^ne/ 
 6/wisewtefa/ s*y 
 
 &V. t^/Purr&e' 
 
THE 
 
 LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK, HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN, 
 
 WRITTEN BY HIS SON, 
 
 NUWAB MOOST'UJAB KHAN BUHADOOR, 
 
 AND ENTITLED 
 
 GOOLISTAN-I-REHMUT. 
 
 ABRIDGED AND TRANSLATED FROM THE PERSIAN, 
 
 CHARLES ELLIOTT, ESQ. 
 
 OF THE BENGAL CIVIL SERVICE. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE ORIENTAL TRANSLATION FUND, 
 
 And Sold by 
 
 J. MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET; 
 PARBURY, ALLEN, & CO., LEADENHALL STREET; 
 
 THACKER & CO., CALCUTTA; 
 TREUTTEL & WURTZ, PARIS ; AND E. FLEISCHER, LEIPSIG. 
 
 1831. 
 
MORSE STEPHENS 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 HINTE1J BY J. L. COX, GREAT WUEEN STREET. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ALTHOUGH the name of Hafiz Rehmut Khan 
 is familiar to most persons in India, few are 
 acquainted with any particulars of his history ; 
 and I think it probable that the following 
 memoir, written by his son the Nuwab Moos- 
 tujab Khan, may not prove wholly unin- 
 teresting. 
 
 In the original, many trivial occurrences are 
 noticed, which I have altogether omitted ; and 
 the repeated encomiums lavished by the Nuwab 
 on the generosity and intrepidity of his lamented 
 parent, though honourable to his feelings as a 
 son, would be deemed extravagant by the gene- 
 rality of readers, and indeed would scarcely 
 admit of translation. 
 
 A residence of many years in Rohilcund, 
 where the memory of Hafiz Rehmut is held in 
 the highest veneration, may perhaps have led 
 
IV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 me to attach a greater degree of importance to 
 the work than it merits ; but as Hafiz acted a 
 distinguished part on the theatre of India for 
 thirty years, and was personally engaged in 
 almost every great action fought during that 
 time, his life may furnish some materials to aid 
 in the compilation of a history of that period : 
 and with this view, I have taken considerable 
 pains to correct some chronological errors in the 
 original. 
 
 It is necessary to add, that Mr. Hamilton's 
 History of the Rohillas will in some parts be 
 found at variance with this narrative ; that gen- 
 tleman appears to have derived his information 
 from the friends of the Nuwab of Oude, who 
 would not be disposed to speak favourably of 
 Hafiz Rehmut Khan; and as that work was 
 published about the time of Mr. Hastings's trial, 
 it might have been intended to frame an excuse 
 for his permitting a British army to join in the 
 attack on Hafiz in 1774. 
 
 C. E. 
 
 Hardily, 
 1814. 
 
LIFE 
 
 OF 
 
 HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK, HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN, 
 
 &c. &c. 
 
 THE family of Hafiz Rehmut Khan trace their 
 descent from the patriarch Abraham; their immediate 
 ancestor. Sheikh Shahab-ood-deen, Budul zaee, being 
 descended from Budul, third son of Bahrytch, who was 
 the son of Shuruf-ood-deen, the son of Surra, the son of 
 Kys, Abd-ool-Rasheed, a descendant from Afghan, who 
 was the son of Armeea, the son of Saul, who was de- 
 scended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob.M 
 
 Sheikh Shahab-ood-deen, Budul zaee, was born in the 
 village of Pusheen Shorawuk, in the province of Kan- 
 dahar, which is the original settlement of the tribe of 
 Bahrytch; in his youth, he visited Attock and Lun- 
 gurkote, where some families of the same tribe resided, 
 and from among them he selected his bride : his usual 
 abode was in the hilly country, called " Chych Hizarra," 
 though he occasionally visited " Simma," or the plains. 
 He was in the habit of passing many successive days in 
 the woods, engaged in devotional exercises, and fre- 
 () See Notes at the end of the Memoir. 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 quently would not return home till sought by his 
 family. On account of his sanctity, he obtained the 
 appellation of Sheikh Kotee Baba : he wrote a book 
 entitled " Kholasut-ool-Insab," a genealogical history 
 of the families of the Afghans, and died in Chych 
 Hizarra, where his remains were interred near to the 
 village of Shahee-wyr. 
 
 As the object of this history is to narrate the life of 
 Hafiz Rehmut Khan, it is not necessary to notice any 
 particulars relative to Pace Khan, and Adum Khan, 
 the two elder sons of K6tee Baba. His third son, 
 Muhmood Khan, became " sujadda nisheen," or offi- 
 ciating priest, and took the name of " Sheikh Moottee," 
 fixing his residence at Tooroo and Shahamutpore. The 
 example set by the father of continued demotion to 
 spiritual exercises, was strictly followed by the son, and 
 his character was held in high veneration by the whole 
 of the Afghans. 
 
 Sheikh Moottee had five sons, viz. Azad Khan, 
 Shahdad Khan, Hukeem Khan, Hussun Khan, and 
 Shah Alum Khan, which last was the father of Hafiz 
 Rehmut Khan. 
 
 On the death of Sheikh Moottee, and consequent 
 division of his property among his sons, a slave named 
 Daood fell to the share of Shah Alum Khan, who edu- 
 cated him as his own son, and after some years com- 
 mitted to his charge the management of the family 
 estates ; but Daood being an aspiring character, deter- 
 
1IAFI/ 11KHMUT KHAN. 7 
 
 mined to seek his fortune in Hindoostan, and quitting 
 his master proceeded to Kutheir, or Rohilkund. 
 
 On the death of Buhadoor Shah, in the year 1118 of 
 the Hejiree (corresponding with 1707 of the Christian 
 era), in consequence of the disputes between his sons 
 for the succession to the throne, the reins of government 
 became relaxed, and a body of the principal Zemeendars, 
 of the caste called " Kutheireea, vi took possession of the 
 province of Kutheir, and though they paid some small 
 sums to the Jagheerdars, they entirely withheld the 
 tribute due to the royal treasury. Daood with a few 
 other Afghans reached Kutheir at this period, and en- 
 tering the service of the rebel Zemeendars, after some 
 time found himself at the head of two hundred men, 
 when he joined Mudar Shah, Zemeendar of Mudka in 
 pergunnah Burseir, in the province of Buddawun. 
 
 As these Zemeendars were constantly in hostility with 
 each other, each striving to possess himself of another's 
 estate, Mudar Shah despatched Daood with his party 
 to attack the village of Bankowlee, in pergunnah Chow 
 Mehla, in which expedition Daood obtained a large 
 booty, and took many prisoners. Among these was a 
 boy, seven or eight years of age, of the Jhaut cast, to 
 whom Daood became attached, and having caused him 
 to be circumcised, he adopted him as his son, and gave 
 him the name of Ullee Mahomed Khan. 
 
 The rumour of Daood Khan's success in Hindoostan 
 induced Shah Alum Khan, after the lapse of several 
 
8 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 years, to visit Kutheir, where he was received with great 
 kindness, and dismissed with a present of 2000 rupees. 
 Some five or six years after this, Shah Alum Khan a 
 second time visited Kutheir, and was urgent with Daood 
 to quit the service of Mudar Shah, and return with him 
 to the Punjab ; but as in this interval Daood had ob- 
 tained possession of several valuable villages, he refused; 
 and told his master that he expected shortly to make 
 himself lord of the whole province of Kutheir : in anti- 
 cipation of which event he offered to Shah Alum Khan 
 for his freedom, an annual payment of 2000 rupees; 
 this offer was however declined, and Shah Alum Khan 
 commenced his journey homeward. 
 
 Daood Khan had purchased some horses from mer- 
 chants at Shahjehanabad, for which he had neglected 
 to pay the stipulated price, and the merchants, knowing 
 the influence which Shah Alum Khan possessed, seized 
 and confined him on his arrival at Delhi ; nor would 
 they liberate him, though he offered to leave with them 
 all his own property as a pledge for the payment of the 
 debt. Weary of confinement, in the month of Ramzan, 
 on the twenty-seventh night, which is called the " Shub-i- 
 kudr " (or night of power), Shah Alum Khan passed the 
 whole night in prayer, and in the morning the horse 
 merchants of their own accord released him : when he 
 returned to Kutheir, procured the money from Daood 
 Khan, and having remitted it to the merchants, renewed 
 his intreaties that Daood would return with him to the 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. . 9 
 
 Punjab. Daood being determined not to quit Kutheir, 
 and anxious to rid himself of Shah Alum Khan's impor- 
 tunity, laid a plan to murder him : but as his purpose 
 could not be effected openly on account of the number of 
 relations and friends by whom Shah Alum Khan was 
 surrounded, Daood engaged four persons to perpetrate 
 the deed privately, by night. 
 
 At this period the Aumil of Buddawun (who was 
 there on the part of Mahomed Khan Bungish, the 
 Nuwab of Furrukhabad) invited Daood Khan with three 
 hundred of his followers to join him in attacking some 
 Zemeendars in that vicinity, and Shah Alum Khan 
 accompanied the party on their march ; when on the 
 night of Friday the 9th of Zilhaije, the four ruffians 
 hired by Daood entered Shah Alum Khan's tent, and 
 murdered him as he lay asleep. Of these ruffians, two 
 were Hindoos and two Afghans; the two former were 
 absconding from the village, when they fell in with a 
 gang of thieves, who supposing them to be the village 
 watchmen, sent in pursuit of their gang, attacked and 
 slew them ; of the two Afghans, one was killed in action 
 on the following day, and the other became a leper, in 
 which horrid state he survived several years, shunned 
 by every one. 
 
 About twelve months after this occurrence, Daood 
 Khan quitted the service of Mudar Shah, and was en- 
 tertained by Debee Chund the Rajah of Kumaoon, who 
 placed under his command the force stationed in the 
 
10 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 pergunnahs at the foot of the hills. Azmut oolla Khan 
 was about this time sent from Delhi with a body of the 
 royal troops to take possession of Kasheepore and Roo- 
 durpore, and the Rajah marched with his army from 
 Almorah to support Daood Khan ; but Daood had in 
 the interim taken a bribe from Azmut oolla Khan, and 
 in the first action he deserted his master, and with the 
 whole of his followers quitted the field. The Rajah was 
 necessarily defeated, and Daood not satisfied with mere 
 treachery, actually made an attempt to seize the person 
 of his master as a hostage for the payment of the arrears 
 due to the troops, but in this attempt he was foiled 
 by the fidelity of the hill people. The Rajah retreated 
 to Kakurdurra, and pretending ignorance of Daood' s 
 treachery, invited him to attend, to receive his arrears 
 of pay. Daood fell into the snare, and on reaching 
 Kakurdurra was put to death by order of the Rajah, 
 as were all those who accompanied him. 
 
 Mullik Shadee Khan (son of Shahdad Khan, the 
 second son of Sheikh Moottee) and Suddur Khan, the 
 two principal surdars under Daood, placed Ullee Ma- 
 homed Khan in command of the forces, which were 
 then entertained in the service of Azmut oolla Khan, 
 who after settling the pergunnahs of Kasheepore and 
 Roodurpore, fixed his residence at Mooradabad. 
 
 Tranquillity being established, the troops were per- 
 mitted to return to their respective homes, and Ullee 
 Mahomed Khan availed himself of this interval of 
 
HAF1/ UK11MUT KHAN. 11 
 
 leisure to take possession of Daood Khan's jagheer ut 
 Nibbia bowlee. He had succeeded in obtaining the 
 friendship of Azmut oolla Khan, and of his son Moyin- 
 ood-deen-Khan, the hakim (or governor) of Bareilly, 
 and enjoying the favour of these two persons with the 
 possession of a handsome independence, several years 
 passed without any interruption of his happiness. At 
 length Mahomed Sale, a Khoja Seraee, obtained a 
 sunnud from the king for the farm of pergunnali 
 . Munona, and being supported by the court, the 
 zemeendars and jagheerdars agreed to pay whatever he 
 chose to demand. Conceiving that he could do what he 
 pleased, and being perhaps jealous of the influence pos- 
 sessed by Ullee Mahomed Khan, he called upon him to 
 resign the estate of Nibbia bowlee. Ullee Mahomed 
 offered to pay any increase of rent which the eunuch 
 might ask ; but as nothing short of the entire resignation 
 of the lands would satisfy him, Ullee Mahomed applied 
 for advice to his friend Azmut-oolla Khan, who told 
 him to act as he thought proper : this was considered by 
 Ullee Mahomed as an indirect advice to make away 
 with the eunuch ; he therefore returned to Nibbia bowlee, 
 and having assembled his followers, marched at their 
 head to Munona, attacked Mahomed Sale's camp, put 
 him to death, plundered his property, and took pos- 
 session of the pergunnah. 
 
 The town of Owlah was held by a powerful zemeen- 
 dar named Dooja, with whom Ullcc Mahomed had long 
 
2 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 been at variance, but whom he did not dare openly to 
 attack ; he therefore caused him to be privately mur- 
 dered, when the Afghans took possession of the town ; 
 and Ullee Mahomed felt his authority so firmly esta- 
 blished, that he ventured to send his vakeels to Delhi to 
 solicit a sunnud from the king, promising at the same 
 time punctually to remit the tribute due to his majesty, 
 and to make good the rents payable to the jagheer- 
 dars. 
 
 At this time the royal troops were sent under the 
 command of Azeem-oolla Khan, to attack Syf-ood-deen 
 Mahomed Khan, (brother of Hussun Ullee Khan and 
 Abdoolla Khan, the Syyuds of Barrah, who had put out 
 the eyes of the Emperor Furokhsere), in consequence of 
 his having refused to present himself at court: and 
 furmans were issued to the aumils of Kutheir, Shahji- 
 hanpoor and Shahabad to join Azeem-oolla Khan with 
 their respective forces. The vizier Kummur-ood-deen 
 Khan also wrote to Ullee Mahomed Khan, directing 
 him to join the king's troops ; and he, anxious to evince 
 his zeal in the royal cause, immediately commenced his 
 march without waiting the arrival of the Aumils. In 
 the battle of Janset his bravery was conspicuous : and 
 as his party had been opposed to the force commanded 
 by Syf-ood-deen Mahomed Khan in person, and proved 
 victorious, killing Syf-ood-deen, the vizier obtained for 
 Ullee Mahomed the title of Nuwab, with permission to 
 use the nobut (or great drum), and reduced the amount 
 
KKHMI;T KHAX. 13 
 
 of the revenue payable by him to the royal treasury as 
 a reward for his services. 
 
 On the death of Azmut oolla Khan, which occurred 
 soon after the battle of Janset, Meer Ahmed Khan was 
 appointed Aumil of Mooradabad, and he confirmed to 
 Ullee Mahomed Khan the several pergunnahs then held 
 by him. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut Khan was born in the latter end of the 
 reign of Buhadoor Shah, and was four years old when 
 his father, Shah Alum Khan, was basely murdered by 
 Daood Khan, in the commencement of the reign of the 
 Emperor Furokhsere. In his fifth year he commenced 
 the perusal of the koran under the tuition of Hafiz 
 Mahomed Janna, and at the age of ten years had, in 
 addition to the koran, read many learned works. 
 
 Ullee Mahomed Khan had repeatedly invited Hafiz 
 Rehmut Khan to visit Kutheir, and the fame of his 
 increasing power after the battle of Janset, induced him 
 now to accept the invitation. The produce of the sale 
 of his father's property left at Delhi, had been remitted 
 to him by Mullik Shadee Khan, and with it he pur- 
 chased some horses in Budukshan, and disposed of them 
 at Delhi on his ipute to Kutheir. At Owlah, Hafiz 
 Rehmut was received by Ullee Mahomed Khan with 
 the greatest respect, and the Afghans vied with each 
 other in paying him attention. One day, when in the 
 bath, Ullee Mahomed addressed Hafiz Rehmut in the 
 following terms : " Daood Khan caused your father, 
 
14 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 " Shah Alum Khan, to be murdered ; and although I 
 " am not his son, yet as he adopted me, and made me 
 " heir to all his property, I am anxious to release him 
 u from your claim to retaliation in a future state." Then 
 laying his sword at the feet of Hafiz, he continued: 
 " If kisds* be your desire, take my life if deeyut^ will 
 " satisfy you, I am ready to pay whatever sum you 
 " require ; but if you neither require kisds nor deeyut, 
 " grant me your free pardon for the blood which has 
 " been shed." To which Hafiz replied, that as Ullee 
 Mahomed was not descended from Daood, he could not 
 claim kisds, and considered it beneath him to accept 
 the price of blood. He concluded by assuring Ullee 
 Mahomed of his readiness to grant the pardon solicited, 
 adding, that he should never have visited Ullee Ma- 
 homed, had he not known his innocence of any partici- 
 pation in the foul crime. From this time a strict inti- 
 macy subsisted between Ullee Mahomed and Hafiz 
 Rehmut; but after a lapse of three years, the latter 
 quitted Kutheir, taking with him a letter from Mullik 
 Shadee Khan, directing his brother to give his daughter 
 in marriage to Hafiz, and the nuptials were accordingly 
 celebrated with great pomp at Hafiz's own village, Sha- 
 hamutpore, where he continued to reside. 
 
 After some years Hafiz Rehmut paid a second visit 
 to Ullee Mahomed at Owlah, and was again received by 
 him with distinguished honours. It happened that Ullee 
 * Retaliation. t The price of blood. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN'. 15 
 
 Mahomed, dissatisfied with the conduct of two of his 
 jemadars, had ordered them to be shot : the sentence 
 appearing to Hafiz unjust, he remonstrated against its 
 execution, which so irritated the chief that he made use 
 of some harsh language to Hafiz, which induced the 
 latter to threaten an appeal to the sword ; and fearing 
 that with so violent a character as Ullee Mahomed this 
 breach could not be made up, he prepared to return 
 home. Ullee Mahomed, however, had learned to ap- 
 preciate the value of so firm a friend, and so judicious 
 an adviser as Hafiz Rehmut, and could not without 
 regret contemplate his departure ; he therefore intreated 
 him to remain, and at length by the intervention of 
 mutual friends the quarrel was made up on certain con- 
 ditions : after which Hafiz was rendered independent by 
 the cession of twelve villages, and the appointment of a 
 number of russaladars* to attend him whenever their 
 services might be required. 
 
 As Hafiz Rehmut now considered himself settled in 
 Kutheir, he took advantage of the tranquillity which 
 existed after the return of Nadir Shah from Hindoostan, 
 to send for his family from Shahamutpore, and a proper 
 escort being despatched, his mother, wife, and a sister three 
 years younger than himself, arrived in safety at Owlah. 
 
 By this time the power of Ullee Mahomed Khan had 
 greatly increased by the acquisition of large farms in 
 Ritcha and the adjoining pergunnahs; and the jag- 
 * Cavalry officers commanding troops. 
 
16 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 heerdars being dissatisfied with his conduct towards 
 them, laid their complaints before the Emperor Ma- 
 homed Shah, who sent Rajah Hurnund with fifty thou- 
 sand horse and foot, to expel Ullee Mahomed from 
 Kutheir. This army arrived at Mooradabad, whence 
 the Rajah issued orders to Abdool Nubbee Khan, the 
 Aumil of Bareilly and Shahabad, to join him with all 
 possible expedition Abdool Nubbee advised the Rajah 
 not to be in haste to give battle, as he had received 
 from Ullee Mahomed repeated proposals for an amicable 
 adjustment of the present differences, and doubted not 
 that on his arrival every thing would be settled to the 
 Rajah's satisfaction : but Hurnund refused to listen to 
 this advice, and declared his intention of expelling the 
 whole of the Afghans from the country. With this 
 determination, and accompanied by Diller Khan (the 
 brother of Abdool Nubbee), the Rajah marched from 
 Mooradabad, and Ullee Mahomed having advanced 
 from Owlah at the head of twelve thousand men, the 
 two armies encamped within three koss of each other, 
 at the villages of Dal and Jaree, on the banks of the 
 Urrul Nuddee. On the following morning, Ullee Ma- 
 homed sent in advance four thousand chosen men under 
 the command of Hafiz Rehmut. Doondee Khan com- 
 manded the right wing, consisting of two thousand men, 
 and Painda Khan commanded the left wing, while 
 Ullee Mahomed and the other surdars took post in 
 the centre. Rajah Hurnund (who was in the habit of 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 17 
 
 drinking intoxicating liquors, and amusing himself with 
 dancing girls) though repeatedly urged by Diller Khan 
 to mount his horse, and place himself at the head of his 
 troops, delayed till the advance under Hafiz Rehmut 
 had penetrated his camp and made good their way to his 
 tent ; and he was just seated in his saddle when a rocket 
 struck him in the breast and killed him on the spot. 
 Mootee loll, the Rajah's son, endeavoured to recover the 
 day, but was soon numbered among the slain, and the 
 whole of the Rajah's troops then took to flight, except 
 a small band under Diller Khan, who perished sword in 
 hand. Abdool Nubbee on hearing of the Rajah's defeat, 
 and the death of his brother Diller Khan, vowed not to 
 survive him, and with only five hundred followers pro- 
 ceeded towards the scene of action : but most of these 
 men knowing the desperate enterprise on which he was 
 engaged, forsook him on the way, and on reaching 
 the field he could only number fifty men. Ullee Ma- 
 homed was conversing with his surdars, and the troops 
 were engaged in plundering the Rajah's camp, when 
 Abdool Nubbee made his appearance, and seeing such 
 a small party, no idea of an attack was entertained, 
 consequently many of Ullee Mahomed's followers were 
 laid low before Abdool Nubbee was slain. 
 
 The plunder of Rajah Hurnund's own tent was taken 
 by Ullee Mahomed, who after returning thanks for the 
 victory, despatched his Aumils to Mooradabad, Sumbul, 
 Shahabad, and Shahjehanpore, and the several per- 
 
18 LIFE OF HAF1Z OOL-MOOLK 
 
 gunnahs dependent on Bareilly ; but did not take pos- 
 session of the town itself till some time afterwards ; when 
 having obtained a sunnud from the king, he was pro- 
 claimed Hakim of Kutheir. Under the orders of Ullee 
 Mahomed, the pergunnah of Pillibheet was wrested from 
 Daisput Bunjarra by Painda Khan, and added to the 
 jaghire of Hafiz Rehmut. 
 
