer the Viceroyalty of Bengal and Orissa on his grandson. This is what he wished. But as a punishment for his act of killing the daughter's son of Jafar Khan, his daughter's son was killed by Mir Mohammad Jafar Khan. An account of this affair will, God willing, be given elsewhere.

He discharged the duties of his high office honourably and he ruled for sixteen years from 1153 Hijra with great firmness and vigour. For about ten years during this period he had to remain engaged in fighting with Raghuji Mahratta and with

some of his treacherous employés such as Mustafa Khan, Shamsher Khan and Sardar Khan by whose hands his son-in-law Zainuddin Khan had been killed. He always showed bravery and manliness in battle and was for the most part successful and victorious. At last on account of old age he made peace with Raghuji and made over to him the province of Orissa in lieu of Chauth. He thus saved himself from the Mahrattas and his subjects from their ravages and loot. For six years after the peace, he spent his life in protecting the country and the property of his subjects and lived with ease and comfort and with a peaceful mind. He was very kind to his faithful subordinates and always bestowed favours upon them. It would require another book by itself if I were to write about all the events and adventures of Mahabat Jang, and moreover would be out of place in this small volume, and I therefore satisfy myself with this much and trust to futurity for the completion of this work. But I relate some of the events of the Nawab's rule with the view of making these events of Mir Mohammad Jafar Khan's life more clear.

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Nawab Mahabat Jang (Nazim), Governor of Bengal, was a very wise man. He had a keen insight into administrative and financial problems and proved himself a capable Governor. He had thorough acquaintance with military affairs, and was a brave warrior of his time. He made full inquiry before he took any judicial notice of facts. He paid not the slightest attention to the idle talk of sycophants. Truly speaking he seemed to have been born to rule Bengal. Internal peace reigned throughout his dominions. All along he discharged the onerous duties of his exalted position with much credit, and by the force of his character raised himself in the estimation of not only his friends but also of his enemies.

It is said that he had a step-sister, Shah Khanum, by a slave girl, whom he had given in marriage to Mir Mohammad Jafar Khan by giving him the post of Bukkshi of his army (paymaster of his forces) on a salary of Rs. 5,000 a month. But being a shrewd observer of human nature, he was