 Two years after the defeat of Rajah Hurnund, 
 Doolee Chund, a relation of the Rajah of Kumaoon, 
 (who, for some offence had been punished with the loss 
 of his nose, ears, and hands, by Rajah Kullian Chund, 
 the son of Rajah Debee Chund), solicited the aid of 
 Ullee Mahomed Khan : who glad of an opportunity to 
 avenge the murder of his patron Daood Khan, readily 
 complied with Doolee Chund's request. The army 
 assembled for this expedition was placed under the 
 command of Hafiz Rehmut, Doonde Khan, Painda 
 Khan, and Bukshee Surdar Khan ; and Doolee Chund 
 accompanied them to point out the best route. The 
 troops advanced to Roodurpore, where an action took 
 place, in which the Rajah's forces being defeated, fled 
 for refuge to the Fort of Burrokhuree. Hafiz Rehmut 
 left an Aumil at Roodurpore, and then continued his 
 march to Burrokhuree, where the Afghans were again 
 victorious, and the Rajah's troops then fled to Almorah. 
 Bukshee Surdar Khan being of an advanced age, found 
 himself unequal to the fatigue of ascending the hills, 
 and remained at Burrokhuree, while the army under 
 Hafiz Rehmut proceeded on its route : and notwith- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 19 
 
 standing that the Rajah had adopted numberless mea- 
 sures to increase the natural difficulties of the country, 
 and to retard the progress of the invaders, by the 
 zealous exertions of the troops these were all sur- 
 mounted, and the town of Almorah invested, when the 
 Rajah fled to Gurhwal, and the province of Kumaoon 
 was taken possession of by the Afghans. This event 
 occurred in the twenty -fifth year of the reign of Ma- 
 homed Shah, and the year 1154 of the Hejiree. The 
 Mahomedans destroyed all the images of the infidels, 
 melted down their gold and silver ornaments, and slew 
 cows in their streets. 
 
 Ullee Mahomed Khan being highly delighted at the 
 successful result of this expedition, sent splendid pre- 
 sents to Hafiz Rehmut ; and after four months, himself 
 visited his new conquest, when he made liberal donations 
 to the troops. 
 
 After some time Rajah Kullian Chund, aided by the 
 Rajah of Gurhwal, made an attempt to recover his 
 country, and Ullee Mahomed marched from Almorah 
 to give him battle ; but on seeing the Mahomedan army, 
 the infidels took to flight, and the Afghans plundered 
 their camp. The conquest of Sirinuggur was proposed, 
 but Ullee Mahomed was induced to relinquish this at- 
 tempt, on the Rajah's consenting to acknowledge himself 
 a vassal, to pay an annual tribute of sixty thousand 
 rupees, and engaging not to afford protection to Rajah 
 Kullian Chund. 
 
20 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 The province of Kutheir requiring the presence of the 
 governor, only a few months were passed by Ullee 
 Mahomed at Almorah ; he then gave Kumaoon to a 
 relation of Kullian Chund's, and leaving only a small 
 force in the Fort of Burrokhuree, returned home. 
 
 In the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Mahomed 
 Shah (1155 Hejiree) that monarch, at the instigation of 
 the Nuwab Abdool Munsoor Khan Sufdur Jung, as- 
 sembled a large army for the expulsion of the Afghans 
 from Kutheir, and on hearing of this, Ullee Mahomed 
 Khan proposed to take refuge at Almorah, but was 
 dissuaded from this measure by the Nuwab Kaim Khan 
 (son of Mahomed Khan Bungish), who urged that his 
 departure would infallibly prove the loss of the country. 
 His advice was taken, and Ullee Mahomed remained at 
 Owlah until the royal army had crossed the Ganges and 
 encamped at Sumbul, when he threw himself into the 
 Fort of Bungurh, five koss distant from Owlah, and 
 which for a distance of two koss is surrounded by 
 jungle : from thence he sent letters to Kaim Khan, and 
 to the Vizier Kummurood-deen Khan, setting forth that 
 it was not his intention to offer any resistance to the 
 mandates of the king, and intreating that he might be 
 admitted to the royal presence ; but Sufdur Jung and 
 others of his party had so inflamed the king's mind, that 
 all the exertions of the vizier in his behalf were insuffi- 
 cient to obtain for him the honour of an audience. 
 Sufdur Jung and Kaim Khan advanced with their 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 21 
 
 contingents to the skirts of the jungle, and during &- 
 several days skirmishes took place between them and 
 the Afghans, but the royal army was too numerous to ; 
 be opposed in the field, and the Afghan sirdars dismayed 
 at their situation, either retired to their homes, or went 
 over to the king ; among the latter was Painda Khan ; 
 and Ullee Mahomed finding it useless to hold out, deli- 
 vered himself up to his monarch, who out of regard to 
 the vizier granted his pardon, and placed Ullee Ma- 
 homed under his charge. Mahomed Shah appointed 
 Budur Islam Khan, and Fureed-ood-deen Khan (the son 
 of Azmut-oolla Khan) Aumils of Kutheir, and then re- 
 turned with his army to Delhi, taking Ullee Mahomed 
 Khan in his suite. 
 
 In about six months Ullee Mahomed's prospects again 
 brightened, and the vizier having promised to obtain 
 for him a command in Sirhind, he directed Hafiz 
 Rehmut to assemble his forces and proceed to Delhi. 
 Seven thousand horse and foot were soon collected, and 
 at the head of these Hafiz entered the imperial city, but 
 five months more elapsed ere the appointment passed 
 the royal signet. Ullee Mahomed Khan was then 
 introduced to the presence by the vizier, was deco- 
 rated with a khelat (or dress of honour), and appointed 
 Aumil of Sirhind, for which place he set out in the 
 twenty-eighth year of his majesty's reign, leaving his 
 sons Fvzoolla Khan and Abdoolla Khan at Delhi, as 
 hostages for his future good conduct. 
 
22 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 On reaching Sirhind, Ullee Mahomed summoned the 
 refractory Zemeendars, Bhalha Jaut, Bharra-mull of 
 Roypore, Roygulla, Nigahee-mull chief of Joutpore, 
 and others to attend him, and to pay the arrears of 
 revenue due from them, on pain of expulsion from their 
 estates ; to which summons they indignantly answered, 
 that they were a different class of people from those 
 whom he had subjugated in Kutheir; that if he were 
 disposed to follow the example of his predecessors in 
 office, they would make a reasonable settlement, but if 
 not, they were ready to meet him in the field. Ullee 
 Mahomed Khan was so enraged at this message, that he 
 would immediately have marched against them in person, 
 but was persuaded to permit Hafiz Rehmut to make the 
 first trial of strength with them : accordingly Hafiz, ac- 
 companied by Doonde Khan and other Russaladars, at 
 the head of three thousand horse and foot marched to 
 Roypore to attack Bharra-mull, who had assembled 
 about twelve thousand men to oppose him. The Af- 
 ghans divided into four parties and surrounded the 
 village, while Hafiz in person attacked the fort with 
 five hundred chosen men. The simultaneous attack of 
 these five divisions so distracted the villagers that they 
 left the gate open, and the fort being entered by the 
 Afghans, Bharra-mull's followers were defeated with 
 a great slaughter. The plunder found in the fort was 
 considerable, and two thousand five hundred persons 
 were made prisoners. 
 
HAFIZ KEHMUT KHAN. 2f3 
 
 Jumal Khan Malleree with five hundred men having 
 joined Hafiz Rehmut, the combined force marched to 
 Joutpore and defeated the forces of Nigahee Mull, 
 taking him prisoner : when the arrear of revenue, amount- 
 ing to sixty-five thousand rupees, was immediately dis- 
 charged. 
 
 Roygulla, the principal Zemeendar, being in possession 
 of a strong fortress, the force under Hafiz was consider- 
 ably increased ere he proceeded to attack it. While 
 the Afghans were yet distant a day's march, Roygulla 
 took to flight, leaving the defence of the fort to his 
 brother Mukhun, who held out for two days, but sur- 
 rendered when preparations were made for a storm. 
 Roygulla, on hearing of this disaster, consented to pay 
 the arrear demanded, of one million thirty thousand 
 rupees, besides giving up to the captors the treasure 
 found in the fort. After these examples Ullee Mahomed 
 found no difficulty in realizing the revenue of the 
 province. 
 
 In the thirtieth year of the reign of Mahomed Shah, 
 Ahmed Shah Douranee, (who after the murder of Nadir 
 Shah had established himself in the government of 
 Kandahar, marched towards Hindoostan; he was op- 
 posed by the governor of Lahore, Shahneewaz Khan, but 
 soon took possession of the city, when the governor fled 
 to Delhi. The emperor was at this time confined by 
 indisposition, and as it was necessary immediately to 
 oppose the advance of the Shah, the royal army was 
 
J LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 placed under the command of the prince Ahmed (son of 
 Mahomed Shah), who marched from Delhi in the month 
 of Mohurrum, 1161 Hejiree, attended by the Vizier 
 Kummur-ood-deen Khan, Sufdur Sung, Salabut Khan, 
 and Eeshree Sing, the son of Jyesing, the Kuchwahar 
 prince. 
 
 As Ullee Mahomed Khan was at this time at the head 
 of twenty thousand men in the province of Sirhind, 
 Mahomed Shah suspected that he might be induced to 
 join the Douranee ; and to guard against such an event, 
 he appointed him to the government of Kutheir; for 
 which province he immediately set out. 
 
 Ahmed Shah was not insensible to the advantages 
 which might be derived from the accession of Ullee 
 Mahomed Khan's force to his cause, and had endea- 
 voured to seduce him from his allegiance by the offer of 
 the Vizarut ; but though urged by many of his sirdars 
 to accept the offer, he remained faithful to his sovereign. 
 
 The royal army having advanced to Sirhind, the 
 Vizier Kummur-ood-deen Khan placed Abdoolla and 
 Fyzoolla, the two sons of Ullee Mahomed Khan, and all 
 his valuable property in the fort at that place ; and 
 encamped about ten koss to the northward, near to the 
 village of Mannoopore. After three days skirmishing, 
 Ahmed Shah left the main body of his forces in front 
 of the royal army, and himself with six thousand horse 
 made a forced march to Sirhind, which he surrounded, 
 took the fort, and carried off the whole of the vizier's 
 
HAFTZ REHMUT KHAN. 25 
 
 property, and Abdoolla and Fyzoolla Khan ; and having 
 effected this object, rejoined his army. 
 
 On the 22d of the month of Rubbee-ool-uwul, 
 while the vizier was at his devotions in his tent, 
 he was killed by a cannon shot. The troops on this oc- 
 casion became disheartened ; Eeshree Sing with all the 
 Rajpoots quitted the army, and returned to Jyenugur ; 
 and the defection would have been general, had not 
 Moyin-ool-moolk (commonly called Meer Munnoo), the 
 son of the late vizier, forgotten for the time his own grief 
 in the distracted state of the army, and led them on to 
 battle. In this attack he had the advantage of the 
 Douranees, and the prospect of a decisive victory, but 
 unfortunately was wounded and carried off the field. 
 
 On the 26th of the month the Douranees made an 
 attack on the royal camp ; but a magazine of their rockets 
 exploded, whereby so many of their men were killed, 
 that they were induced to retreat. 
 
 Ahmed Shales force did not now exceed fifteen thou- 
 sand men, and the royal army, notwithstanding deser- 
 tions, still amounting to ninety thousand, the Douranee 
 perceived that no impression could be made this year ; 
 he therefore on the 29th of Rubbee-ool-uwul 1161 
 Hejiree, broke up his camp and returned to Kandahar ; 
 nor did the prince deem it expedient to pursue him. 
 The gallantry of Moyin-ool-moolk was rewarded with 
 the government of Mooltan and Lahore, and the prince 
 led back the royal army to Delhi; but on the 27th of 
 
25 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Rubbee-oos-sanee, a few days before his arrival, Ma- 
 homed Shah had breathed his last, after a reign of thirty 
 years and two months. 
 
 On the 1st of Jemad-ool-uwul, 1161 Hejiree, the 
 prince was proclaimed king by the title of Ahmed Shah, 
 and the office of vizier being vacant by the death of 
 Kummur-ood-deen Khan, his second Son Intizam-ood- 
 dowla, Khan Khanan, and the Nuwab Abdool-munsoor 
 Khan Sufdur Jung were candidates for the succession. 
 The. latter wrote to Ullee Mahomed Khan, requesting 
 him to bury in oblivion their former disputes, and to 
 aid him in the present juncture, promising that in the 
 event of his succeeding to the vizarut, he would do for 
 Ullee Mahomed infinitely more than had been done by 
 his friend the late vizier. 
 
 As Ullee Mahomed Khan had lost his hearing, and 
 was besides afflicted with a complication of disorders 
 which baffled the skill of his physicians, he was unable 
 to proceed to Delhi in person, and therefore despatched 
 Hafiz Rehmut with one thousand horse, instructing him 
 to exert himself in behalf of Sufdur Jung. 
 
 Intizam-ood-dowla had laid a plan to obtain admit- 
 tance to the royal presence, and at the same time to 
 surround the palace with his troops, amounting to five 
 thousand men, in order to prevent the introduction of 
 Sufdur Jung; but Hafiz Rehmut and Sufdur Jung 
 determined to unite their forces to prevent the execution 
 of this project, as Sufdur Jung felt assured that if he 
 
HAFIZ KEHMUT KHAN. 27 
 
 could succeed in gaining admission to the palace, the 
 interest of the king's mother, and the eunuch Javeid 
 Khan, would secure to him the honour of the vizarut. 
 At an early hour Hafiz with his thousand horse went to 
 Sufdur Jung's camp, whence their combined force pro-- 
 ceeded to the palace ; and although Intizam-ood-dowla's 
 troops were already assembled there, no opposition was 
 offered. Sufdur Jung being introduced to the king by 
 Javeid Khan, was honoured with a khelat and appointed 
 vizier. Three days after this, he introduced Hafiz 
 Rehmut to the Emperor, who granted him permission to 
 use the nobut ; and the object of his embassy being 
 accomplished, he returned to Kutheir, bearing a letter 
 of thanks from Sufdur Jung to Ullee Mahomed Khan. 
 About a month after the return of Hafiz Rehmut, 
 Ullee Mahomed Khan, perceiving that he had not long 
 to live, assembled his principal surdars, and pointed out 
 to them the necessity of a chief being selected, expatiat- 
 ing largely on the consequences which might result from 
 delaying this measure till after his decease. Some of 
 the surdars proposed that as Abdoolla and Fyzoolla 
 were still prisoners with the Douranee, their younger 
 brother Saadoolla Khan should succeed his father ; and 
 promised their faithful observance of his orders notwith- 
 standing his youth ; but Ullee Mahomed answered that 
 neither Abdoolla nor Fyzoolla were calculated for the 
 situation, and that such a boy as Saadoolla was quite 
 out of the question ; adding, that the only person whom 
 
28 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 he knew capable of governing the Afghans was Hafiz 
 Rehmut Khan ; and accordingly he laid his turban at 
 the feet of Hafiz, and nominated him his successor. 
 Hafiz took up the turban and placed it on the head of 
 Saadoolla Khan, saying that he was his surdar, to whom 
 he would at all times afford such aid as his youth 
 might render necessary. Two days after this conference 
 (viz. on the 3d of Shuwal, in the year 1161 of the Hejiree, 
 and in the first year of the reign of Ahmed Shah), Ullee 
 Mahomed Khan was translated to the regions of the 
 blessed, and his earthly remains were interred at Owlah ; 
 where a splendid tomb is erected to his memory. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut Khan was forty years of age when he 
 became ruler of Kutheir ; his conduct had secured to 
 him the regard of all the principal surdars, and they 
 cheerfully presented to him their nuzzurs, and acknow- 
 ledged him as their chief. 
 
 Only two months had elapsed from the death of Ullee 
 Mahomed Khan, when, at the suggestion of the Nuwab 
 Abdool munsoor Khan, Sufdur Jung, the Emperor 
 Ahmed Shah appointed Koottub-ood-deen Khan (grand- 
 son of Azmut-oolla Khan) Soobah of Kutheir. Hafiz 
 Rehmut warned the new governor that he would not 
 allow him to take possession of his appointment, and 
 advised his return to Delhi ; but, though unattended by 
 any considerable force, he ventured to cross the Ganges, 
 when Doonde Khan with a party of Afghans attacked 
 and slew him. Sufdur Jung's enmity to the Afghans 
 
11AK1/ KEHMUT KHAN. 29 
 
 was increased by this event, and he determined to make 
 Kaim Khan, the nuwab of Furrukhabad, the instrument 
 of his vengeance, by appointing him successor to Kootub- 
 ood-deen; observing that if he should be slain, there 
 would be one Afghan less ; and that if he succeeded, the 
 province would again become subject to the king. 
 
 Kaim Khan would gladly have declined the honour, 
 but not daring to disobey the king's mandate, he pre- 
 pared to enter on his new office : anxious, however, to 
 avoid a breach with Hafiz, he despatched Mouzzum 
 Khan to Owlah, to notify to him the appointment, and 
 to request his permission to assume the government 
 without opposition, adding that if he refused, the aid of 
 the king's troops must be called in. To this message 
 Hafiz replied, that as the Afghans had conquered the 
 country when the king could not, he would acknowledge 
 no master but the king ; and that as Kaim Khan well 
 knew his appointment to have originated with the 
 Vizier, who had taken all power out of the king's hands, 
 it would be proper for him at once to decline the office. 
 Mouzzum Khan then attempted to carry his point by 
 threats, but was soon silenced and dismissed from 
 Owlah ; whence he proceeded to Delhi, where he and 
 his brother Muhmood Khan, so misrepresented the 
 conduct of Hafiz, that Kaim Khan was directed to 
 attack him without delay. 
 
 The troops of Kaim Khan crossed the Ganges at 
 Furrukhabad, and Hafiz Rehmut advanced from Owlah 
 
30 LIFE OF HAFIZ-OOL-MOOLK. 
 
 to meet them. When the two armies were near each 
 other, Hafiz deputed Syyud Ahmed (commonly called 
 " Shahjie Meea"), with two other persons of equal 
 sanctity, to turn Kaim Khan from his purpose ; and he 
 would have complied if the consent of Mahmood Khan 
 could have been obtained ; but with him all persuasions 
 were unavailing; he said that he had determined to 
 subdue the Afghans, and that this was a cause in which 
 holy men had no business to meddle. Shahjie Meea 
 became angry at this language, and in a prophetic strain 
 foretold the death of Muhmood and Kaim Khan, and 
 the defeat of their army ; then desired Hafiz to proceed 
 to action in full confidence of success. 
 
 On the following morning, being the 12th of Zilhaije, 
 in the year 1161 of the Hejiree, Muhmood Khan and 
 Kaim Khan, at the head of sixty thousand horse and 
 foot, with four hundred elephants and a large train of 
 artillery, attacked Hafiz Rehmut, whose whole force 
 did not exceed twenty-five thousand men. The action 
 took place in the village of Doomree, two koss south- 
 east of Buddawun, and in the first onset vast numbers 
 of the Afghans were killed by the enemy's guns, when 
 Doonde Khan dismounting from his horse, led them on 
 to the charge, and carried every thing before him. 
 Muhmood Khan brought up a reinforcement to oppose 
 Doonde' Khan, when Hafiz, seeing that he was likely to 
 be overpowered, rushed into the thick of the action. 
 Kaim Khan advanced with the elephants, but was shot, 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 31 
 
 as were most of those mounted in the howdahs. Muh- 
 mood Khan though severely wounded, endeavoured to 
 recover the day, but becoming faint from loss of blood, 
 he was carried off the field, and died : and the troops 
 having lost their leader took to flight. In the heat of 
 the action, Mouzzum Khan made an attempt to seize 
 the person of Saadoolla Khan, who was mounted on an 
 elephant in the rear, with Syyud Hussun in the khuwas.* 
 Mouzzum Khan made a cut at the Syyud with his 
 sabre, but being unable to reach him, called to a soldier 
 to shoot him : the man fired, but by a sudden turn of 
 the elephant the ball lodged in Mouzzum Khan's body. 
 Kaim Khan's mahout^ drove his elephant from the 
 field with the intention of conveying the body of his 
 master to Furrukhabad, but was pursued and overtaken 
 by two troopers named Zyn Khan and Bairam Khan, 
 who after dividing the jewels, severed the head from the 
 body, and carried it in triumph to Hafiz. The body 
 was by his order placed in a palanquin, covered with 
 shawls, and despatched to Furrukhabad. Hafiz then 
 took possession of Kaim Khan's tent, and having re- 
 turned thanks for the victory, divided the plunder of 
 the camp. 
 
 The pergunnahs of Buddawun, Mehrabad, Ooshyt, 
 and Purumnuggur, east of the Ganges, then apper- 
 taining to the Nuwabs of Furrukhabad, were now an- 
 nexed by Hafiz to his own domain, while the widow 
 
 * The back seat of the howdah. f Elephant driver. 
 
8 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 of Kaim Khan was permitted to retain the pergun- 
 nahs west of the river. 
 
 Mahomed Khan Bungish, father of this Kaim Khan, 
 was with only twenty-five horsemen, entertained in the 
 service of Furrokhsere, when that monarch advanced 
 from Bengal to attack Moiz-ood-deen the usurper of 
 the throne of Delhi ; and as he behaved with great gal- 
 lantry in the battle fought on that occasion, the 
 emperor gave him the command of a thousand men, 
 which was at subsequent periods increased to five and 
 seven thousand; besides the forces placed under the 
 command of his sons and other relatives, amounting in 
 all to fifty-two thousand : whence he obtained the appel- 
 lation of " Baoun Huzaree." In the year 1143 of the 
 Hejiree he was appointed Soobah of Malwa, and de- 
 feated Mulhar Rao Holkar and Girdhur Buhadoor at 
 Oojein, of which city he took possession. In 1145 he 
 was superseded by Rajah Suwye Jyesing ; and when in 
 1151 Nadir Shah entered Delhi, the ladies of the royal 
 house were committed to his charge in the fort of 
 Selimgurh: nor would he ever wait on Nadir Shah, 
 though repeatedly summoned to his presence. At his 
 death, he strongly advised his son not to quarrel with 
 his brethren in Kutheir ; but Kaim Khan disregarded 
 this advice, and the consequences have been related. 
 Kaim Khan had succeeded to the rank and estates of his 
 father, was called by the endearing appellation of " son 
 of the king," and was even admitted to the presence of 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 33 
 
 the widow of Mahomed Shah, who was a daughter of 
 the emperor Furrokhsere. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut having appointed Futteh Khan Khan- 
 saman, to the office of Aumil of Buddawun and Ooshyt, 
 and sent other Aumils to Mehrabad and Purumnuggur, 
 was anxious to annex to his province the tract of country 
 lying at the foot of the hills near the Surjoo or Gogra 
 river ; for this purpose he proceeded to Pillibheet , and 
 there assembled a force which was dispatched to Subna 
 under the command of an experienced officer named 
 Sheikh Kubbeer, who succeeded in reducing the Ze- 
 meendars to subjection, and put several in confinement, 
 at the same time that he gave every encouragement to 
 the Ryyuts to remain in their villages. After a few 
 days Hafiz went to Subna, when he released the Ze- 
 meendars and re-established them in their villages. 
 Sheikh Kubbeer continued his march to Khyreegur, 
 which pergunnah is bounded on the west by the Gogra 
 river, and was at that time held by Rajpoots and Bun- 
 j arras who had collected a body of ten thousand men to 
 oppose his progress ; but having succeeded in crossing 
 the river, Sheikh Kubbeer soon dispersed this undisci- 
 plined rabble, and entered the town of Khyreegur: 
 from thence he advanced to the eastward, and having 
 crossed the Courialla and Karnaul rivers, he encamped 
 outside the forest which surrounds the fort of Bhurta- 
 pore, where the Hindoos had taken post. Being ac- 
 quainted with the mazes of the forest, they made several 
 
 K 
 
34 LIFE OF HAFI7 OOL-MOOLK 
 
 successful sallies on the Afghans, but the perseverance 
 of Sheikh Kubbeer overcame every obstacle ; the fort 
 was stormed, and the whole of the garrison put to the 
 sword. 
 
 In Sejowlee, Dhurmapore and Singuleea, Sheikh 
 Kubbeer also established the authority of Hafiz, and 
 having settled the amount of the revenue to be paid by 
 the landholders, he left Ikhtiar Khan, as Aumil of Khy- 
 reegur, and returned with his troops to Subna. Although 
 Khyreegur is a very rich country, and famous for the 
 production of a superior kind of rice, yet the climate is 
 exceedingly unhealthy, and the army of Sheikh Kubbeer 
 had suffered so much from sickness, that Hafiz Rehmut 
 was obliged to assemble fresh troops to complete his 
 undertaking. The pergunnahs of Mulwara and Muj- 
 hiallee still remained in the hands of the Bunj arras, and 
 towards them the new levies directed their course, and 
 soon made themselves masters of the former. 
 
 The pergunnah of Mujhiallee was subject to the Rajah 
 of Dotee, and the town was the grand mart for the 
 barter and sale of the produce of the hills. At this 
 time a vast number of merchants were assembled there, 
 and when Sheikh Kubbeer entered the town, the whole 
 of the people fled, leaving him in possession of a valuable 
 booty, from which he made a selection to present to 
 Hafiz Rehmut, and divided the remainder among his 
 troops. 
 
 As the Rajah of Dotee had in the first instance been 
 
HAFIZ llEll.M' 1 !- KUAN. 35 
 
 made sensible of the power of the Afghans by their 
 conquest of Almorah, and now personally felt it in their 
 conquest of the pergunnah of Mujhiallee, he sent vakeels 
 to Hafiz at Subna, to ascertain the amount which he 
 would demand as the tribute for that pergunnah ; and 
 terms having been agreed on, a sunnud was granted to 
 the Rajah. Every thing being now settled to the satis- 
 faction of Hafiz, he returned to Pillibheet after an ab- 
 sence of four months. 
 
 The death of Kaim Khan was almost as gratifying 
 news to the vizier Sufdur Jung, as would have been his 
 victory over Hafiz Rehmut, and no sooner did he hear 
 of the event than he marched to Furrukhabad to seize 
 his property. Outside the city he was met by the sons 
 of the late Nuwab, whom he immediately put under 
 restraint, and subsequently imprisoned them in the fort 
 of Allahabad. Sufdur Jung then confined all the 
 females of the family, seized their money, and stripped 
 them of their jewels. In a few days Nuwul-roy arrived 
 from Lucnow, and Sufdur Jung left him to collect all 
 that remained to be plundered, while he returned to 
 his post at Delhi. Ahmed Khan, the younger brother 
 of the late Kaim Khan, who had hitherto resided at 
 court, on hearing of Sufdur Jung's conduct to his ne- 
 phews, considered himself no longer safe at Delhi, and 
 fled to Mow. 
 
 Nuwul-roy, in obedience to the orders of Sufdur 
 Jung, collected all the property which he could find, 
 
36 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 and then returned to Lucnow, taking with him as his 
 prisoner the mother of Kaim Khan. Saheb-roy, a Moo- 
 tusuddee, who had been in the service of Mahomed 
 Khan Bungish, and who was now employed by Nuwul- 
 roy, pitying the unfortunate situation of his late 
 master's widow, who was exposed to the greatest indig- 
 nities, laid a plan for her release ; and one night when 
 Nuwul-roy was in a state of intoxication, took to him a 
 petition from the Begum, soliciting his permission to 
 proceed to Furrukhabad for a few days, to which re- 
 quest Nuwul-roy gave his assent ; and having so far 
 succeeded in his object, he placed the Begum in a 
 covered carriage, and desired her servants to proceed 
 with all possible expedition : which order they so well 
 obeyed, that by the following evening they reached 
 the town of Mow. Nuwul-roy on recovering from his 
 debauch, discovered the trick which had been passed on 
 him, but as he could not overtake the Begum, he wrote 
 an account of her escape to Sufdur Jung, omitting all 
 that would have been to his own discredit; but the 
 vizier admitted no excuse, and ordered him immediately 
 to return to Furrukhabad, and to seize her person. 
 Such an order could not long remain concealed from 
 persons so deeply interested as Ahmed Khan and his 
 relations, and who indeed were prepared to expect that 
 Sufdur Jung would not allow the Begum to remain 
 quietly at Furrukhabad. As Nuwul-roy was obliged to 
 pass through the town of Mow, on his way from Lucnow, 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 
 
 they determined to way-lay him on his march ; Ahmed 
 Khan, with the aid of Rostum Khan Afreedee, collected 
 a sufficient quantity of arms for their party, and at three 
 koss distance from Mow they awaited his arrival : they 
 there attacked and drove off his followers, surrounded 
 Nuwul-roy's elephant, and cut him to pieces; after which 
 Ahmed Khan proceeded to Furrukhabad, and took pos- 
 session of his paternal property. 
 
 Sufdur Jung's rage at this event knew no bounds ; 
 and to revenge himself on the Afghans of Mow and 
 Furrukhabad, he assembled the royal army under 
 Ishak Khan; four thousand men under Futteh Ullee 
 Khan ; and called in to his aid, Soorujmull Jhaut with 
 thirty thousand horse and foot ; and, with a large train 
 of artillery, this overwhelming force moved from 
 Shahjehanabad. 
 
 Ahmed Khan and the Afghans of Mow felt that 
 their very existence depended on their conduct in this 
 j uncture ; and having assembled all the forces they could 
 muster, they applied for aid to Hafiz Rehmut Khan, 
 who shocked at the disgrace to which the family had 
 been exposed by Sufdur Jung, readily acceded to their 
 request, and dispatched to their assistance Wur Khan, 
 Purmool Khan, and other surdars, promising to join 
 them in person, if the strength of Sufdur Jung^s army 
 should render such a measure necessary. 
 
 When Sufdur Jung learned that Hafiz had joined 
 the cause of the Furrukhabad Pathans, he made forced 
 
38 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 marches in hopes of reaching the city, before the 
 arrival of the reinforcement from Kutheir : and Ahmed 
 Khan, deeming it unwise to allow Sufdur Jung to enter 
 into the heart of his country, marched out to meet him 
 at the head of fifteen thousand men. His spies having 
 brought to him correct information of the disposition of 
 Sufdur Jung's force, Ahmed Khan divided his troops 
 into two bodies ; the one under Rostum Khan was 
 directed to attack Soorujmull, while Ahmed Khan in 
 command of the other attacked Sufdur Jung. 
 
 The Jhauts under Soorujmull being so superior in 
 numbers, overpowered Rostum Khan, and in a short 
 time news was brought to Ahmed Khan of his defeat 
 and death; his presence of mind, however, did not 
 forsake him in this extremity, but desiring the messenger 
 to be silent, he gave out to his troops that Rostum Khan, 
 although opposed to a superior force, had succeeded in 
 defeating Soorujmull,, adding, that unless they now ex- 
 erted themselves, their character would be lost. Cheered 
 by this news, his division made a desperate attack on the 
 royal army, and Ishak Khan was slain, when the Afghans 
 took possession of the field train. The wind being very 
 high, the dust was for some time so great, that Ahmed 
 Khan could not discern what part of the army remained 
 to be opposed ; but when it subsided, Sufdur Jung was 
 discovered, mounted on an elephant at a little distance. 
 The Afghans immediately rushed forward, and a shot 
 striking Sufdur Jung in the neck, he fell back in his 
 
HAFIZ HEHMUT KHAN. 39 
 
 howdah, and the mahout drove his elephant off the field. 
 The troops supposing the Vizier to be slain, took to 
 flight; and Soorujmull, who had hitherto been vic- 
 torious, hearing that Sufdur Jung was slain, and having 
 no personal interest in the contest, considered it useless 
 to continue the action, and drew off his men. This 
 action took place between Patiallee and Suhawur, on the 
 22d of Shuwal, in the year 1163 of the Hejiree. 
 
 Ahmed Khan having returned thanks for this signal 
 victory, took possession of the enemy^s camp, in which 
 was found an immense plunder, which was divided on 
 the spot. On dismissing the Afghans with suitable pre- 
 sents, Ahmed Khan communicated to Hafiz his intention 
 to take possession of the provinces of Oude and Alla- 
 habad, and requested Hafiz to assist him in the execution 
 of his purpose ; accordingly Sheikh Kubbeer, Purmool 
 Khan, and other surdars, with their respective contin- 
 gents, marched to Shahabad and Khyrabad, of which 
 purgunnahs they took quiet possession. 
 
 Ahmed Khan dispatched his son Muhmood to invade 
 the province of Oude, while he with a large army in- 
 vaded Allahabad; On his route he met little opposition, 
 but as the fort of Allahabad could only be taken by 
 regular approaches, he was obliged to sit down before 
 it. Sufdur Jung had nearly recovered from his wound, 
 when he heard of this invasion of his territory, and he 
 in revenge sent orders to the Killadar of Allahabad to 
 put to death the five sons of Kaim Khan ; which cruel 
 
40 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 mandate was obeyed. The vizier also again determined 
 to attack Ahmed Khan, and called in the aid of a 
 Mahratta force, which advanced to Etawah, and in the 
 month of Jemad-ool-uwul, in the year 1164 of the 
 Hejiree, defeated Azum Khan (the brother of Ahmed 
 Khan) and Shadil Khan, and obliged them to fly from 
 their post to Furrukhabad. This unexpected event 
 compelled Ahmed Khan to raise the seige of Allahabad, 
 and directing his son Muhmood to quit Lucnow, and 
 join him on the road, he hastened back to Furrukhabad. 
 Sufdur Jung in the mean time assembled his own forces; 
 through the interest of the eunuch Javeid Khan, he ob- 
 tained a field train and a supply of ammunition from the 
 royal arsenal, though the king^s army was not permitted 
 to accompany him ; and he marched from Delhi, and 
 joined the Mahrattas. 
 
 Saadoolla Khan, fired with youthful ardour, [and urged 
 on by Buhadoor Khan a child of his late father's,] at 
 the head of about twelve thousand men, marched from 
 Owlah to the aid of Ahmed Khan, nor could the rhetoric 
 of Hafiz dissuade him from the rash enterprize. After 
 three days Saadoolla made his re-appearance at Owlah 
 without an attendant, and reported that the moment his 
 troops had crossed the Ganges, they were attacked by 
 the Mahrattas, and dispersed with great slaughter. 
 Buhadoor Khan Chela (6) was among the killed, and Saa- 
 doolla seeing that the day was lost, hastily recrossed 
 the river, and rode without halting to Owlah. Ahmed 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 41 
 
 Khan also, finding himself unable to oppose the com- 
 bined forces of the Mahrattas and Sufdur Jung, fled to 
 Owlah, taking with him all the females of his family, 
 and accompanied by the sirdars of Mow and Furrukh- 
 abad. Sufdur Jung then entered the city, and began 
 to prepare boats for crossing the army into Ku their. 
 
 As the Mahratta force amounted to eighty-thousand 
 horse, and the army of Sufdur Jung to not less than 
 fifty-thousand, it was evident that the troops in Kutheir 
 were insufficient to offer any serious opposition : and the 
 Mahratta horse being in the habit of making forced 
 marches of twenty koss in a day, it became necessary to 
 guard against a sudden surprise at Owlah ; and Hafiz 
 Rehmut dispatched the sirdars with their families to 
 Kasheepore, and then followed with his own family. 
 
 The approach of the rains, however, induced the 
 vizier to postpone his attack on Kutheir until the cold sea- 
 son, as the Mahrattas deemed it inexpedient to enter at 
 such a time the country of an enemy, which being inter- 
 sected by numerous rivers would impede their progress ; 
 or in case of a defeat, render a retreat impracticable. 
 
 At the commencement of the rains Hafiz Rehmut 
 with the sirdars and their families returned to Owlah, 
 and there passed four months; at the expiration of 
 which period Sufdur Jung constructed three bridges of 
 boats on the Ganges for crossing his army. Twenty-five 
 thousand Mahrattas had crossed at the Ghaut of 
 Koomrole, and more were still crossing when Hafiz ad- 
 
 L 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 vanced to oppose them. For several days skirmishes 
 took place, and the Mahrattas finding that no more 
 could be crossed there, prepared two other bridges 
 higher up the river ; and determined on sending a body 
 of their best horse to plunder Owlah, and seize the 
 families of the chiefs, conceiving that the sirdars would 
 immediately return to attempt the rescue of their women, 
 and that the main body without its leaders would be 
 easily defeated. The Afghans on learning this, at once 
 decided on returning to Owlah, and there making a 
 stand ; and the vizier hoping to be before them, pressed 
 on and overtook them on the road, when a battle ensued, 
 in which great numbers were slain on both sides ; nor 
 could either party claim the victory; but Hafiz pro- 
 ceeded that evening five koss further on his way to 
 Owlah, and Sufdur Jung did not deem it prudent to 
 pursue him. 
 
 On reaching Owlah, Hafiz collected all the riches of 
 the place, and the families of the chiefs, and placing 
 them in the centre of the army, marched to Chilkeea 
 which is at the foot of the Kumaoon hills, not easily ac- 
 cessible, and surrounded by a thick forest. The women 
 and children were accommodated in the village, and 
 batteries were erected outside the forest in front of the 
 army. Sufdur Jung and Mulhar Rao having left 
 Aumils in Owlah and Bareilly, advanced to the skirts 
 of the forest, and there encamped. Daily skirmishes 
 took place between the advanced posts; but as the 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 43 
 
 forest was thick, the Mahrattas rarely ventured to enter 
 it ; and when they did so, being unacquainted with the 
 paths, their parties generally fell into the hands of the 
 Afghans. Sufdur Jung perceiving that in this sort of 
 warfare he was not likely to gain any advantage, erected 
 batteries opposite to those of Hafiz ; and in this state the 
 armies remained opposed to each other for four months, 
 during which time though the sword had done little, sick- 
 ness had thinned the ranks of the combined army; and the 
 Mahrattas weary of a contest in which no plunder could 
 be gained, and suffering from disease in a climate pecu- 
 liarly unhealthy, were importunate with their chief 
 Mulhar Rao, to lead them back. The affairs of Oude 
 had fallen into confusion after the death of Nuwul-roy, 
 and by the subsequent invasion of the province, which 
 made Sufdur Jung also desirous to have his hands dis- 
 engaged ; his resolution to treat with Hafiz was further 
 confirmed by the advance of Ahmed Shah Douranee, 
 who by this time had reached Lahore ; and the interest 
 of all parties thus uniting to bring about a speedy ad- 
 justment of their quarrel, Mulhar Rao invited Hafiz 
 Rehmut to a conference, when a treaty was signed, 
 highly favourable to the latter ; and the restitution of 
 Ahmed Khan's paternal estates was one of the stipu- 
 lations. 
 
 After four days, Sufdur Jung commenced his march 
 to Lucnow, and as a particular favour requested Hafiz 
 to accompany him to Shahjehanpore, leaving his army 
 
44 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 to follow at leisure. The Afghan sirdars strongly dis- 
 suaded him from complying with this request, but he 
 chose to assent. The vizier took every opportunity of 
 paying respect and attention to Hafiz ; several hours of 
 each day they passed together, and from that time the 
 vizier addressed Hafiz by the title of brother. Unwill- 
 ing to part with so pleasing a companion, the vizier 
 prevailed on Hafiz to proceed as far as Mohaun (seven 
 koss from Lucnow), where Hafiz having received several 
 arzees from his Aumils, pointing out the necessity of his 
 speedy return, quitted the vizier's camp. On taking 
 leave, Sufdur Jung presented him with a rich khelat, 
 a string of large pearls, a diamond sirpech and aigrette 
 of great value, a splendid sword and shield, an elephant 
 with a silver howdah, a horse with silver trappings ; and 
 obtained for him a sunnud from the king for the per- 
 gunnahs of Subna and Purumnuggur, which were 
 granted in jaghire to his family. 
 
 The return of Hafiz to Owlah excited a general re- 
 joicing. To his judicious arrangements the Afghans 
 were indebted for the happy issue of a contest which at 
 its commencement augured so unfavourably : to which 
 may be added, the well known duplicity of Sufdur Jung, 
 which made them anxious for the safety of their ruler, 
 so long as he remained in the vizier's camp. 
 
 External tranquillity being restored, Hafiz Rehmut 
 directed his attention to the management of the revenues 
 and police of his country, particularly to the pergun- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 45 
 
 nahs of Mehrabad and Jelalabad, where a military 
 force was requisite to subdue several refractory ze- 
 meendars. 
 
 Hitherto Hafiz Rehmut Khan in governing Kutheir 
 had only considered himself as fulfilling the promise 
 made to Ullee Mahomed Khan ; but as Saadoolla Khan 
 was now arrived at years of discretion, and as Hafiz was 
 anxious to devote to spiritual exercises a greater por- 
 tion of time than was consistent with his duties as ruler 
 of the country, he wished to transfer the reins of go- 
 vernment to Saadoolla ; but found him so dissipated a 
 character, that the whole charge of the revenue, and the 
 management of the troops still devolved on Hafiz. In 
 order, however, to secure a greater degree of leisure than 
 he had yet enjoyed, Hafiz appointed one of his Russala- 
 dars, Aumil of each pergunnah : seven lacs of rupees in 
 cash, and several rich pergunnahs, were set apart for the 
 expenses of Saadoolla Khan : the pergunnahs of Sum- 
 bul, Mooradabad, Thakoor-dwara, and Kasheepore were 
 given to Doondee Khan for himself and his forces, 
 amounting to twelve thousand horse and foot : some 
 villages in the vicinity of Owlah and Kote Sahlban 
 were allotted to Bukshee Surdar Khan ; and other 
 estates were made over to Futteh Khan Khansuman, 
 Sheikh Kubbeer, Moolla Baz Khan, and the different 
 sirdars. 
 
 In the latter end of the year 1164 of the Hejiree, 
 Abdoolla Khan and Fyzoolla Khan (the sons of Ullee 
 
46 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Mahomed Khan), who had been taken prisoners at 
 Sirhind by Ahmed Shah Douranee, obtained their re- 
 lease, and returned to Kutheir. Hafiz Rehmut Khan 
 offered to resign the government to Abdoolla Khan, but 
 his want of experience disqualified him for the situation, 
 and the sirdars refused to acknowledge him as their 
 chief. Abdoolla, however, unconscious of his own de- 
 ficiencies, attributed his rejection to a want of sincerity 
 on the part of Hafiz, and instigated Kootub Shah to 
 poison him. The attempt was repeated several times 
 without success, as intimation of the plot had been given 
 to Hafiz, who took no notice of it, in the hope that Ab- 
 doollah would in time discover the injustice of his 
 suspicions : an attempt to murder his brother Fyzoolla, 
 however, convinced Hafiz that the young man could 
 not be reclaimed, and he consequently found it necessary 
 to relinquish all communication with him. 
 
 Some short time after this, Abdoola Khan, pretend- 
 ing urgent business, requested an interview with Hafiz 
 Rehmut Khan, and concealed a number of armed men 
 in the house to murder him on his entrance. Accom- 
 panied by Doondee Khan, Bukshee Surdar Khan s and 
 Abdool Sitar Khan, Hafiz waited on Abdoolla, and 
 found him surrounded by six of his myrmidons, but 
 none ventured to attack ; Hafiz, who had heard of the 
 plot, charged Abdoolla with his treachery, ordered him 
 to quit the country immediately, and seized his servants. 
 The sirdars would have executed these men without 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 47 
 
 delay, but Hafiz contented himself with expelling them 
 from Kutheir. 
 
 Abdoollah Khan went from Owlah to Furrukhabad, 
 where liaving experienced much distress for several 
 months, Ahmed Khan interceded for him, and he was 
 
 permitted to return. The town of Oojanee, with lands 
 
 . 
 to the amount of four lacs of rupees per annum, were 
 
 allotted for his support ; and there he resided till his 
 death, which was occasioned by the bite of a snake. His 
 jaghire then descended to his son, Nusur-oolla Khan. 
 
 To Fyzoolla Khan, Hafiz Rehmut had given the per- V 
 gunnah of Shahabad, yielding three lacs of rupees per 
 annum ; four thousand horse and foot were appointed to 
 attend him, and his residence was fixed at Rampore, but 
 he generally lived with Hafiz in the fort of Bareilly. 
 
 As Pillibheet was the original jaghire of Hafiz Rehmut /^ 
 Khan, he now turned his attention to the improvement 
 of that town ; sent all the females of his family to reside 
 there (except one, who with his eldest son, Enayit 
 Khan, was accommodated in the fort of Bareilly), and 
 erected a new Muhl Serai,* Deewan Aum,*|- and Deewan 
 Khas ; J changing the name from Pillibheet to Hafizabad. 
 
 Sufdur Jung having settled the affairs of Oude, re- 
 turned to Delhi, and as he and Javeid Khan had quar- 
 relled about the preparations required for his attack on 
 the Nuwab of Furrukhabad above related, (c) Sufdur 
 
 * Apartment for the females. f Public hall of audience. 
 
 - Private hall of audience. 
 
48 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Jung invited the eunuch to an entertainment at his 
 house, and there treacherously murdered him. The 
 Emperor was so enraged at this outrage, that he dismissed 
 Sufdur Jung from the office of vizier, and appointed 
 Intizam-ood-dowla in his stead : ,made Imad-ool-moolk, 
 Ghazee-ood-deen Khan (son of Firoze Jung, and grand- 
 son of Nizam-ool-moolk), an Ameer of the empire, and 
 ordered them to attack the ex-minister. Sufdur Jung 
 deemed it inexpedient to remain longer in the imperial 
 city, and therefore pitched his camp at a short distance 
 from Delhi, and prepared for battle. Daily skirmishes 
 occurred between his followers and the royal troops ; 
 but he did not dare unaided to venture on a pitched 
 battle, and therefore solicited the assistance of Hafiz 
 Rehmut, who marched from Kutheir at the head of forty 
 thousand men. At the town of Hoppur he was met 
 by Meer Moonakib, Rajah Dbee-dutt, and the eunuch 
 Bussunt Khan, who brought a furman from the king, 
 ordering him to join the royal standard, and not to 
 unite himself with the rebel Sufdur Jung. Hafiz 
 Rehmut answered that he was engaged to assist the ex- 
 vizier, and that were he to obey the commands of the 
 king, his character would suffer. This answer being 
 communicated to his majesty, a second furman was 
 issued, admitting the plea urged by Hafiz for declining 
 to act against Sufdur Jung, but commanding him on his 
 allegiance to return to his own country : this order he 
 did not dare to disobey, and therefore wrote to Sufdur 
 
HAFIZ HEHMUT KHAN. 49 
 
 Jung, informing him that he was obliged to return to 
 Kutheir, as the king's interference rendered his junction 
 impossible. 
 
 When Hafiz prepared to return, the king's vakeels 
 offered large sums of money to the sirdars to induce 
 them to engage in his majesty's service ; but with the 
 exception of Nujeeb Khan, who commanded one hundred 
 horse, none accepted the bribe : however, when the pri- 
 vate soldiers saw that large rewards were bestowed on 
 these deserters, many more joined Nujeeb Khan's stan- 
 dard ; and he took away with him altogether about two 
 thousand men. In the battle of Kotela which occurred 
 soon afterwards (where Indur-geer Goosein commanded 
 Sufdur Jung's forces), Nujeeb Khan behaved with great 
 gallantry, slaying with his own hand the Goosein ; for 
 which conduct his majesty rewarded him with the per- 
 gunnahs of Suharunpore, Booria, and all the villages of 
 Barrah, in jagheer : and Sufdur Jung being now con- 
 vinced that he could not make head against the royal 
 army, and that he had no chance of being restored to 
 the vizarut, returned to Oude/ rf) 
 
 Although Intizam-ood-dowla held the office of vizier, 
 yet Imad-ool-moolk, Ghazee-ood-deen Khan, had obtained 
 so much influence at court, that nothing was done with- 
 out his consent; and on some occasion having been 
 thwarted by the king, he threw both him and his mother 
 into prison, put out the eyes of the former, and raised 
 to the throne Azeez-ood-deen (son of Moiz-ood-deen, and 
 
 M 
 
50 LIFE OF HAF1Z OOL-MOOLK 
 
 grandson of Buhadoor Shah), who was proclaimed king 
 by the title of Alumgeer Sanee {or the second) on the 
 10th of the month Shaban, in the year 1167 of the 
 Hejiree. Imad-ool-moolk then usurped the vizarut, and 
 retained all power in his own hands. 
 
 On the 17th of Zilhaije, in the year 1167 Hejiree, the 
 Nuwab Sufdur Jung died from the effects of a tumour, 
 called in surgery a carbuncle, and was succeeded by his 
 son Jelal-ood-deen Hyder, who assumed the title of 
 Shooj a-ood-do wla. 
 
 When Nujeeb Khan quitted Hafiz Rehmut at 
 Hoppur, he gave out that he did so with the permission 
 of his father-in-law, Doondee Khan ; and as Hafiz was 
 anxious to do away the impression that he had broken 
 his faith with Sufdur Jung, he wrote to Doondee Khan, 
 that his conduct on this occasion had caused a breach 
 between them, which could not be forgiven ; and that he 
 must prepare to defend his actions by his sword. Doon- 
 dee Khan disclaimed all knowledge of Nujeeb Khan's 
 intentions, and declared that he had never been consult- 
 ed ; but Hafiz deeming it highly improbable that Nujeeb 
 Khan would have dared to disobey his orders, unless 
 assured of support from Doondee Khan, discredited 
 these assertions, and commenced his march to Bissowlee. 
 Doondee Khan was sincerely attached to Hafiz Rehmut, 
 and to convince him of his integrity, he quitted his 
 house with only a few servants and Bukshee Surdar 
 Khan, and met Hafiz at Owlah, when the frankness of 
 
HAFIZ 11EHMUT KHAN. 51 
 
 bis manner at once dispelled all doubts, and the two 
 friends embraced as usual. 
 
 About this period, the new town of Hafizgunje, eight 
 koss from Bareilly, and ten koss from Hafizabad, was 
 built : travellers having experienced great inconvenience 
 from the want of a halting place on that road. 
 
 In the year 1169 of the Hejiree,. Moyin-ool-moolk, 
 commonly called Meer Munnoo, having been killed by 
 a fall from his horse, the government of Lahore was 
 entrusted to his widow ; but Imad-ool-moolk was offend- 
 ed that he had not been consulted on the occasion, and 
 in the year 1170, on pretence of completing his marriage 
 with the daughter of Meer Munnoo, to whom he was 
 betrothed, he marched towards Lahore, accompanied 
 by the prince Allee Gohur, afterwards better known by 
 the title of Shah Allum. On his arrival at Loodhiana, 
 and after having received his bride, he dispatched 
 Adeena Beg Khan, Ibad-oolla Khan, a Cashmirian, and 
 Syyud Jumeel-ood-deen Khan Ruffeh-ool-dowla, to 
 Lahore, forty koss distant, which they travelled in one 
 night, and having seized Meer Munnoo's widow, they 
 put her in confinement. Adeena Beg Khan was then 
 appointed governor of Lahore, for which he agreed to 
 pay annually thirty lacs of rupees, and Imad-ool-moolk 
 having effected his object, returned to Delhi. 
 
 Ahmed Shah Douranee no sooner heard of the vizier's 
 conduct than he marched from Kandahar to Lahore, to 
 seize Adeena Beg Khan ; but that officer on the ap. 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 proach of the Shah, made his escape to Hansi, and the 
 Douranee pursued his route to Delhi. At the interces- 
 sion of his mother-in-law, Ahmed Shah pardpned Imad- 
 ool-moolk, and for an annual payment confirmed him in 
 the office of Vizier. 
 
 When Hafiz Rehmut heard of Ahmed Shah's arrival 
 at Delhi, he sent an arzee by his vakeel Yakoob Ullee 
 Khan ; and the vakeel being admitted to the royal 
 presence, received a khelat and was dismissed with an 
 order to Hafiz to join the army, which, under the com- 
 mand of Imad-ool-moolk, had been sent to realise the 
 peshcush* due from Shooja-ood-dowla for the provinces 
 of Oude and Allahabad ; and after effecting this object, 
 to attend his majesty. In obedience to the orders of 
 the Shah, Hafiz assembled his army, and prepared to 
 join Imad-ool-moolk as soon as he crossed the Ganges. 
 
 The demand of a peshcush for the province of Oude 
 had never before been made ; but the Douranee's demands 
 for cash since his arrival at Delhi had been so frequent, 
 that the plunder of the inhabitants of that city no longer 
 sufficed to answer them, and the vizier therefore sug- 
 gested this measure to gain favour with the Shah ; well 
 knowing that if Shooja-ood-dowla should resist, the de- 
 mand would be enforced by the sword, and then his 
 personal enmity to Sufdur Jung would be gratified in 
 the degradation of his son. 
 
 Imad-ool-moolk was accompanied on this expedition 
 by the princes Hidayut Buksh, and Mirza Babur (son 
 * Tribute. 
 
HAFIZ 11EHMUT KHAN. 53 
 
 and son-in-law of Alumgeer Sfmee), also by Jan Baz 
 Khan Bungish, one of the Douranee's sirdars; and on 
 arriving at Furruckhabad, Ahmed Khan offered to the 
 princes suitable presents of tents, horses, shawls, Sec. 
 After halting a few days, the army crossed the Ganges, 
 and Shooja-ood-dowla advanced to the western frontier 
 of his dominions, and encamped in Sandee and Palee. 
 Shooja-ood-dowla wrote to Hafiz Rehmut, reminding 
 him of the friendship which had subsisted between him 
 and Sufdur Jung, and intreating that he would not join 
 a man who had brought down on him the king's dis- 
 pleasure, merely to gratify his private resentment : to 
 which Hafiz answered that he did not dare to disobey 
 the orders of the Shah, but that on joining Imad-ool- 
 moolk he would spare no pains to prevent his resorting 
 to hostilities: accordingly, when Shooja-ood-dowla' s 
 vakeels waited on Imad-ool-moolk, Hafiz used his 
 utmost persuasions to effect an amicable adjustment; 
 but as the vizier was actuated by private pique, he de- 
 manded a sum of money far beyond the power of Shooja- 
 ood-dowla to pay 
 
 The two armies being encamped near to each other, 
 daily petty affairs occurred between the advanced posts ; 
 and Hafiz fearing that the repetition of these might 
 lead to a general action, privately instructed Saadoolla 
 Khan to go to the camp of Shooja-ood-dowla, and on 
 his behalf to propose terms to Imad-ool-moolk, whereby 
 Hafiz would be better enabled to interfere : accordingly 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Saadoolla joined Shooja-ood-dowla, and exchanged 
 turbans with him, at which Hafiz pretended to be 
 offended ; but represented to the vizier that his youth 
 and inexperience must plead his excuse : and as it ap- 
 peared from Saadoolla's letter that Shooja-ood-dowlah 
 was willing to pay as his peshcush, as large a sum as he 
 could afford ; if the vizier rejected the offer, he should 
 return to Kutheir, and state to the Shah his reasons for 
 so doing, since his orders were only to interfere in case 
 of non-payment. As Imad-ool-moolk, unassisted, was 
 not equal to the attack of Shooja-ood-dowla' s camp, he 
 was compelled to accept the terms proposed : and it was 
 agreed that five lacs of rupees should be paid imme- 
 diately, and a further sum by instalments. This 
 business being settled, Imad-ool-moolk and the princes 
 returned to Furrukhabad, and Shooja-ood-dowla to 
 Lucnow, on the 9th of Shuwal, in the year 1170 of 
 the Hejiree. Hafiz Rehmut was preparing to join the 
 Shah at Delhi, when intelligence was brought to him 
 that a plague had broken out in the Shah's army after 
 the massacre at Muttra, in consequence of which he had 
 precipitately quitted Agra, and was retracing his steps 
 to Kandahar. In passing through Delhi, the Shah 
 was met by Alumgeer Sanee and Nujeeb Khan, who 
 represented to him the misconduct of Imad-ool-moolk ; 
 when the Douranee created Nujeeb Khan an ameer of the 
 empire, and authorised the king to dismiss Imad-ool- 
 moolk from the vizarut. Nujeeb Khan being now in- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 55 
 
 vested with power, took possession of the house which 
 Imad-ool-moolk occupied, and turned out the females of 
 his family ; which indignity so enraged the Vizier, that 
 to avenge himself on Nujeeb Khan, he invited Ra- 
 goonat Rao (brother of Ballajee Rao) and Mulhar Rao 
 Holkar, with their forces from the Dukhun ; and when 
 they were near at hand, Imad-ool-moolk marched from 
 Furrukhabad, and joined the Mahrattas near Delhi. 
 During twenty-five days repeated actions took place 
 between the Mahrattas and the royal army, in which 
 the former being generally successful, Nujeeb Khan 
 offered a bribe to Mulhar Rao to secede from the con- 
 federacy, which being accepted, a treaty was set on 
 foot; and it was finally agreed that Nujeeb Khan 
 should be confirmed in his jagheer, and that Imad- 
 ool-moolk should be reinstated in his office of 
 Vizier. 
 
 The Vizier, jealous of the prince Allee Gohur, who 
 had entertained a small body of armed men for the pro- 
 tection of his person, wished to prevail on the king to 
 insist on his residing within the palace, and failing in 
 this object, took every opportunity of distressing him ; 
 at length, he with an armed force surrounded his house 
 with the intention of seizing his person, when the prince 
 gallantly cut his way through the assailants and escaped 
 to Bareilly. Hafiz Rehmut Khan being at this time at 
 Nanikmutta, the prince was received with due honours 
 by Enayit Khan ; and on his departure was presented 
 
56 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 with several elephants and horses, and every necessary 
 for his journey to Bengal. 
 
 Enayit Khan being at this time twelve years of age, 
 it appeared to his father advisable to make arrangements 
 for his nuptials ; and he selected for his wife a daughter 
 of the late Ullee Mahomed Khan. This marriage was 
 celebrated with great pomp at Bareilly ; the whole 
 town being illuminated, and the shops decorated with 
 flowers on the occasion. 
 
 Although Imad-ool-moolk had agreed to the treaty 
 signed at Delhi, to secure his restoration to the vizarut, 
 he was not of a disposition so soon to forgive the insult 
 offered to his family by Nujeeb Khan (now having the 
 title of Nujeeb-ood-dowla), and in 1772 Hejiree, soon 
 after the departure of Allee Gohur from Delhi, the 
 Vizier again called in the aid of the Mahrattas under Dut- 
 too and Jungoo, with the intention of expelling Nujeeb- 
 ood-dowla from his jagheer. On the arrival of the Mah- 
 rattas at Delhi, Nujeeb-ood-dowla entrenched himself at 
 Sookurtal, on the banks of the Ganges, and solicited aid 
 from Hafiz Rehmut Khan. Hafiz conceiving his own 
 troops insufficient to oppose the Mahrattas, requested 
 Shooja-ood-dowla to join him, and the combined force 
 marched from Bareilly, in Jemad-ool-awul, 11 73 Hejiree. 
 On reaching Hussunpore, intelligence was brought that 
 the Mahrattas had made a bridge of boats on the Ganges, 
 near to Sookurtal, for the purpose of crossing into Ku- 
 their, and Bukshee Surdar Khan with four thousand 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 57 
 
 picked men was sent in advance to oppose them, while 
 two other russaladars were directed to follow as expedi- 
 tiously as possible. The Bukshee* arrived at Subulgurh 
 by forced marches, but finding that a large body of the 
 Mahrattas had already crossed, he took post in the fort of 
 that place, and on the arrival of the other russaladars, 
 he attacked the enemy and compelled them to recross the 
 Ganges. The main body of the army proceeded to the 
 bank of the river opposite Sookurtal, and there en- 
 camped, as the whole of the boats had been secured by 
 the Mahrattas, and the river was not fordable. 
 
 While Imad-ool-moolk was making his approaches to 
 attack Sookurtal, he heard that the Douranee was again 
 on his march towards Hindoostan, and foreseeing that 
 the aid of Hatiz Rehmut and Shooja-ood-dowla would 
 defeat his plans against Nujeeb-ood-dowla, he only 
 wanted the plausible pretext for breaking up his camp, 
 which this news afforded him. The Mahrattas recrossed 
 the Jumna at Karnaul, and advanced towards Sirhind 
 to oppose the Shah, while Imad-ool-moolk returned to 
 Delhi, put to death the Emperor Alumgeer Sanee, and 
 Intizam-ood-dowla (the uncle of his wife), and raised to 
 the throne Mohee-oos-soonut, the son of prince Kam- 
 buksh, and grandson of Aurungzebe, on the 8th of the 
 month Rubbee-ool-sanee, in the year 1173 of the Hejiree: 
 after which the vizier set out for Sirhind to join Duttoo 
 and Jungoo. 
 
 * Paymaster. 
 
 N 
 
58 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 When the Shah entered the Dooab, Hafiz Rehmut 
 crossed the Ganges to meet him, and was most graciously 
 received ; they then proceeded together to Delhi, and 
 crossed the Jumna at Vizierabad. Duttoo and Jungoo 
 attempted to oppose the passage of the Shah's troops, 
 but some Shooturnals* being brought to the bank of the 
 river, a heavy fire was opened on the Mahrattas, and 
 Duttoo being shot, Jungoo took to flight. The Douranee 
 horse, which were accustomed to swim rivers, received 
 orders each to take an Afghan foot soldier behind 
 him, and to cross the Jumna, as no boats were pro- 
 curable. A considerable body of men thus landed 
 on the opposite bank and pursued the Mahrattas, but 
 the slaughter was not great, as the Shah ordered them 
 not to follow beyond Delhi. The vizier did not deem 
 it prudent to trust himself a second time in the hands of 
 the Shah ; he therefore accompanied Jungoo, and after- 
 wards took refuge with Soorujmull Jhaut$ the Rajah of 
 Bhurtpore. 
 
 On the following evening the Shah and Hafiz Rehmut 
 entered Delhi, and as soon as the army could be assem- 
 bled, they proceeded to Mewat, where the vakeels of 
 the Jyenuggur Rajah brought the peshcush, and at the 
 same time gave intelligence that the Mahrattas had 
 changed their route, and were proceeding eastward, 
 with the intention of invading Rohilkund. 
 
 Hafiz was exceedingly anxious to be permitted to 
 
 * Small guns mounted on swivels, and fixed on saddles carried by 
 camels. 
 
HAF1Z REHMUT KHAN. 59 
 
 pursue the Mahrattas, but the Shah directed him to come 
 on leisurely with the infantry, while he with the horse 
 undertook this expedition. At the head of ten thousand 
 horse accustomed to long marches, the Shah overtook 
 the Mahrattas at Dholkote and Kankurra, and defeated 
 them with great slaughter : he then recrossed the Jumna, 
 took possession of Coel, which had hitherto been held 
 by the Jhauts, and encamped his army in that neigh- 
 bourhood for the rainy season. 
 
 Soorujmull, the Rajah of Bhurtpore, omitted to send 
 to the Shah the peshcushduefor his country, and Hafiz 
 Rehmut was dispatched to demand it. On his return 
 to Coel, he was treated with a distinction never before 
 shewn to a subject ; and being admitted to a familiar 
 intercourse with the king, he took every opportunity of 
 mentioning the Nuwab of Oude in favourable terms, 
 and ultimately obtained a furman directing him to join 
 the royal standard. Shooja-ood-dowla with five thousand 
 men soon afterwards arrived at Coel ; and Ahmed Khan 
 having come from Furrukhabad, both were introduced 
 by Hafiz to the Shah on the 4th of Zilhaije, in the year 
 1173 of the Hejiree. 
 
 During the rains Suddasheo Rao, commonly called 
 " Bhow," (cousin of the Peishwa Ballajee Rao), Biswas 
 Rao (son of the peishwa), and Shumshere Buhadoor, 
 with an innumerable army of Mahrattas, advanced from 
 the Dukhun to avenge the death of Duttoo ; and these 
 were joined on the march by Jungoo and Mulhar Rao. 
 
60 
 
 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Holkar. The combined force arrived at Delhi on the 
 19th of Zilhaije, of the year 1176 Hejiree, and encamped 
 around the city, till the season should be favourable for 
 active operations. On the 29th of Suffur, in the year 
 1174, Bhow deposed Mohee-oos-soonut (who on ascend- 
 ing the throne had taken the title of Shah Jehan), and 
 substituted in his stead Mirza Juwan Bukht, son of the 
 prince Allee Gohur, by the title of " Naib,"* during his 
 father's absence in Bengal. 
 
 The fort of Koonjpoora on the Jumna, near Karnaul, 
 was garrisoned by the royal troops, commanded by 
 Suniud Khan, Moomee Khan, Kootub Shah and Nijabut 
 Khan, the latter of whom was bribed by the Mahrattas 
 to give it up. A force marched from Delhi to attack the 
 fort, and the garrison, with three of the sirdars, sallied 
 out to oppose them ; but Nijabut pretending that the 
 presence of one of the sirdars was necessary in the fort, 
 remained behind. After a short action the Douranees 
 were defeated, and retreated to the fort, but the traitor 
 Nijabut shut the gates against them ; when these gallant 
 soldiers, determined to sell their lives dearly, and rushing 
 on the Mahrattas, slew an immense number before they 
 fell. The traitor Nijabut then gave up the fort ; but in- 
 stead of receiving a reward, the Mahrattas took all he pos- 
 sessed, confined him, and ultimately put him to death. 
 
 On hearing that Koonjpoora had fallen into the hands of 
 the Mahrattas, the -rage of the Shah knew no bounds, and 
 he issued orders for the immediate assembly of his army. 
 * Deputy or regent. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 61 
 
 When the royal standard was unfurled, the army was 
 found to exceed one hundred thousand fighting men, 
 viz. the Shah's Douranee horse, thirty thousand ; Hafiz 
 Rehmufs horse and foot, thirty thousand; Nujeeb 
 ood-dowla's contingent, fifteen thousand; Shooja- 
 ood-dowla's, seven thousand ; and Ahmed Khan's, five 
 thousand ; besides others of less note. The whole force 
 advanced to the banks of the Jumna, and by three 
 bridges of boats crossed the river at Bagput, of which, 
 when the Mahrattas heard, they moved to Panniput, 
 and encamped with the town in their rear. The royal 
 army took up a position opposite to them, and skirmishes 
 daily took place between the advanced posts. 
 
 Bhow entertained an opinion, that with his superior 
 numbers he could cut off the supplies of the royal 
 army, and therefore wished to postpone a general action, 
 until the troops reduced by famine should afford him an 
 opportunity of attacking them with the certainty of suc- 
 cess. One of the Shah's divisions was employed in con. 
 voying the grain, to intercept which, Bhow detached 
 four of his sirdars, with large bodies of horse ; and 
 these frequently met. The supplies for such an army 
 were necessarily brought from a great distance, and a 
 scarcity was soon felt. Bhow's object, however, was 
 not yet accomplished, and larger bodies were necessary 
 to effect his purpose ; he therefore caused a trench to be 
 dug, and a breast-work to be formed in front of his 
 camp, and there planted his artillery, in number seven 
 
03 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 hundred pieces, under the command of Ibrahim Khan, 
 and defended by twelve thousand foot. This measure 
 enabled Bhow, with the main body of the horse, to 
 extend his predatory excursions to a greater distance ; 
 and Govind Rao was selected, with twenty-five thousand 
 horse, to intercept the supplies of grain coming from 
 Kutheir and the lower part of the Dooab. The suc- 
 cess of this measure was so complete, that a seer of grain 
 sold in the Shah's camp for a rupee, and Govind Rao 
 made a feint of invading Kutheir. 
 
 At this time Hajee Attaee Khan, and Kurreem-dad 
 Khan, with a reinforcement of six thousand men, ar- 
 rived from Kandahar, and hearing of Govind's success 
 in intercepting the supplies, they offered to attack him, 
 and set off without a halt. After a journey of forty 
 koss, they swam the river Jumna, and reached Ghazee- 
 ood-deen-nuggur at day-break; attacked and defeated 
 Govind' s force, slew the leader, and carried his head in 
 triumph to the Shah, whose camp they reached on the 
 second day from their departure, after an extraordinary 
 march of eighty koss,* having twice crossed a rapid river, 
 and fought a great battle. From this time the supplies of 
 grain came in as usual ; and Jehan Khan, with six thou- 
 sand horse, was deputed to retaliate on the Mahrattas, 
 while another body of six thousand horse, under Shah 
 Pusund Khan, was dispatched to lay waste the country 
 to a distance of ten koss around their camp. Buhadoor 
 Khan, with a third body of six thousand horse, was 
 * About one hundred and twenty miles. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 63' 
 
 directed to parade around the Mahratta entrenchment, 
 to prevent egress, and to cut off all stragglers. Jehan 
 Khan was very successful in his attacks on the Mahratta 
 convoys, and though some supplies occasionally reached 
 their camp, yet their distress was very great, and num- 
 bers of their men fell in defending the stores, besides 
 those who died from famine and disease. 
 
 Enayit Khan, who on account of his youth had been 
 left at Bareilly, could no longer be restrained from 
 joining his father, and with an escort of two hundred 
 men entered the royal camp ; the Shah pleased with 
 his military ardour, presented him with a khelat and a 
 handsome sword. From him Hafiz received accounts 
 of the death of his mother, and all the sirdars were sent 
 by the Shah to condole with him on the occasion : but 
 as this was not a time to indulge in useless regrets, he 
 continued at the head of his troops, till the exertion, 
 added to his poignant grief, brought on a severe illness, 
 and he was under the necessity of committing the charge 
 of his division to his cousin Doondee Khan, and his son 
 Enayit Khan. 
 
 By the exertions of Buhadoor Khan, Shah Pusund 
 Khan, and Jehan Khan, the Mahrattas were now 
 reduced to the greatest straits ; fire-wood or grass was 
 not procurable within a day's march. One party had 
 been sent out so far as Dholkote, and were returning to 
 camp, when Jehan Khan (whose force had been increased 
 to ten thousand men expressly for the purpose), attacked 
 
64 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 them, defeated the escort, seized all the camels and 
 bullocks, killed five thousand of their men, and carried 
 off their horses. 
 
 The Mahrattas were now under the necessity of 
 risking a general action ; and on the following morning, 
 being the 6th of Jemad-ool-uwul, in the year 1174 of 
 the Hejiree, Bhow marched out of the entrenchments 
 with the whole of the horse and elephants, while the 
 artillery and foot were commanded by Ibrahim Khan, 
 who opened a destructive fire on the batteries com- 
 manded by Doondee Khan : this was returned with some 
 effect, and the sirdars only waited the nearer approach 
 of the Mahrattas to rush on them sword in hand ; but' 
 Ibrahim Khan having guns of a larger calibre than those 
 of the Afghans, found it more to his advantage to keep 
 up a distant cannonade, and the loss in the batteries was 
 so great, that many of the men retreated to the division 
 commanded by Ahmed Khan Bungish; when he advanced 
 to the aid of the Afghans. Doondee Khan and Enayit 
 Khan, however, did not wait the arrival of this rein- 
 forcement, but gallantly sallied forth, and attacked 
 Ibrahim Khan's main body, when an immense number on 
 both sides were slain ; but the bravery of the Afghans 
 was crowned with success, for they got possession of the 
 artillery, and compelled the Mahrattas to retreat. At 
 that moment Bhow (who had been anxiously looking on), 
 advanced with eighty thousand horse ; and the infantry 
 thus supported, rallied and returned to the charge : the 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 65 
 
 Afghans were now in their turn overpowered, and 
 began to retire, while those experienced officers Doondee 
 Khan, Sheikh Kubbeer, and Syyud Masoom, still kept 
 up a galling fire on the enemy. 
 
 Ahmed Khan Bungish arrived at this critical moment, 
 when the Afghans were again enabled to make a stand ; 
 but their loss was so great, and the numbers of the enemy 
 so far superior, that they must have been defeated, had 
 not the Shah (who stood on a height anxiously watching 
 the movements of the army) sent six thousand horse 
 under Attaee Khan and Kureemdad Khan to their aid. 
 The charge made by this body was in the most gallant 
 style, but the Shah had to lament the loss of Hajee 
 Attaee Khan, one of his bravest officers. Shah Pusund 
 Khan, with six thousand horse, was sent to the rear of 
 the Mahrattas, with orders to attack their camp, and 
 burn their bazars, and the best marksmen were selected 
 to pick out the leaders of the Mahrattas, who were dis- 
 tinguished by being mounted on elephants, viz. Bhow, 
 Jungoo, Mulhar-rao, Ragoonath Rao, Shumshere Buha- 
 door, &c., every one of whom except Mulhar Rao was 
 shot : and the Mahrattas seeing their sirdars fall, gave 
 way in every direction, while the Shah's troops pursued 
 their advantage, and the field was covered with slain. 
 The whole of the cavalry was now sent in pursuit, and 
 for three days they continued to follow the fugitives ; 
 the road to Delhi was strewed with dead bodies more 
 than could be numbered, and twenty-five thousand were 
 
66 LIFE OF HAFIZ-OOL-MOOLK 
 
 counted on the field of action. The plunder obtained 
 in guns, elephants, horses, camels, bullocks, and jewels, 
 was beyond calculation ; indeed, this was the greatest 
 battle ever fought in Hindoostan, nor is there any other 
 instance on record in which such prodigious armies were 
 brought into the field. The escape of Mulhar Rao was 
 managed by Nujeeb-ood-dowla, in return for the services 
 rendered to him at Delhi, when he was opposed by 
 Imad-ool-moolk. 
 
 After the victory all the sirdars waited on the Shah 
 to offer their congratulations, and present their nuzzurs. 
 To Enayit Khan and Doondee Khan, who had so distin- 
 guished themselves in the action, the Shah paid marked 
 attention, presenting khelats to each ; the former was 
 honoured with the titular command of seven thousand 
 men, and permission to use the nobut. To Shooja-ood- 
 dowla, Nujeeb-ood-dowla, Ahmed Khan Bungish, and 
 other sirdars khelats were also presented. 
 
 Among the prisoners were Ibraheem Khan and his 
 son, who had been taken by Enayit Khan and Doondee 
 Khan ; and Hafiz wished to screen them from the ven- 
 geance of the Shah ; but he learned that Ibraheem was 
 in the camp, and caused strict search to be made for 
 him, when Hafiz was compelled to acknowledge that he 
 had concealed him, in the hope that when the royal in- 
 dignation had subsided he might venture to solicit his 
 pardon. The Shah answered, that a wretch who had 
 dared to unite himself with infidels for the destruction 
 
HAFIZ REH'MUT KHAN; 
 
 67 
 
 of the faithful, did not deserve to live, and that If in the 
 present instance, from respect to Hafiz he should exercise 
 clemency, this man would no doubt repeat his offence, 
 and that probably at a time when the royal army was 
 too distant to afford them relief. The Shah therefore 
 gave orders that Ibraheem Khan should be put to death : 
 the youth his son was released by Hafiz, and dismissed 
 with a present. 
 
 In a few days the army proceeded to Delhi, and the 
 Shah prepared for his return to Kandahar. On dis- 
 missing the several sirdars, he told them that his sole 
 object in entering Hindoostan had been to annihilate the 
 power of the Mahrattas, and to establish the Mahomedan 
 empire ; that having now effected his purpose, unanimity 
 alone could preserve their superiority ; and foreseeing 
 that Shooja-ood-dowla would excite strife among them, 
 he should take him to Kandahar. Hafiz represented to 
 the Shah the great intimacy which had subsisted between 
 him and Sufdur Jung, and intreated that Shooja-ood- 
 dowla might be permitted to return to his own dominions, 
 to which the Shah gave a reluctant assent, warning 
 Hafiz that Shooja-ood-dowla would not let the Afghans 
 remain in peace. 
 
 Before his final departure, the Shah gave to Enayit 
 Khan the district of Etawah, and to Doondee Khan the 
 district of Shekhdabad, then in the possession of the 
 Mahrattas ; Hafiz Rehmut Khan was appointed the 
 Shah's vukeel mootluk (or special agent) at the court of 
 
68 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 De Ihi, and Nujeeb-ood-dowla was nominated paymaster 
 of the royal troops. 
 
 Before we proceed with the history of Hafiz Rehmut, 
 it may not be uninteresting to give a brief sketch of the 
 life of Ahmed Shah Douranee, and some account of the 
 Mahrattas, whose invasions of Hindoostan have been 
 related. 
 
 Ahmed Shah was of the tribe of Suddudzaee, descend- 
 ants from Ubdul, which name is generally pronounced 
 by the Afghans, " Abdal," and whence the name 
 " Abdallee." Ubdul was the son of Tureen, the son of 
 Shurf-ood-deen, the son of Surreen, the son of Kys-Abd- 
 ool-Rusheed, who was descended from Afghan the 
 grandson of Saul king of Israel. 
 
 Mahomed Zeman Khan, the father of Ahmed Shah, 
 was the son of Dowlut Khan Abdallee, and on the death 
 of Abdoolla Khan became ruler of Heerat, and was 
 succeeded in that office by his son Zoolfikar Khan- 
 Rehman Khan, a son of Abdoolla Khan, incited the 
 friends of his family to rebellion ; and the Afghans to 
 put an end to these feuds made Rehman governor of 
 Kandahar and Foorath, and Zoolfikar Khan governor of 
 Bakhurz, while Allayar Khan was invited from Mooltan 
 and made ruler of Heerat, in the year 1137 of the 
 Hejiree. After a short time, Abdool-gunnee Kozee 
 instigated Zoolfikar Khan to attack Allayar Khan, and 
 for six months the province of Heerat was a scene of 
 bloodshed, when the Afghans determined to reject both 
 
HAF1Z REHMUT KHAN. 69 
 
 these competitors for the government, and to establish 
 each head of a tribe as ruler. Allayar Khan retired to 
 Rochak, and Zoolfikar Khan to Foorath. This sort of 
 patriarchal government continued till Nadir Shah's ap- 
 proach to invade their country rendered it expedient to 
 vest the sovereign power in one person, and Allayar 
 Khan was recalled, and a second time made Governor of 
 Heerat. Zoolfikar Khan and Allayar Khan united 
 their forces to oppose the enemy, and several desperate 
 battles were fought ; but at length Zoolfikar Khan was 
 defeated at Foorath, and fled with his younger brother 
 Ahmed to Kandahar, where they were seized and im- 
 prisoned by Shah Hoossein Ghooljee. When Nadir 
 Shah conquered Kandahar, these young men obtained 
 their liberty and waited on him, and a portion of land in 
 Mazinderan was allotted for their support. Zoolfikar 
 Khan did not long survive, and his brother Ahmed 
 then entered into the service of Nadir Shah, by whom 
 he was placed in the command of a gate of the palace. 
 
 When Nadir Shah, at the instigation of his brother 
 Ullee Koolee Khan, was murdered at Futtiabad, Ahmed 
 assembled a force, and attacked the rebels, whom he en- 
 tirely defeated; the principal sirdars fled, and Ahmed 
 proceeded to Kandahar, where he was met by the Kil- 
 ladar Mohubbut Khan ; the governor of the city, Noor 
 Khan; and the commandant of the forces, Giddy ee Khan, 
 who escorted him to the fort, and proclaimed him king 
 in the year 1161 of the Hejiree. 
 
70 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 In a short time these three persons presuming upon 
 the services which they had rendered to Ahmed Shah, 
 were guilty of many improper acts, and although he would 
 willingly have avoided noticing them, yet at length he 
 found himself under the necessity of doing so to esta- 
 blish his own authority, and they were accordingly put 
 to death. Nasir Khan was appointed soobuhdar of 
 Kabool and Peshawur, and his son Nuwab Buhadur was 
 detained a hostage for his father's fidelity. After a 
 time Ahmed Shah proceeded to Kabool, when Nasir 
 Khan aware that his conduct would not bear investiga- 
 tion, fled towards Lahore. A force was dispatched in 
 pursuit, which overtook him and defeated his followers 
 on the banks of the Indus, but Nasir Khan escaped, and 
 placed himself under the protection of Shah Nuwaz 
 Khan, the governor of Lahore. Ahmed Shah with 
 twelve thousand horse followed him, but sent in advance 
 Mukdoom Shah to dissuade Shah Nuwaz Khan from 
 affording an asylum to the fugitive : the Shah presuming 
 on the sanctity of his priestly office, made use of harsh 
 language, which was resented so highly that Shah 
 Nuwaz Khan caused him to be put to death. The news 
 of this outrage induced Ahmed Shah to proceed by 
 forced marches, and on reaching Lahore he stormed the 
 batteries by which the city was defended, when Shah 
 Nuwaz Khan fled to Delhi. 
 
 The king left a garrison in the fort of Lahore, and 
 was proceeding to Delhi, when the royal army of Hin- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 71 
 
 doostan, under Kummur-ood-deen Khan, opposed his 
 advance near to Sirhind. The result of the battle fought 
 on that occasion, as well as of Ahmed Shah's subsequent 
 invasions of Hindoostan, has been related in its place. 
 When Ahmed Shah was on his death-bed, he sent for 
 his son Timoor Shall from Heerat ; but Shah Wullee 
 Khan, the vizier (whose daughter was married to the 
 prince Sooliman Shah), wished to place his son-in-law 
 on the throne, and caused a furman to be sent to Timoor 
 Shah, prohibiting his advance. On the death of Ahmed 
 Shah, his younger son Sooliman was proclaimed king, 
 and the vizier who had raised him to this dignity 
 directed the affairs of the state. Preparatory to the 
 conquest of Heerat he invaded the province of Sind, 
 where he was defeated by Timoor Shah, and being 
 taken prisoner, was put to death. Sooliman then re- 
 signed the sceptre to his elder brother Timoor, who was 
 proclaimed king in the year 1183 of the Hejiree, and 
 continued to reign when this history was written in the 
 year 1207 of the Hejiree. 
 
 The historians of the Mahrattas give different ac- 
 counts of the origin of the name. Some say that it is 
 not the appellation of a tribe, but the ancient name of 
 Deogurh and its environs " Mahrat," the inhabitants 
 of which country were called Mahrattas ; while others 
 assert that " Dukhun" (who was the son of Ham, the 
 son of Noah) had three sons named Mahrat, Kurnatuk, 
 and Tilung, and that the tribes inhabiting the Peninsula 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OQL-MOOLK 
 
 are their descendants. The Mahrattas themselves trace 
 their descent from the Rana of Oodipore, whose ancestor 
 Noshirvan was expelled from Iran in the reign of the 
 Caliph Omar by Saad ; and one of whose descendants 
 visiting Hindoostan, obtained the title of Rana. After 
 the lapse of many years, one of this Rana's descendants 
 visited the Carnatic, where on account of his high birth 
 he was permitted to connect himself by marriage with 
 one of the principal families, and his descendants divided 
 into two classes, m%. the Bhoosla, and the Ambola. Sa- 
 hojee Bhoosla engaged in the service of Boorhan Nizam 
 Shah, and afterwards in that of Ibraheem Adil Shah, 
 who towards the end of his reign gave the pergunnah of 
 Poona in jaghire to Sahojee. For two years before his 
 death Ibraheem Adil Shah had been prevented by ill- 
 ness from attending to his own affairs, and Sewajee, the 
 son of Sahojee, availed himself of this circumstance to 
 possess himself of several of his patron's forts. On the 
 death of Ibraheem Adil Shah, and the succession of his 
 infant son Ullee Adil Shah, the power of Sewajee in- 
 creased, and he by force or by fraud obtained possession 
 of all the fortresses in the "province of Kokun, and built 
 some new forts : after which he appeared in arms against 
 his sovereign, slew Afzul Khan the commander of the 
 young king's army, and plundered his camp. Another 
 sirdar, named Rostum Khan, was sent to oppose him, 
 but met with a defeat, and Sewajee extended his con- 
 quests to the frontier of the empire of Aurungzebe, 
 
HAPIZ REHMUT KHAN. 73 
 
 when Shaista Khan (nephew of the empress Noor 
 Jehan), the Soobuhdar of the Dukhun, was ordered to 
 attack him, and for this purpose to call in the aid of 
 Maharaja Jeswunt Sing Rah tore. Shaista Khan pre- 
 pared to obey the orders of the emperor, but Sewajee 
 surprised his camp by night, killed his son Abdool 
 Futteh Khan, and dispersed his army. Shaista Khan 
 was in consequence removed from his office ; Maharaja 
 Jeswunt Sing was summoned to Delhi to answer for his 
 negligence ; and the prince Mohummud Mouzzum, 
 attended by Jyesing Kutchwa, Diller Khan, and other 
 experienced officers, was sent to the Dukhun. The 
 prince defeated Sewajee, compelled him to appear before 
 him, and to relinquish twenty-three of his fortresses : 
 but at the intercession of Jyesing, Sewajee^s offence was 
 forgiven, and his son Sumbajee was honoured with the 
 titular command of five thousand men. Sewajee and 
 Sumbajee then proceeded to Agra, and were introduced 
 to the emperor ; but being unacquainted with the eti- 
 quette of a court, and not receiving the attentions they 
 expected, they took offence, and complained to Jyesing : 
 this was reported to the emperor, who forbade their 
 being again admitted to the presence, and placed guards 
 over them to prevent their quitting Agra. At the re- 
 quest of Jyesing these guards were in a few weeks with- 
 drawn, and it was the emperor's intention to have dis- 
 missed Sewajee and Sumbajee in a friendly manner ; but 
 they were weary of inaction, and after a stay of three 
 
 p 
 
74 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 months and nine days they clandestinely quitted Agra, 
 proceeded to the Dukhun, and again appeared in arms. 
 Sewajee died on the 24th of Rubbee-ool-sanee, in the 
 year 1091 of the Hejiree, but his son Sumbajee con- 
 tinued to extend his conquests, and was rendering him- 
 self master of the Dukhun, when Aurungzebe in person 
 marched to oppose him. In several desperate battles 
 neither party could claim a decided victory; but Sheikh 
 Nizam Hydrabadee (commonly called Mokurrub Khan) 
 learning from his spies that Sumbajee, and his principal 
 adviser Kubkullis, were at Sunguneer, forty-five koss 
 from his camp, marched the distance in one night, and 
 seized them both ; and the emperor, after causing them 
 to be paraded round the town on an ass, put them to 
 death in the year 1100 of the Hejiree. 
 
 Sumbajee left two sons, Ramraje, and Raja Sahoo, 
 and the latter was elected chief of the Mahrattas. On 
 the death of Aurungzebe, Raja Sahoo became so power- 
 ful, that the inhabitants of the country, to avoid being 
 plundered by his troops, agreed to pay him a tithe of 
 the produce of the land, and this payment was in the 
 reign of the weak emperor Buhadoor Shah sanctioned 
 by a royal furman. 
 
 Zoolfikar Khan being appointed Soubuhdar of the 
 Dukhun, intrusted the government to his Naib Daood 
 Khan, who entered into an agreement with the Mahrattas, 
 that whatever plunder they obtained, over and above 
 their tenth, should be shared in the proportions of three- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 75 
 
 fourths for the royal treasury, and one-fourth for them- 
 selves : and this agreement gave rise to the demand of 
 " chout"* still claimed by the Mahrattas. 
 
 In the reign of Furrokhsere, Syyud Hussun Ullee 
 Khan, [one of the Syyuds of Barrah,] was appointed 
 Soobuhdar of the Dukhun, but the emperor was soon 
 dissatisfied with his conduct, and recalled him ; doubting 
 however his obedience, orders were issued to Raja Sahoo 
 to compel the Soobuhdar to leave the Dukhun. The 
 interference of Mahomed Anwur Khan Boorhanpooree 
 and Sungrajee Mulhar, prevented Sahoo from attending 
 to this order, and the Syyud in return confirmed him in 
 the possession of the Kokun, and in the receipt of his 
 tenth and chout from the six Soobuhs of the Dukhun. 
 The Syyud having thus secured his interest in the 
 Dukhun, left the government to his nephew Alum Ullee 
 Khan, and joined by a Mahratta army under Ballajee 
 Bishoonath proceeded to Delhi, and deposed the emperor 
 Furrokhsere, setting up in his stead Ruffeh-ool-durjaut. 
 
 Hussun Ullee Khan unwilling to leave Delhi, yet 
 feeling the necessity of supporting his nephew, sent back 
 to his assistance Sungrajee Mulhar, and Ballajee Bishoo- 
 nath, who took the government into their own hands, 
 and made Alum Ullee Khan a mere cypher. 
 
 In the year 1137 of the Hejiree, in the reign of Ma* 
 homed Shah, on the death of Ballajee Bishoonath, his 
 son and successor Baje-rao killed Girdhur Buhadur the 
 * A fourth part. 
 
76 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Soobuhdar of Malwa, and was conquering the province, 
 when the vizier Ihtimad-ood-dowla Kummur-ood-deen 
 Khan, and Sumsam-ood-dowla Khan dowran Khan op- 
 posed and defeated him in three pitched battles : how- 
 ever, his attacks on the province continued, and at 
 length in 1148 Hejiree, he was appointed Soobuhdar of 
 Malwa; when he laid siege to the fort of the Rajah of 
 Budhawur, then advanced to Khalka, and thence pro- 
 ceeded to Delhi, which city he surrounded with his 
 troops. In the absence of the vizier, the royal army 
 was commanded by Ameer Khan, who sustained a defeat 
 from the rebel, nor would the Imperial city have been 
 saved from plunder, had not Kummur-ood-deen Khan, 
 by a forced march of seventy koss, arrived to its relief. 
 Baje Rao, on the approach of the vizier, collected his 
 forces at the Serai of Aliverdi Khan, where on the fol- 
 lowing morning he was attacked, and being defeated, 
 fled to Jyenuggur. The remainder of the royal army 
 under Sumsam-ood-dowla and Boorhan-ool-moolk, joined 
 the vizier after the action ; but as no advantage could 
 be gained by a pursuit of the Mahrattas, the troops 
 marched into Delhi. In the year 1150 of the Hejiree, 
 the Soobuhdaree of Malwa was given to Asof Jah, but 
 he was dispossessed by Baje Rao, who dying in 1153, 
 was succeeded by his son Ballajee Rao. 
 
 In the year 1163 of the Hejiree, on the death of Raja 
 Sahoo, Ballajee Rao became chief of the Mahrattas ; 
 his cousin and principal adviser Sudasheo Rao, com- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAV. 77 
 
 monly called " Bhow," distinguished himself by his 
 bravery in many hard-fought battles : nor was his cun- 
 ning less than his prowess; by a well concerted plan 
 he obtained possession of the fort of Ahmednuggur, 
 which the Mahomedans had held for two hundred and 
 seventy years. About this time Sudasheo-rao enter- 
 tained in his service Ibraheem Khan, Gardee, (who had 
 learned the art of war among the Europeans,) and 
 marched from Poonah to attack Asof Jah Sanee, who 
 being too weak to meet him in the field, in consequence 
 of his large train of artillery, was obliged to sign a 
 treaty, granting to Sudasheo Rao a territory in the vici- 
 nity of Aurungabad, yielding sixty lacs of rupees per 
 annum ; and at the same time to give up the forts of 
 Bejapore and (Deogurh, now called) Dowlutabad. 
 
 From this digression we return to the history of 
 Hafiz Rehmut Khan. 
 
 It has been before observed, that the pergunnah of 
 Etawah, when given by Ahmed Shah Dooranee to 
 Enayit Khan, was in the possession of the Mahrattas, 
 for whose expulsion Moolla Mohsin Khan, with ten 
 thousand horse, marched from Kutheir ; he was op- 
 posed near the town of Etawah by Kishun and Balla 
 Pundit Mahrattas, but they were defeated and fled, 
 first to the fort of Omurgurh and afterwards across 
 the Jumna. Moolla Mohsin Khan then laid siege to the 
 fort of Etawah, which was given up to him by the 
 Kelladar : but although the Mahrattas were thus driven 
 
78 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 out of the country, little advantage accrued to Enayit 
 Khan, as the zemeendars refused to pay the revenue, 
 and secure in their mud forts, set his authority at defi- 
 ance, till the arrival of Sheikh Kubbeer and Moolla 
 Baz Khan with a reinforcement of five thousand foot 
 and a train of artillery, enabled Mohsin Khan to attack 
 them with effect. Many of the smaller forts were 
 levelled, and the command of the fort of Etawah was 
 given to Rajah Bulbuddur. 
 
 A grievous famine in Mewat obliged vast numbers of 
 the inhabitants to seek a subsistence in Hindoostan ; 
 many of these poor wretches perished on the high roads, 
 but all who reached Kutheir were liberally provided 
 for by Hafiz Rehmut, whose feeling heart was ever 
 alive to the call of distress. To render these people 
 useful, and to preserve their habits of industry, he em- 
 ployed them to raise a mud fortification around the 
 town of Pillibheet, which work occupied them for two 
 years ; and at the expiration of that time, grain having 
 become plenty in Mewat, the majority of the emigrants 
 returned to their own country, but many became con- 
 verts to Mahomedanism, and settled in Kutheir, where 
 they are still known by the name of Mewatees. 
 
 In the year 1176 of the Hejiree, while Hafiz Rehmut 
 was engaged at Mehrabad, he received a letter from 
 Ahmed Khan Bungish, informing him that Shooja-ood- 
 dowla was on his march to invade Furrukhabad, and re- 
 questing his aid to oppose the enemy. Hafiz imme- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 79 
 
 diately complied with the request, and pitched his camp 
 at Futtehgurh. 
 
 On this occasion, Nujeeb-ood-dowla had advanced 
 to Khodagunje, to join Shooja-ood-dowla, who had en- 
 camped at the Serai of Khwaja Phool. Hafiz dis- 
 patched vakeels to inform these two chiefs that if they 
 persisted in their intentions, the whole army of Kutheir 
 should be brought to the aid of Ahmed Khan. They 
 in answer offered Hafiz one-third of Ahmed Khan's 
 territory if he would remain neuter ; but nothing could 
 induce him to forsake his old friend, and Shooja-ood- 
 dowla was therefore compelled to give up his plans on 
 
 v . 
 Furrukhabad. A few days afterwards Nujeeb-ood-dowla Q. ,* * ' 
 
 visited Hafiz Rehmut at Futtehgurh, and as Shah Alum * ^ 
 had accompanied Shooja-ood-dowla, they proceeded 
 together to Serai Khwaja Phool, to pay their respects to 
 his majesty. From thence Shah Alum accompanied 
 Shooja-ood-dowla to Oude ; Nujeeb-ood-dowla marched 
 to his jaghire at Suharunpore, and Hafiz Rehmut re- 
 turned to Kutheir, leaving his son Enayit Khan at 
 Furrukhabad, to assist Ahmed Khan in settling his 
 country. 
 
 In the latter end of the year 1176 Saadoolla Khan 
 died ; his death was hastened by the use of intoxicating 
 liquors and drugs. 
 
 Although by the exertions of Moolla Mohsin Khan, 
 the zemeendars of Etawah had been brought under 
 subjection, those in Koomait (a pergunnah on the right 
 
80 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 bank of the Jumna) still resisted his authority, and 
 having strong forts situated among the ravines, which 
 they deemed inaccessible to artillery, the revenue was 
 entirely withheld. As Hafiz Rehmut had not yet visited 
 his son's jaghire, he took this opportunity of gratifying 
 his curiosity, and of reducing the refractory zemeendars ; 
 he accordingly marched to Furrukhabad, and being 
 there joined by Enayit Khan, they proceeded together 
 to Etawah, where Hafiz remained while his son con- 
 tinued his route to Koomait. The zemeendars defended 
 themselves with great bravery, but the Afghans stormed 
 their forts, and put to death several of the principal 
 men, when a certain annual tribute was agreed to, and 
 the arrears were paid up. Hafiz and his son then re- 
 turned to Bareilly. 
 
 Sooraje-ood-dowla, grandson of Aliverdi Khan Mu- 
 habut Jung, the Nuwab of Bengal, had levied from the 
 English higher duties on their merchandize than had 
 been previously agreed to ; which breach of faith they 
 represented to their king, who sent a military force to 
 their aid; but before its arrival, Sooraje-ood-dowla 
 marched to Calcutta, when the English after a slight 
 opposition quitted the town, and it was given up to 
 plunder. The English had embarked on board their 
 ships, and would have left the country, had not their 
 king's troops arrived at this critical juncture ; but even 
 with this reinforcement they could not contend with 
 Sooraje-ood-dowla, till Jaffier Ullee Khan proposed to 
 
HAF1Z UKHMUT KHAN. 81 
 
 join them, on condition of their placing him on the 
 musnud : which being agreed to, he advised them to 
 make a night attack on the NuwalVs camp. This proved 
 successful, and the Nu watts troops fled. 
 
 On the following day Sooraje-ood-dowla was taken 
 prisoner and put. to death, w and Jaffier Ullee Khan was 
 placed on the musnud. Soon after this Jaffier Ullee 
 Khan became insane, and his eldest son Meerun having 
 been killed by lightning, the English raised to the mus- 
 nud his son-in-law Kasim Ullee Khan, and from this time 
 they refused to pay any duties on their merchandise. 
 
 Kasim Ullee Khan fearing that they would soon de- 
 prive him of his power, treacherously murdered three 
 hundred of their chiefs whom he had invited to an en- 
 tertainment, and marched with all his forces to Calcutta, 
 where he was opposed by the English, and being de- 
 feated, returned to Moorshidabad. Unable to retain 
 his footing in Bengal, he fled to Oude, and solicited the 
 aid of the Nuwab Shooja-ood-dowla, offering to pay a 
 lac of rupees for each marching day, and half that sum 
 for each halt. This occurred in the year 1177 of the 
 Hejiree. The Nuwab was well inclined to accede to 
 Kasim Ullee's request, and Hafiz Rehmut Khan was 
 solicited to join the confederacy. Accordingly six thou- 
 sand men under Enayit Khan marched from Kutheir, 
 and joined Shooja-ood-dowla at Allahabad, whence they 
 proceeded via Benares to the Caramnassa river, on the 
 south bank of which the English army was drawn up ; 
 
 a 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 but as these did not exceed four thousand men, they 
 retreated to Patna, and entrenched themselves in the 
 new town. 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla with eighty thousand horse and 
 foot followed the English, and encamped at Phoolwureea, 
 four koss from Patna. On the following morning he 
 advanced to the English entrenchments commanded by 
 Colonel Carnac, (<j) when a brisk fire opened on him 
 from the batteries, whereby he lost a great number of 
 men. A body under Benee Buhadur then attempted to 
 storm the batteries, but the fire from the guns mowed 
 down their ranks, and a large proportion of them being 
 killed the rest took to flight, and Shooja-ood-dowla re- 
 turned to his encampment, where he endeavoured to 
 prevail on his troops to attempt the storm a second time, 
 but without effect, and many deserted from his army. 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla then erected batteries to play on 
 the old town of Patna, but these were of little use, and 
 did not at all forward his plans against the English. 
 The rainy season being near at hand,^ all the sirdars 
 considered it advisable to quit Patna, and to encamp at 
 Buxar till the rains ceased: and this measure being 
 decided on, Enayit Khan with his troops returned to 
 Kutheir, and presented to his father five elephants, some 
 valuable jewels, and several bales of muslins and cloths 
 the manufacture of Bengal, which had been sent for him 
 by Kasim Ullee Khan. 
 
 In the course of this year, a tremendous fire broke out 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 83 
 
 in the town of Bareilly which consumed more than half 
 the houses, and about fifteen hundred persons were 
 burned to death. Hafiz Rehmut Khan had afforded 
 every assistance in his power to the unfortunate sufferers 
 in this calamity, and the new buildings were rising 
 apace, when on the 19th of Suffur, in the year 1178 of 
 the Hejiree, at about three P.M. an earthquake threw 
 down several of the largest houses, and shattered others ; 
 large rents were made in the earth ; the reservoirs of 
 water were emptied, and water was thrown up in places 
 which before were dry. The shock was felt equally 
 severely throughout the whole province of Oude, and 
 for violence and duration was not exceeded by any on 
 record, except that which occurred in the reign of 
 Secunder Lodi in the year 911 of the Hejiree. 
 
 Soorujmull Jhaut (who had amassed great riches, and 
 built the strong forts of Bhurtpore, Deeg, Koomhere, 
 and Wyr) availed himself of Ahmed Shah Douranee's 
 return to Kandahar, and the weakness of Jehandar Shah 
 Juwan Bukht, who acted as Shah Alurri'sNaib at Delhi, 
 to throw off his allegiance, and assembled his army to 
 oppose the royal troops. He first marched to Akberabad 
 (Agra), and having bribed the Kelladar, got possession 
 of the fort ; he then proceeded towards Delhi, and was 
 opposed by Nujeeb-ood-dowla (in the Dooab), between 
 Jaiver and Tuppul on the banks of the Jumna, where 
 Nujeeb-ood-dowla entrenched himself; and Soorujmull 
 erected batteries to make his attack at leisure, while 
 
84 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 with his horse he intercepted his adversary's supplies. 
 One day, while Soorujmull was in a battery near to that 
 part of the entrenchment commanded by Sydoo Balloch, 
 a sally was made by the royal troops, and Soorujmull 
 was shot,*- when his troops retreated to Bhurtpore. 
 
 After six months, Juwahurmull, the son of Sooruj- 
 mull, aided by Mulhar Rao and twenty-five thousand 
 Mahrattas, renewed the attack on Delhi, and surrounded 
 the city, completely preventing the introduction of any 
 supplies of grain. Nujeeb-ood-dowla fortified every 
 ward of the city, encamped his troops outside the walls, 
 and raised batteries in front of them, which were daily 
 attacked by the enemy. The distress of the inhabitants 
 being very great, Nujeeb-ood-dowla entreated the assis- 
 tance of the Afghans of Kutheir, and at the same time 
 applied to the Douranee for support. Hafiz Rehmut, 
 always zealous in the cause of the faithful, readily ac- 
 ceded to Nujeeb-ood-dowla^s request, and leaving Enayit 
 Khan in charge of Kutheir, he marched in 1179 Hejiree 
 to Daranugur, where he was joined by Doondee Khan, 
 Futteh Khan Khansaman, and Bukshee Surdar Khan, 
 with their respective contingents. In the mean time the 
 Sikhs had taken advantage of Nujeeb-ood-dowla^s de- 
 tention at Delhi, to invade the northern division of 
 Suharunpore, and as it appeared probable that they 
 might be tempted to advance still further, and enter 
 
 * Col. Dow says that Soorujmull was surprised, and shot while on a 
 hunting party near to Secundrabad. 
 
HAFIZ KEHMUT KHAN. 85 
 
 Kutheir, six thousand horse were in the first instance 
 dispatched to expel them ; and a bridge of boats was 
 constructed for crossing the main body of the army and 
 the artillery. 
 
 Juwahurmull and Mulhar Rao on hearing of the 
 approach of a reinforcement under Hafiz Rehmut, re- 
 doubled their attacks on Nujeeb-ood-dowla ; but when 
 they learned that Ahmed Shah was advancing to his 
 assistance, and had actually reached Kabool, the Mah- 
 rattas became alarmed, and Mulhar Rao returned to the 
 Dukhun. The defection of so large a portion of the 
 army induced Juwahurmull to propose terms, which 
 were agreed to by Nujeeb-ood-dowla, and a treaty being 
 signed, the Jhauts returned to Deeg and Koomhere; 
 while the Afghans under Hafiz encamped at Hussun- 
 pore. 
 
 In this interval the English had advanced from Patna 
 to Buxar to attack Shooja-ood-dowla, who was prepared 
 to meet them : but in the action,^ the Moghuls of the 
 Nuwab's army neglected, or refused to obey the orders 
 which they had received, and being wholly without dis- 
 cipline, were completely routed. The Nuwab made his 
 escape as speedily as possible, and the English pursued 
 his flying squadrons to Oude and Allahabad. (A) 
 
 Shah Alum was present in this action, and remained 
 on the field attended by about two thousand men ; he 
 was immediately invited to the English camp, where he 
 received the honours due to his rank, and on arriving 
 
00 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 at Allahabad, a territory yielding seventeen lacs of 
 rupees per annum was allotted for his support. 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla considering himself unsafe at Luc- 
 now, sent for his family and valuables from Fyzabad, 
 and proceeded to Bareilly in the hope of prevailing on 
 Hafiz Rehmut to join his cause ; and as Hafiz was at 
 this time at Hussunpore, the ladies were left at Bareilly 
 under charge of Salar Jung. From Hussunpore, Hafiz 
 and the Nuwab marched to Furrukhabad, to consult 
 Ahmed Khan Bungish ; and it was there decided that 
 for them to join in attacking the English would be inex- 
 pedient ; they therefore recommended that the Nuwab 
 should propose to treat. Such a proposition ill suited the 
 ardent spirit of Shooja-ood-dowla, and as the most press- 
 ing entreaties of his friends were of no avail, he quitted 
 Furrukhabad, called in a body of Mahrattas under Mul- 
 har Rao, and again attacked the English troops at Corah. 
 Mulhar Rao made the first charge, but the guns of the 
 English were so well served, that the Mahrattas fell in 
 heaps, and unaccustomed to such opposition, they thought 
 it best to retreat. W After this second defeat Shooja- 
 ood-dowla returned to Furrukhabad, and was persuaded 
 by Hafiz to throw himself on the mercy of the English 
 General. However reluctant to do so, he was compelled 
 to comply, from a conviction that none of the Afghans 
 would act without the concurrence of Hafiz Rehmut, and 
 he therefore, with a few private servants, set out for the 
 British camp, accompanied by Moonshee Teg Chund, 
 the vakeel of Hafiz. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 87 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla was received with respect, and 
 having agreed to pay to the English one-sixteenth of 
 the revenues of his country, a treaty of peace was 
 signed/** and he returned to Lucnow. His family then 
 left Bareilly under charge of the eunuch Sundul Khan, 
 and accompanied by Iktyar Khan the Aumil of Crore, 
 who was directed to supply them with every requisite 
 on their journey. 
 
 Although the Mahrattas had been driven out of the 
 pergunnahs of Etawah and Shekhoabad, they only 
 waited a convenient opportunity for revisiting their old 
 possessions, and Mulhar Rao being now at leisure, laid 
 siege to the fort of Puphond, commanded by Mahomed 
 Hussun Khan, the eldest son of Moolla Mohsin Khan. 
 The approach of Mulhar Rao with hostile intentions 
 had been notified to Hafiz Rehmut, who marched from 
 Bareilly to oppose him, and on reaching Puphond was 
 joined by that active officer Sheikh Kubbeer, who on 
 receipt of the news had advanced from Etawah. Mulhar 
 Rao was not prepared to expect so serious an opposition, 
 he therefore crossed the Jumna and retired to the 
 Dukhun. 
 
 In the year 1180 of the Hejiree, being the twentieth >./ 
 year of Hafiz Rehmut' s government, he gave orders 
 that henceforth no duties should be levied on any article 
 of merchandize throughout his dominions; his sirdars 
 strongly objected to the measure, as depriving him of a 
 large source of revenue, and consequently disabling him 
 
 
88 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 from keeping up such an army as the circumstances 
 of the times required, but his object was to gain the 
 affection of his subjects, and no persuasions could induce 
 him to rescind the order. In the same year he caused 
 the mud fortification around the town of Pillibheet to 
 be levelled, and a brick wall to be raised in its stead, 
 which encompassed the new town of Hafizabad, an 
 extent of five koss* in circumference : he also built a 
 strong fort at Jelolabad. 
 
 About this period, Shah Alum having taken up his 
 residence at Corah, Hafiz Rehmut visited his majesty. 
 At three koss from the town he was met by Mooneer- 
 ood-dowla,Zoolfikar-ood-dowla,Nudjif Khan and Colonel 
 Barker, and on the following day was introduced to his 
 majesty. Khelats were presented to all the officers in 
 his suite, and after a few days he returned to Pillibheet, 
 where in 1181 he built a splendid mosque at an expense 
 of three lacs of rupees. 
 
 The active scenes in which Hafiz had been engaged, 
 had hitherto prevented his attending to the concerns of 
 his own family : he therefore now gladly availed himself 
 of an interval of tranquillity to arrange the nuptials of 
 his elder sons. As the wife of Iradut Khan, he selected 
 the daughter of Abdoolla Khan of Shahjehanpore : and 
 to Mahomed Yar Khan he gave in marriage the 
 daughter of Mahomed Khan Kumal-Zaee : in the fol- 
 lowing year (1183 Hejiree) Mohubbut Khan married 
 the daughter of Abdool Sitar Khan, and Mahomed 
 * Equal to two miles and a half. 
 
HAFIZ KEHMUT KHAN. 89 
 
 Deedar Khan (commonly called Mungul Khan) married 
 the daughter of Mahomed Meer Khan Babur. 
 
 Ambition was the ruling passion of Nujeeb-ood-dowla, 
 to gratify which he had consented to join Shooja-ood- 
 dowla in his attack on Furrukhabad, as above related ; 
 and although since that time he had been too much en- 
 gaged to revive his projects of conquest, and in too 
 much personal danger to venture to express how much 
 the interference of Hafiz Rehmut, on that occasion, had 
 irritated him ; yet no sooner was he relieved from his 
 difficulties, than he planned new schemes for his own 
 aggrandisement ; and forgetful of the numberless obli- 
 gations which he owed to Hafiz Rehmut, dared even to 
 plot his ruin. An army of Mahrattas under Mahajee 
 Scindia, Tookoojee Holkar, and Ramchunder Guneish, 
 were invited from the Dukhun, and arrived at Delhi, 
 where Nujeeb-ood-dowla met them, and informed the 
 chiefs of his intention to wrest Furrukhabad from Ahmed 
 Khan Bungish, and afterwards to invade Kutheir. 
 Early in the year 1184 of the Hejiree, on hearing that 
 Nujeeb-ood-dowla had advanced from Delhi, Hafiz 
 Rehmut marched through Buddawun and Ooshyt to 
 Kadir-choke, at which place he learned that Nujeeb- 
 ood-dowla had been taken ill at Coel, and had retraced 
 his steps, intending to go to his house at Nujeebabad ; 
 but that his eldest son Zabita Khan had proceeded to 
 Furrukhabad with the Mahrattas. Nujeeb-ood-dowla's 
 illness increased, and proved fatal on the day he reached 
 
90 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Hoppur: his remains were conveyed to Nujeebabad, 
 at which .place a handsome tomb is erected to his 
 memory. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut sent fifteen thousand horse and foot 
 under the command of his best officers to the aid of 
 Ahmed Khan Bungish ; and in a few days he received a 
 letter from Zabita Khan, stating that he was detained 
 against his will in the Mahratta camp, that he was by 
 no means disposed to join in the attack on Ahmed Khan, 
 and that whatever his father's intentions might have 
 been, he would not on any account oppose his brethren, 
 the Afghans : he therefore intreated that Hafiz would 
 devise some scheme for liberating him from the Mah- 
 rattas. 
 
 The bearer of this letter had left the Mahratta camp 
 at Patialee about twenty-four koss above Furrukhabad ; 
 Hafiz therefore marched by Saiswan to Futtehgurh, 
 and encamped on the east bank of the Ganges. As 
 Ahmed Khan was at this time blind, Hafiz did not wait 
 for the ceremony of a first visit, but, unattended, hasten- 
 ed to the palace to consult what was most advisable to 
 be done. A bridge of boats was constructed as expedi- 
 tiously as possible, and the remainder of the army, 
 amounting to about twenty thousand horse and foot, 
 crossed the Ganges, and encamped between Futtehgurh 
 and Furrukhabad. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut deputed Khan Mahomed Khan to 
 treat with the Mahrattas for the release of Zabita Khan, 
 
HAFIZ KEHMUT KHAN. 91 
 
 and for withdrawing their army from Furrukhabad. 
 This officer was admitted to the tent of Tookoojee 
 Holkar, who having heard his errand, communicated it 
 to Mahajee Scindia and Ramchunder Guneish. These 
 sirdars said that the districts of Etawah and She'kho- 
 abad, though now held in jagheer by the family of 
 Hafiz, had long been in their possession, and that if he 
 would withdraw his claim to them, they would in return 
 release Zabita Khan, withdraw their army, and never 
 join any combination against the Afghans : but would 
 at all times be ready to afford him assistance, when their 
 services were required. Zabita Khan entreated Hafiz 
 to accede to these terms ; but the resignation of so 
 valuable a jagheer was no trifling sacrifice, and 
 Khan Mahomed Khan was again sent to obtain 
 better terms. 
 
 While this negociation was pending, the whole of 
 Nujeeb-ood-dowla's army arrived from Ghousgurh and 
 Nujeebabad, and encamped at ten koss from Futtehgurh, 
 when Zabita Khan took advantage of a dark night to 
 escape from the Mahrattas, joined his troops, and re- 
 turned home. 
 
 The Mahrattas now prepared to carry on the war 
 alone, and in several actions defeated the Afghans, who 
 by no means kept up their former character. Hafiz was 
 so much dissatisfied with the conduct of his troops, that 
 he had given orders for their recrossing the Ganges, 
 when the Mahrattas of their 'own accord broke up their 
 
LIFE OF HAF1Z OOL-MOOLK 
 
 camp and marched to Etawah, nor could the Afghans 
 be prevailed on to pursue them. 
 
 Enayit Khan was summoned to Furrukhabad, that he 
 might be consulted as to the expediency of resigning his 
 jagheer, but he was by no means inclined to agree to 
 the proposal, and requested permission to select from the 
 army a body of men on whom he could depend, with 
 whom he engaged to expel the Mahrattas from the 
 country; but his father observed that no confidence 
 could now be placed in the army, and that if Enayit 
 Khan should advance relying on their bravery, he would 
 sacrifice his life for no purpose, as they would undoubt- 
 edly forsake him in the hour of need. Enayit Khan 
 then recommended that the Russaladars should be dis- 
 missed, and others appointed ; and that a few of those 
 who had disgraced themselves in action, should be 
 brought to condign punishment ; but Hafiz could not 
 be prevailed on to punish men whom he had brought up, 
 and Enayit Khan returned in disgust to Bareilly; 
 Doondee Khan readily agreed to give up his claim to 
 Shekhoabad, and Hafiz Rehmut then sent orders to 
 Sheikh Kubbeer to resign the fort of Etawah to the 
 Mahrattas, after taking from them an engagement 
 signed by each of the sirdars, to the effect proposed by 
 them to Khan Mahomed Khan. 
 
 Before the receipt of this order, the Mahrattas had 
 arrived at Etawah, where Sheikh Kubbeer gave them 
 battle, and repulsed several desperate attacks on his 
 
IIAI-'IZ REHMUT KHAN. 93 
 
 fort, when the Mahrattas finding that they had no com- 
 mon antagonist, resorted to negotiation, and sent a 
 vakeel to enquire the cause of Sheikh Kubbeer's oppo- 
 sition, when he must know that his master had resigned 
 the district to them; to which the Sheikh answered, 
 that he knew but too well the agreement which deprived 
 his master of so valuable a possession, and that he was 
 prepared to have evacuated the fort on receiving from 
 them the signed treaty, had possession been demanded : 
 but that as they preferred attempting to take the fort by 
 storm, he was determined to shew them that some brave 
 men yet remained among the Afghans. He added, that 
 having laid in a store of grain for the use of the garrison, 
 he must be paid its value, which was settled at a lac of 
 rupees ; and on receiving this sum with the treaty, he 
 delivered up the fort. 
 
 The bravery and address of Sheikh Kubbeer so pleased 
 the Mahrattas, that they wished to engage him in their 
 service, and for this purpose made him many tempting 
 offers, but his fidelity was not to be shaken : they there- 
 fore made him a handsome present and dismissed him. 
 Sheikh Kubbeer joined Hafiz at Furrukhabad, when 
 the whole party returned to Bareilly, after an absence of 
 eight months. 
 
 In the beginning of the year 1185 of the Hejiree, 
 Doondee Khan died at Bissowlee ; he was the son of 
 Hussun Khan the elder brother of Shah Alum Khan, 
 and consequently first cousin to Hafiz Rehmut^ who as 
 
94 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 well from his near relationship, as from the sincere 
 regard which he had borne to the deceased, caused a 
 magnificent tomb to be erected to his memory. When 
 the forty days of mourning were over, Hafiz divided the 
 territory of Doondee Khan into three portions ; one of 
 which he gave to his eldest son Mohib-oolla Khan, one 
 to his second son Futteh-oolla Khan, and the remaining 
 third to be shared equally between the widow of Doondee 
 Khan, and her youngest son Azeem-oolla Khan. 
 
 The late Nujeeb-ood-dowla had married a daughter 
 of Doondee Khan's, by whom he had two sons, Kulloo 
 Khan and Mulloo Khan, who after the death of their 
 father had been confined by their half brother Zabita 
 Khan. On the release of these her grandchildren, the 
 widow of Doondee Khan requested Hafiz to insist; 
 accordingly, when presenting to Zabita Khan the khelat 
 (or honorary dress usually given by the head of the 
 family on the occasion of a death) he demanded the 
 release of these young men, which was granted, and 
 certain lands were set apart for their support : at the 
 same time Hafiz admonished them to pay proper respect 
 to Zabita Khan as their superior, on failure of which he 
 could not protect them. 
 
 Scarcely could it be said that Ahmed Khan Bungish 
 was relieved from his difficulties, when, notwithstanding 
 his old age and loss of sight, new projects of ambition 
 and revenge arose in his mind, The death of Nujeeb- 
 ood-dowla, and the residence of Zabita Khan at Nu- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 95 
 
 jeebabad, suggested to him the possibility of placing 
 Shah Alum on the throne of Delhi, with the aid of the 
 Mahrattas ; and thereby of securing to himself all that 
 power in the imperial court which had hitherto been 
 Nujeeb-ood-dowla's. The proposition was eagerly ac- 
 cepted by Shah Alum, and he commenced his march 
 from Allahabad ; but ere he reached Furrukhabad, the 
 mortal career of Ahmed Khan had closed. 
 
 Shah Alum continued his journey to Delhi, escorted 
 by the Mahrattas,^ and invited Hafiz to join him ; di- 
 recting him at the same time to exert his influence in 
 preventing Zabita Khan from interfering with the court 
 of Delhi. Hafiz replied, that severe indisposition de- 
 prived him of the honour of attending his Majesty ; 
 but that he would make known to Zabita Khan the 
 king's commands, and should he disregard them, his 
 Majesty might rest assured that no assistance should be 
 given to him by the Afghans of Kutheir. 
 
 Fyzoolla Khan (whose sister was married to Zabita 
 Khan) was selected by Hafiz to convey to Zabita Khan 
 the orders of the King : but that young man was little 
 disposed to relinquish a post of honour so long held by 
 his father, and finding that he had nothing to expect 
 from the favour of Shah Alum, he prepared to enforce 
 his claim by the sword. Fyzoolla Khan communicated 
 to Hafiz the ill success of his mission, when Sheikh Kub- 
 beer was dispatched to dissuade Zabita Khan from so 
 rash an enterprise ; but before he reached Nujeebabad. 
 
96 LIFE OF HAFTZ OOI.-MOOLK 
 
 Zabita Khan with his troops had crossed the Ganges and 
 , taken post at Sookurthal. Fyzoolla Khan and Sheikh 
 Kubbeer, with their forces, encamped on the east bank 
 of the Ganges to await the result. 
 
 The advance of Zabita Khan with hostile intentions 
 was soon known at Delhi, and Shah Alum with the 
 Mahratta army marched to oppose him. On reaching 
 Sookurthal, they found that Zabita Khan determined to 
 keep within his entrenchments : the Mahrattas therefore 
 left a small body to watch him, while the main body, 
 with the king at their head, crossed the Ganges at a 
 ford near Chandee Ghaut, with the intention of plun- 
 dering the country, and seizing the treasure amassed by 
 Nujeeb-ood-dowla. A little battery commanded by Kurm 
 Khan had been erected near to the ford, and two de- 
 tachments under Sadik Khan and Saadut Khan opposed 
 the passage of the river ; but these were soon dispersed, 
 and the battery was stormed with a trifling loss to the 
 assailants. 
 
 When Zabita Khan learned that the Mahrattas had 
 entered his country, he re-crossed the Ganges, and 
 solicited aid and advice from Fyzoolla Khan and Sheikh 
 Kubbeer. The former said that as the Mahrattas had 
 now entered Rohilcund, it was impossible to foresee how 
 far they might penetrate ; that he should therefore pro- 
 ceed immediately to Rampore to provide for the safety 
 of his family. Zabita Khan was so distracted by this 
 sudden invasion, that he lost all his presence of mind ; 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 97 
 
 and without having attempted the slightest resistance, 
 mounted the elephant with Fyzoolla Khan and accom- 
 panied him to Rampore. The troops thus forsaken by 
 their leader, dispersed to their respective homes ; and 
 Sheikh Kubbeer with his own and Fyzoolla Khan's 
 forces marched to Bareilly. The town of Nujeebabad 
 was given up to plunder, and the Mahrattas invested 
 the fort of Nujifghur, in which the family of Zabita 
 Khan resided. This fort being built of stone, was 
 capable of holding out for a length of time, but Zabita 
 Khan with his usual imprudence had neglected to lay 
 in a store of provisions, and as no supplies could be 
 procured from without, the gates were opened in a few 
 days, and the families of Nujeeb-ood-dowla and Zabita 
 Khan fell into the hands of the Mahrattas, with an 
 immense treasure, the accumulation of a series of 
 years. 
 
 These events occurred while Hafiz Rehnmt was at 
 Furrukhabad (whither he had gone on the demise of 
 Ahmed Khan Bungish), and the news of them reached 
 him on his return, at Tilhur, and induced him to hasten 
 to Bareilly : but before his arrival, Bukshee Surdar 
 Khan, Futteh Khan Khonsuman, Abdool Sitar Khan, 
 from Ownlah, Mohiboolla Khan and Futteh-oolla Khan 
 from Bissowlee, with their respective families, had fled to 
 Pillibheet. Hafiz having assembled the sirdars, en- 
 deavoured to quiet their alarms by the assurance that 
 neither Shah Alum, nor the Mahrattas, had any in ten- 
 
98 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 tion of molesting him : but they replied, that such an 
 army having once crossed the Ganges, could not be 
 withheld from plundering Kutheir ; and that as no 
 stand could be made either at Bareilly or Pillibheet, 
 it was most advisable to send their families to the hills : 
 to which Hafiz reluctantly assented ; and the women 
 and children were accordingly conveyed to Nanikmutta. 
 Enayit Khan was left in charge of Pillibheet, and Hafiz 
 proceeded to Gungapore (about four koss from Nanik- 
 mutta), where he was joined by Zabita Khan, then on his 
 route to Shahabad, to solicit the aid of Shooja-ood- 
 dowla, the Nuwab of Oude. 
 
 The Nuwab had no confidence in Zabita Khan, and 
 refused to interfere, unless Hafiz Rehmut should apply 
 to him ; but as the Mahrattas had advanced to Amroha, 
 Mooradabad, and Sumbul, Hafiz deemed it inexpedient 
 to absent himself, and dispatched Enayit Khan in his 
 stead ; still Shooja-ood-dowla declined interfering, and 
 Mr. Harper (who held the office of collector of the 
 peshcush) was deputed to bring Hafiz Rehmut to the 
 conference. Finding that nothing could be done without 
 him, he fortified his camp, and then with an escort of 
 four thousand men, accompanied Mr. Harper to Sha- 
 habad. This occurred in the year 1186 of the Hejiree, 
 corresponding with A. D. 1772. 
 
 On the arrival of Hafiz Rehmut, vakeels were sent 
 to the King a*nd the Mahratta Sirdars, to solicit the 
 release of the family of Zabita Khan, the restoration of 
 
ilAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 99 
 
 his estates, and to treat for the evacuation of Rohil- 
 kund by the enemy ; to whom his Majesty stated that 
 unless in self-defence, he should never have molested 
 Zabita Khan, or taken away his jagheer ; that he was 
 now satisfied with the punishment which he had in- 
 flicted, and that if the expenses of the campaign, 
 amounting to fifty lacs of rupees, were paid, he would 
 lead back his army to Delhi, and release Zabita Khan's 
 family. A second deputation was sent, when the Mah- 
 rattas agreed to accept forty lacs of rupees, provided 
 that Shooja-ood-dowla made himself responsible for the 
 payment. The Nuwab declined entering into such an 
 engagement, unless Hafiz gave him a bond for the 
 money, adding, that he would not have acted as mediator, 
 but from regard to Hafiz, whose country was now in- 
 vaded. The whole of the Afghan sirdars entreated 
 Hafiz to consent, promising to contribute their quotas 
 towards its discharge, on which the deed was executed ; 
 and Shooja-ood-dowla having made himself responsible 
 to the Mahrattas, they quitted Kutheir, leaving the 
 family of Zabita Khan at Bareilly. 
 
 The Afghan sirdars, with their families, lost no time 
 in leaving the hills, as independent of their sufferings 
 from the want of proper accommodations, not less than 
 eight thousand persons had died from the insalubrity of 
 the climate, during their four months' stay at Nanik- 
 mutta. When Hafiz Rehmut arrived at Bareilly, he 
 sent from his own treasury five lacs of rupees to Shooja- 
 
100 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 ood-dowla, in part payment of his bond, but each of 
 the sirdars pleaded poverty in excuse for the non-fulfil- 
 ment of their engagement. 
 
 Early in the year 1187 of the Hejiree, Bukshee Sur- 
 dar Khan died at Ownlah, at the advanced age of one 
 hundred years. He was one of the original followers of 
 Daood Khan, and had been appointed paymaster of the 
 troops by Ullee Mahomed Khan, which office he held 
 till his decease. His eldest son, Ahmed Khan, solicited 
 the appointment in succession to his father, and offered 
 a nuzzur of sixty thousand rupees; while Mahomed 
 Khan, the younger son, offered a nuzzur of three lacs 
 of rupees, and entreated that he might be appointed in 
 preference to his brother, who wanted the situation, 
 solely that he might be able to take possession of the 
 family property to the prejudice of the juniors. Hafiz 
 Rehmut considered Ahmed Khan to have the best claim 
 to the situation on account of his seniority, and accord- 
 ingly appointed him Bukshee, when Mahomed Khan 
 quitted the country, and Saadut Khan, his youngest 
 brother, joined Hafiz at Bareilly. Ahmed Khan on 
 taking possession of his new office, and of the wealth 
 left by his father, became negligent of his duty, omitted 
 to send the nuzzur which he had proffered, and (as will 
 hereafter appear,) was one of the first to join a plot for 
 the ruin of his patron. 
 
 In consequence of the mortality which had occurred 
 among the troops while encamped at Gungapore and 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 101 
 
 Nanikmutta, the russalas were very incomplete, and 
 Enayit Khan represented to his father the necessity of 
 raising new levies to supply the place of those who had 
 died. Hafiz said, that having allowed the widows and 
 children of the deceased to receive as pensions the 
 allowances originally granted to their husbands and 
 fathers, his funds would not admit of his entertaining 
 an equal number of new levies, but that Enayit Khan 
 would do well to raise two or three thousand men, 
 selecting them from among the troops of Zabita Khan, 
 who since his defeat had been unemployed, and for this 
 purpose Enayit Khan went to Bareilly. 
 
 The advice given by Enayit Khan to his father, on 
 the occasion of the misconduct of the army at Furruk- 
 habad, had caused him to be disliked by the sirdars ; and 
 the pusillanimous conduct of the sirdars on the invasion 
 of the Mahrattas, added to their selfishness in refusing 
 to contribute towards a payment, for which they had 
 intreated Hafiz to become answerable, rendered them 
 contemptible in the eyes of this high-spirited young 
 man. No sooner, therefore, had Enayit Khan enter- 
 tained these new levies, than the sirdars represented him 
 as preparing a force to oppose his father. For a time 
 Hafiz refused to listen to insinuations so derogatory to 
 the character of his son ; but when frequently repeated, 
 he desired Enayit Khan to enlist no more, and to dis- 
 charge those whom he had entertained. The order to 
 desist from further levies was readily obeyed, but it was 
 
102 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 represented to Hafiz that the three thousand men 
 already entertained in conformity to his orders, could 
 not with propriety be discharged, and that it was neces- 
 sary to provide for their regular payment. On receipt of 
 this answer Hafiz visited Bareilly, and meeting his son 
 as usual, his suspicions were for the time dissipated ; but 
 Enayit Khan very imprudently continued to enlist more 
 men, and thus gave a colour of truth to the slanders 
 perpetually whispered to his prejudice, when Hafiz 
 returned to Pillibheet and gave orders for assembling 
 his forces. In a few days he marched, and encamped 
 on the banks of the Nukteea Nuddee, where he remained 
 inactive four days, in the hope that his son would return 
 to his duty. In this interval Sheikh Kubbeer died, in 
 whom Hafiz lost his best officer ; his troops alone had 
 retained their character for bravery, and the Sheikh had 
 on every occasion distinguished himself as a good poli- 
 tician, as well as a good commander. Moostukeem 
 Khan was immediately promoted to his father's situation^ 
 Enayit Khan had depended on obtaining his father's 
 pardon, through the intercession of Sheikh Kubbeer, 
 and was consequently the more afflicted at his death at 
 this critical juncture ; nor could he apply to any other 
 of the sirdars, all of whom he knew to be his enemies ; 
 thus circumstanced, he barricaded the streets of Ba- 
 reilly, and himself remained in the fort with his two 
 younger brothers Deedar Khan and Allayar Khan. 
 Finding that his son prepared to oppose him, Hafiz 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN 103 
 
 sent his artillery to the west side of the fort, and gave 
 orders for its being battered to the ground ; but Enayit 
 Khan seized the families of such of the sirdars as resided 
 in the town, and placed them in the fort opposite to the 
 guns, saying, that those who had caused this quarrel, 
 should be the first to suffer from the effects of it. Afzul 
 Khan and Sooltan Khan (uncles of Zabita Khan) re- 
 ported this to Hafiz, who directed that the attack should 
 be postponed ; and after a time they prevailed on him to 
 sign a grant of the pergunnahs of Fureedpore, and 
 Sulempore Jooxa, as a jaidad for the new levies, 
 which document they carried into the fort. Enayit 
 Khan told them that he knew how it had been obtained, 
 and that his father did not intend to adhere to it ; that 
 he should nevertheless march and take possession of the 
 pergunnahs, and that if any of his enemies chose to 
 follow, he would meet them in the field. After three 
 days, Enayit Khan, at the head of five thousand men, 
 inarched out of JBareilly, and encamped at Keearee, on 
 the banks of the Ramgunga ; on the following day he 
 proceeded to Kookree, a distance of about ten koss. 
 Hafiz Rehmut without entering the town marched to 
 Sirdar-nuggur, and three days were spent in cross- 
 ing the army over the river ; on the fourth day 
 he encamped within two koss of Kookree. Early 
 on the morning of the fifth day, Abdoolla Khan, 
 Khan Mahomed Khan, and Syyud Kasim Shah, with 
 fifteen thousand men, proceeded to the attack of 
 Enayit Khan, who at the head of his forces advanced 
 
104 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 to meet them, and rushing into the division commanded 
 by Abdoolla Khan, defeated them with great slaughter ; 
 their commander had a narrow escape for his life, and 
 on quitting the field he hastily retreated to his house at 
 Shahjehanpore. Mahomed Deedar Khan attacked the 
 next division commanded by Bukshee Ahmed Khan, 
 and having wounded their leader, the whole body re- 
 turned to camp. Enayit Khan withdrew to Kookree, 
 but some of his men pursued the fugitives, and obtained 
 a considerable number of cattle. 
 
 Intelligence of this engagement was communicated to 
 Hafiz just as he had finished his morning prayer, and 
 he immediately set off to meet Enayit Khan's men, ex- 
 pecting to find his son with them. On his approach, 
 they had taken post in a waste village, and from behind 
 old walls kept up a running fire of matchlocks. Hafiz 
 was so much enraged, that his prudence forsook him, 
 and he advanced so close to them, that it was astonish- 
 ing he had not fallen a victim to his rashness, as his bow 
 was shot out of his hand, and several of his followers 
 were killed : the artillery, however, soon came up, and 
 a few rounds sufficed to dislodge the rebels, who were 
 obliged to beg for quarter. Hafiz now sent Shah Ma- 
 homed Khan and Iradut Khan to inform Enayit Khan, 
 that hitherto he had wished to avoid the distressing 
 spectacle of a father opposed to his son in the field, 
 but that it was now inevitable, and that on the 
 ensuing morning they must meet in arms. Enayit Khan 
 
HAFTZ REHMUT KHAN. 105 
 
 answered, that nothing would gratify him more than an 
 opportunity of meeting those who, for their own ma- 
 lignant purposes, had defamed his character, but that 
 he neither could, nor would oppose his father, and 
 requested admission to his presence ; but to this Hafiz 
 would not consent, and next morning marched out with 
 his troops. Enayit Khan left Deedar Khan in charge 
 of the camp., and advanced with only twenty men to 
 meet his father, sending forward a horseman to announce 
 his approach to Moostukeem Khan, who dismounted to 
 receive him, and notified his arrival. Hafiz desired 
 that he might be sent back to his camp, and directed to 
 make the best resistance he could, but he insisted on 
 throwing himself at the feet of his father. Hafiz told 
 him that if he yet entertained any thoughts of offering 
 opposition, there was still time to do so ; and if not, he 
 must prepare himself for imprisonment : to which 
 Enayit Khan answered that he cheerfully resigned him- 
 self to his father's pleasure ; and he was then committed 
 to the care of Fyzoolla Khan. 
 
 After a few hours Molovee Gholam Jeelanee, and 
 Bilas-roy Bukshee of the Khas Russala, waited on him 
 by order of Hafiz, and desired that he would send some 
 person to disband his followers, and to restore the ele- 
 phants and horses plundered on the preceding morning, 
 on which conditions his pardon would be granted. 
 Enayit Khan in vain urged the improbability of the 
 cattle being given up while he remained in confinement ; 
 
 T 
 
106 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 and that he had no person with him whom he could send 
 to disband his followers. These objections Hafiz would 
 not listen to, and insisted that if his orders were not 
 obeyed, Enayit Khan should leave the country. 
 
 On the second day, Enayit Khan clearly saw that his 
 enemies would not permit a reconciliation to take place 
 between him and his father : he therefore returned to his 
 camp, and sending back to Hafiz the elephants and 
 horses which had been captured, proceeded to the 
 province of Oude. 
 
 Enayit Khan joined the camp of the Nuwab Vizier 
 Shooja-ood-dowla at Tooryee, seven koss from Fyzabad, 
 and was conducted by Saadut Ullee Khan and Moorteza 
 Khan Bahraitch to the NuwaVs tents, while his fol- 
 lowers encamped at a little distance. In the course of 
 conversation, Shooja-ood-dowla one day speaking of the 
 number of his troops and the expense of his military 
 establishments, observed, that an increase of territory 
 had become absolutely necessary ; and as except Kutheir, 
 no other country lay open to him, Enayit Khan re- 
 marked to his brother Deedar Khan, that before the 
 Nuwab carried his scheme into execution, it behoved 
 them to leave his camp, and to prepare their father for 
 the contest. 
 
 Soon after this Shooja-ood-dowla returned to Lucnow, 
 when he presented to Enayit Khan twenty thousand ru- 
 pees for his expenses, and promised to allot a certain 
 portion of territory as ajaidad for his followers. From 
 
HAFIZ 11EHMUT KHAN. 107 
 
 Lucnow they proceeded to Mindee Ghaut, when Enayit 
 Khan took leave of the Nuwab and returned to Kut- 
 heir. 
 
 On reaching Shahjehanpore, Enayit Khan received 
 orders from Hafiz to disband his followers, and appear 
 before him unattended ; and he accordingly arrived at 
 his aunt's house in Bareilly with only twenty-five 
 servants. 
 
 At this period the vakeels of Mahajee Scindia and 
 Tookoojee Holkar, waited on Hafiz Rehmut with a 
 message from their masters, purporting that it was their 
 intention to attack Shooja-ood-dowla, and proposing that 
 in the event of Hafiz joining the confederacy, half the 
 country which they might wrest from the Nuwab should 
 be given to him ; or if he preferred remaining neuter, 
 they would make over to him Shooja-ood-dowla's bond 
 for the forty lacs of rupees, on condition of his not 
 opposing them while crossing the Ganges, or during 
 their march. They moreover added, that in the event 
 of his rejecting both these propositions, the Mahrattas 
 would lay waste and plunder his country. Hafiz 
 answered, that through life he had made it a rule never 
 to join the infidels in opposing the faithful ; that he 
 would not be allured into a deviation from the path of 
 duty by their tempting offers ; and that he was ready to 
 stand by the consequences which might ensue from such 
 a decision. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut made known to Shooja^ood-dowla the 
 
108 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 propositions of the Mahrattas, said that he should with- 
 out delay prepare his army to take the field, advised the 
 Nuwab to lose no time in guarding the Ghauts, and con- 
 cluded by requesting the return of his bond, as the 
 money for the payment of which Shooja-ood-dowla had 
 made himself responsible, had not yet been sent, nor 
 could it be supposed that the Nuwab would now con- 
 sider his engagement binding :" as a necessary conse- 
 quence of which, his claim on Hafiz ceased. Shooja- 
 ood-dowla dispatched Syyud Shah Muddun as his 
 vakeel, to express how much he felt indebted to Hafiz 
 for his conduct on the occasion, to communicate to Jiim 
 the arrangements which had been made for the assembly 
 of the army, and to promise the restitution of the bond 
 as soon as the Mahrattas were defeated. 
 
 A body of the Mahrattas crossed the Ganges at Ram- 
 ghaut ; to oppose whom, Bukshee Ahmed Khan, with a 
 small force, was sent in advance, while Hafiz collected 
 the army at Bissowlee. The Bukshee was attacked at 
 Asudpore by a squadron of the Mahratta horse, but 
 repulsed them, and sent to Bissowlee for reinforce- 
 ments ; but before they could reach him, a larger 
 body of Mahrattas attacked, defeated, and took him 
 prisoner. 
 
 The sirdars were extremely dilatory in joining the 
 standard of their chief, and as yet only about six 
 thousand men were assembled, with which small force 
 Hafiz proposed to march. His officers remonstrated 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN, 109 
 
 against so rash an enterprise, and urged his waiting the 
 arrival of further aid, as in the fort of Bissowlee he 
 was perfectly secure* Hafiz indignantly answered, that 
 he had never declined to meet an enemy in the field, 
 and would not in his old age be indebted for security 
 to a fortress, but that such as were afraid to follow him 
 were at liberty to quit the camp ; and of this permission 
 not a few availed themselves. About this period Enayit 
 Khan died in the 31st year of his age, and in the year 
 1187 of the Hejiree. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut, with only two thousand men, marched 
 to Asudpore, but in the evening he was joined by Mo- 
 hiboolla Khan and Moostukeem Khan, with seven 
 thousand menj and during the night several other sir- 
 dars arrived, so that his force amounted to about twelve 
 thousand horse and foot. Still the officers were unwilling 
 to engage, till a messenger arrived from Shooja-ood- 
 dowla to desire an immediate junction with his army, as 
 he proposed to attack the Mahrattas without delay. The 
 troops were immediately put in motion, and in the gene- 
 ral action which ensued the Mahrattas were completely 
 routed. Mahajee Scindia recrossed the Ganges over a 
 bridge of boats, taking with him his prisoner Bukshee 
 Ahmed Khan. Tookoojee Holkar unable to find a ford, 
 fled towards Sumbul and Mooradabad ; but being closely 
 pursued by Hafiz, he again made towards the Ganges, 
 and crossed at Buboonta Ghaut. General Champion 
 and Mohiboolla Khan, with a part of the Nuwab's 
 
110 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 troops, in the mean time pursued Mahajee Scindia and 
 plundered his camp. A sum of two lacs of rupees was 
 paid for the release of Bukshee Ahmed Khan, and the 
 camp was broken up, when the Mahrattas quitted Delhi 
 on their return to the Dukhun. 
 
 On the return of Shooja-ood-dowla to Oude, Hafiz 
 sent Mahomed Khan and Abdoolla Khan to demand 
 the restitution of his bond. The Nuwab denied having 
 made any promise to restore it, or having authorized his 
 vakeel so to do. The agents of Hafiz urged the gene- 
 rosity of their master's conduct in refusing the tempting 
 offers which had been made to him by the Mahrattas, 
 and produced the NuwaVs letters, whereby he bound 
 himself to abide by the engagements entered into by his 
 vakeel ; they therefore insisted that the vakeel should 
 be called on to declare whether or not he had, on the 
 behalf of the Nuwab, engaged to restore the bond as 
 soon as the Mahrattas were defeated. Shah Muddun 
 was accordingly summoned, and declared that he had 
 made the promise by authority from the Nuwab : this 
 the Nuwab denied; and Shah Muddun, indignant at 
 being charged with falsehood, retorted it on Shooja-ood- 
 dowla. The agents of Hafiz supported the Shah, and 
 expressed freely their opinions of the Nuwab's duplicity, 
 and the parties separated in anger. Khan Mahomed 
 Khan and Abdoolla Khan returned to Bareilly and 
 reported the ill- success of their mission ; but Hafiz did 
 not find it convenient to come to an open rupture with 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. Ill 
 
 the Nuwab, and was therefore obliged to stifle his 
 resentment. 
 
 About this period died Abdool Sitar Khan and 
 Futteh Khan Khansuman ; the former was succeeded by 
 his son Abdool Jubar Khan, and the latter by his son 
 Irshidad Ahmed Khan. Hafiz Rehmut remained a 
 short time at Hafizabad, to celebrate the marriages of 
 his sons Zoolfikar Khan and Hoormut Khan. 
 
 During the time that the army had been encamped 
 near Asudpore, Shooja-ood-dowla had seduced from 
 their allegiance to Hafiz a considerable number of the 
 sirdars, and as the Nuwab's intention to make himself 
 master of Kutheir was no secret, several of them kept 
 up a constant correspondence with him after his return 
 to Oude. At the head of these ingrates were Bukshee 
 Ahmed Khan, and the two sons of Doondee Khan, 
 Mohiboolla and Futteh-oolla. To confirm them in 
 their purpose, Shooja-ood-dowla inserted in a copy of 
 the Koran the engagement which he had made with 
 them, to which he affixed his seal, and this document 
 being shewn by the malcontents, many more joined the 
 confederacy. Moostushim Khan (son of Dill^r Khan) 
 actually received from the Nuwab an advance of fifty 
 thousand rupees for the purpose of enlisting men for his 
 service. These occurrences did not escape the notice of 
 Hafiz Rehmut, and he caused Moostushim Khan to be 
 apprehended, and brought before him. The criminal 
 confessed his guilt and begged for pardon, which Hafiz 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 X 
 
 granted from respect to the memory of his father : but 
 the wretch, on quitting the presence of Hafiz, fled to 
 Shooja-ood-dowla's camp. 
 
 At this time Shooja-ood-dowla was engaged in an 
 attempt to expel the Mahrattas from the pergunnas of 
 Etawah and Shekhoabad, to which Hafiz objected, 
 stating that these pergunnas had been given to his family 
 by Ahmed Shah Douranee ; and although by the chances 
 of war he had been compelled to relinquish them for a 
 time, yet that he had by no means given up his claim to 
 them : that even at this moment he had it in contempla- 
 tion to send a military force for the expulsion of the Mah- 
 ratta Aumil : and that Shooja-ood-dowla's 'present con- 
 duct was highly ungenerous, and inconsistent with the 
 friendship which had so long subsisted beeween them. 
 The Nuwab replied, that the pergunnas in question 
 having been conquered by the Mahrattas, the claim of 
 Hafiz, on the plea of a gift from the Shah, had en- 
 tirely ceased : that he felt himself as much at liberty to 
 invade these pergunnas as any other part of the Mah- 
 ratta territory, and that having been successful, he 
 should not relinquish his conquest. Hafiz again urged 
 the point in stronger terms 3 when the Nuwab told 
 him that he would consider about the restoration of the 
 pergunnas, and in the mean time desired that Hafiz 
 would discharge the balance of thirty-five lacs of rupees 
 due on his bond ; but this was merely to afford him 
 a pretext for invading Kutheir, and for this purpose he 
 began to assemble his army. 
 
HAFTZ REHMUT KHAN. 113 
 
 As Hafiz Kehmut had during the last few years lost 
 his best officers, and could place little confidence in 
 those who remained, he was conscious of his inability 
 to oppose Shooja-ood-dowla, and therefore offered to pay 
 as much of the forty lacs of rupees as the Nuwab had 
 paid to the Mahrattas ; but this proposition was re- 
 jected, and with a British force in addition to his own, 
 Shooja-ood-dowla advanced to the Ganges. 
 
 Puhar Sing, the deewan of Hafiz, strongly advised 
 his master not to risk a battle, and offered to find funds 
 for the payment of the thirty-five lacs of rupees, if 
 Hafiz would permit him to wait on Colonel Champion, 
 through whose mediation a reasonable period for dis- 
 charging the debt might be fixed ; but Hafiz said, that 
 as he had not the money, and as none of the sirdars were 
 willing to contribute towards the payment, he would 
 not borrow, and was prepared to die in defence of his 
 country. Puhar Sing again offered to procure the 
 money from some Muhajins, but Hafiz would not con- 
 sent, observing that as he must die some time, he could 
 not fall in a better cause. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmiit had assembled his troops at Ownlah, 
 with the intention of opposing the Nuwab as he crossed 
 the Ganges, when his spies brought intelligence that 
 Shooja-ood-dowla had changed his route, and was 
 marching via Furrukhabad to Mindee Ghaut, to cross 
 the Ganges in his own dominions, and enter Kutheir 
 from Shahabad. Hafiz immediately moved to Tanda, 
 
 u 
 
114 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 where he received a letter from Mohiboolla Khan, ex- 
 cusing his non-attendance on the plea of a want of cash. 
 A sum of ninety thousand rupees had been borrowed 
 from Trshidad Ahmed Khan, of which Hafiz desired 
 his treasurer Saadut Khan to send twenty-five thousand 
 to Mohiboolla Khan. The treasurer objected to the 
 gift of so large a sum to a man who only pleaded 
 poverty as a veil to cover his treachery, but Hafiz 
 would not listen to any report unfavourable to Mohib- 
 oolla Khan, and insisted that at least fifteen thousand 
 rupees should be sent. 
 
 The army being reinforced by large bodies of the 
 Rajpoot Zemindars, and also by the Pathans from Mow 
 and Furrukhabad, they marched from Tanda to Fureed- 
 pore; and Shooja-ood-dowla advanced from Shahabad 
 to Shahjehanpore, where he was received and enter- 
 tained by Abdoolla Khan, who afforded him great assist- 
 ance, and enabled his troops to proceed to Tilhur. Hafiz 
 also advanced from Fureedpore to Kuttra, only seven koss 
 from Tilhur ; but the mangoe orchards around Kuttra, 
 in which the troops were encamped, were so thick that 
 it was not deemed advisable to attack them in such a 
 position, and Shooja-ood-dowla, at the suggestion of 
 Colonel Champion, gave out that he intended to attack 
 Pillibheet, where the family of Hafiz resided, and he 
 made a movement in that direction. This manoeuvre 
 succeeded, and Hafiz ordered his troops to assemble in 
 the plain, preparatory to their march to Pillibheet. 
 
IIAF1Z REHMUT KHAN. 115 
 
 The sirdars advised him to entrench himself at Kuttra, 
 and to delay an action, as his army was daily increasing 
 by the arrival of the Rajpoot tribes ; but fearful for the 
 safety of his family, he insisted on hastening to Pil- 
 libheet. 
 
 On Saturday, the llth of the month Suffur, in the 
 year 1188 of the Hejiree, corresponding with the 23d 
 of April, A.D. 1774, Shooja-ood-dowla advanced from 
 Tilhur with an army amounting to a lac and fifteen 
 thousand horse and foot. The principal sirdars were 
 Meer Ahmed, who commanded twenty-two thousand 
 infantry and an immense train of artillery; Bussunt 
 Ullee Khan with fourteen thousand men ; Muhboob 
 Ullee Khan with nine thousand ; The eunuch Lutafut 
 with seven thousand ; Syyud Ullee Khan with four 
 thousand, and many others of less note ; besides seven 
 thousand men under the command of Colonel Champion. 
 When the spies gave notice of the approach of the 
 enemy, Hafiz Rehmut went to the tent of Fyzoolla 
 Khan, and desired him to fight boldly so long as he 
 (Hafiz) remained alive ; but as soon as he should fall, 
 to make his escape to Pillibheet, and take the females of 
 the family to the hills. Having given these instructions 
 he mounted his horse, and with ten thousand men 
 advanced to the front of the army, which was now 
 within the range of the enemy's guns. The action soon 
 became general : Moostukeem Khan advanced on the 
 left wing, and was joined by Mohiboolla Khan with four 
 
116 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 hundred men, when they attacked the division com- 
 manded by Colonel Champion. Fyzoolla Khan distin- 
 guished himself and took a village in the rear of the 
 enemy, from whence he opened a destructive fire on 
 them, and Hafiz was seen galloping about in every 
 direction, giving his orders with the most perfect cool- 
 ness. At this time, Bukshee Ahmed Khan, who had 
 already been bribed by Shooja-ood-dowla, pretending 
 that his men would not stand in so hot a fire, quitted 
 his post, arid went over to the enemy. The defection 
 of so large a body occasioned a general panic ; many 
 took to flight, and several of the chiefs followed the 
 example of the Bukshee. A messenger now arrived 
 from Moostukeem Khan, to say that he should be 
 overpowered unless a reinforcement reached him imme- 
 diately. Hafiz hastened to join him, and on the way his 
 horse was shot under him ; another was brought, and at 
 a little distance he met Moostukeem Khan flying before 
 the enemy. Abid Khan now intreated Hafiz to make 
 his escape, as the day could not be recovered, but he 
 refused to listen to this advice, and with the small 
 remnant of his army rushed in amongst the enemy: 
 though wounded in several places, he continued to 
 distribute death around him, till a cannon shot struck 
 him in the breast, and removed him to a better 
 world. 
 
 The fall of Hafiz was the signal for a general flight ; 
 the men returned to their respective homes, with the 
 
HAF1Z REHMUT KHAN. 117 
 
 exception of a small body who accompanied Fyzoolla 
 Khan and Ahmed Yar Khan to Bareilly. A Suwar, 
 named Sooltan Khan, severed the head of Hafiz from 
 the body, and carried it in triumph to Shooja-ood-dowla, 
 who placed it and the body in a palanquin, covered it 
 with shawls, and sent it to Bareilly. The principal 
 inhabitants of the town went out to meet the body, and 
 after the proper forms had been observed, it was in- 
 terred. Hafiz Rehmut was sixty-seven years of age, and 
 had governed the province of Kutheir twenty-seven 
 years and some months. 
 
 The liberality of Hafiz Rehmut was evinced in num- 
 berless instances. Throughout his dominions he abo- 
 lished taxes of every denomination, whether on exports 
 or imports, though these imposts had yielded many 
 lacs of rupees annually ; nor would he revive this odious 
 demand, even when his finances were at their lowest 
 ebb. In his various wars, the widows of those who 
 fell in action were supported in affluence, and the sons 
 received the pay of their deceased parents, till they 
 were of an age to be enrolled among his troops. During 
 the government of Ullee Mahomed Khan, all the rent- 
 free lands formerly granted to learned and pious men, 
 or to indigent families, had been resumed, and a small 
 annual payment substituted ; the whole of these lands 
 were restored by Hafiz, and numberless new pensions 
 were granted ; in conferring which obligations, Hafiz 
 would regret his inability to make the amount larger, and 
 
118 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 by his manner appeared to be rather receiving, than con- 
 ferring a favour. 
 
 Hafiz Rehmut was of the sect of the Soonees, as 
 indeed are all the Afghans. During the month of Ram- 
 zan he observed a strict fast, read through the whole of 
 the Koran in private, besides hearing portions of it 
 daily read in public ; during the last ten days of the 
 month, all worldly concerns were laid aside, and he sat 
 in the mosque absorbed in prayer and meditation. At 
 the Eed-ool-Zohau, he offered annually for sacrifice two 
 camels, and several thousand sheep and goats ; and at 
 the Eed-ool-Fittur many thousand maunds of wheat 
 were distributed to the poor, besides small donations in 
 money. During thirteen days of the Mohurrum, the 
 nobut was not sounded, and each day bread and shirbet 
 was distributed to every one who attended to receive it. 
 From the 7th to the 10th of the month, all the Syyuds* 
 were assembled, when Hafiz waited on them as a ser- 
 vant, and with his own hands presented their food ; 
 after which they were dismissed with suitable presents : 
 the same form was observed with the Sheikhs; after 
 which the lame and the blind, widows, and orphans, 
 were amply supplied from his store-house, and called 
 down blessings on his head. From the 1st to the 12th 
 of the month Rubbee-ool-awul, the poor and needy 
 received a similar daily supply. So strict was Hafiz in 
 his observance of the precepts of the prophet regarding 
 liquors, or intoxicating drugs, that he would not even 
 * Descendants of the Prophet. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 119 
 
 allow himself the indulgence of eating paun,* or any 
 spices, or of smoking a kullian, nor would he wear silken 
 clothing. It was his daily practice to rise three hours 
 before the sun, and after ablution, to % commence his 
 devotions. Kneeling with his face turned towards 
 Mecca, he first read a portion of the Koran, and then 
 some other devotional work, till the day broke, at 
 which time he repaired to the mosque, and continued 
 his devotions till sunrise. At that hour he went to 
 the Deewan-Aum, to give orders respecting the go- 
 vernment of the country, and to receive the petitions 
 of all those who had to complain of any grievance ; at 
 two hours after sunrise, the third prayers were offered 
 up in the Deewan-Khas, after which the reports received 
 from the several Aumils were read, and the necessary 
 orders were issued. At noon he made his principal meal, 
 then took a short repose ; and when three hours of the 
 day remained, he offered up his fourth prayer and re- 
 turned to business, which occupied him till near sunset, 
 when the fifth act of devotion was observed in the pre- 
 sence of, and in concert with all the holy and learned 
 men of the town, with whom he conversed on religious 
 topics till dark ; and this was the time for the sixth 
 prayers. When three hours of the night were passed, 
 he partook of a second meal in a select society, and all 
 poor children were at that time admitted to his house 
 and received a supply of food. At midnight the party 
 broke up, and he retired to rest. 
 
 * An aromatic leaf much used in India. 
 
120 LIFE OF HAFIZ-OOL-MOOLK 
 
 It is not surprising that a ruler who studied so little 
 his own ease, whose whole life was spent in performing 
 his duty to his God and to his fellow creatures, should 
 have been beloved in life, and regretted in death : 
 indeed his fall caused a general mourning throughout 
 Kutheir. 
 
 The family of Hafiz Rehmut were : 
 
 1. Enayit Khan, who died before his father. 
 
 2. Himmut Khan, who died of the small-pox at thir- 
 
 teen years of age. 
 
 8. Iradut Khan. 
 
 4. Mohubbut Khan. 
 
 5. Hafiz Mahomed Yar Khan. 
 
 6. Mahomed Deedar Khan. 
 
 7. Mahomed Zoolfikar Khan. 
 S. Mahomed Allayar Khan. 
 
 9. Azmut Khan. 
 
 10. HoormutKhan. 
 
 11. Gholam Moostufa Khan. 
 
 12. Mahomed Omur Khan. 
 
 18. Mahomed Moostujab Khan, the author of this 
 
 Memoir. 
 14 Mahomed Akber Khan. 
 
 1st daughter married to Mullik Shaddee Khan. 
 
 2d daughter married to Futteh-oolla, son of Doondee 
 
 Khan. 
 
 3d daughter married to Syyud Mahomed Khan, 
 the son of Hafiz's sister. 
 
HAFIZ H1T.HMUT KIIAX, 1521 
 
 4th daughter married to Jumshaii Khan, the grand- 
 son of Mullik Shaddee Khan. 
 
 5th daughter married to Akber Shah Khan. 
 
 6th daughter married to Ahmed Khan. 
 
 7th daughter married to Runmust Khan. 
 
 8th daughter married to Shah Mahomed Khan, the 
 grandson of HanVs sister. 
 
 9th daughter married to Ahmed Khan, 
 
 After the defeat at Kuttra, Mohubbut Khan, Hafiz 
 Mahomed Yar Khan, Mahomed Deedar Khan, Allayar 
 Khan, and Azmut Khan made their escape to Pillibhect, 
 where the sirdars assembled to consult what was best to 
 be done. Many proposed retiring with their families 
 to the hills, but the majority were for treating with 
 Shooja-ood-dowla, and it was finally agreed that Mo- 
 hubbut Khan, accompanied by Abdool Futteh Khan, 
 should proceed without delay to the Nuwab's camp. 
 
 Mahomed Zoolfikar Khan, who had been left in 
 command of the fort of Bareilly, convened a meeting 
 of the principal persons in the town, who also deter- 
 mined on sending a deputation to the conqueror. As 
 Mahomed Zoolfikar Khan had been intimate with 
 Saadut Ullee Khan, the son of the Vizier, he sent a 
 messenger to request that Saadut Ullee would intro- 
 duce him to his father; this was refused, and he was 
 ordered to proceed to Colonel Champion's tent, but on 
 his way thither lie met the Suwaree of the Nuwab, who 
 sent the eunuch Lutafut to conduct him to his own 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 tent, and to say that the Nuwab would receive his visit 
 on the following morning. During the night Mohubbut 
 Khan arrived from Pillibheet, and was conducted to the 
 tent of Moorteza Khan Bahraitch. On the 12th of 
 Suffur, a large force under the command of Seedee 
 Busheer, an African, was dispatched towards Pillibheet. 
 On the 13th Mohubbut Khan and Zoolfikar Khan, 
 were admitted to the presence of Shooja-ood-dowla, 
 who pretended to lament that he had been compelled to 
 take up arms against their father, and assured them 
 with a solemn oath that he would make a handsome pro- 
 vision for them. On concluding the conference, Shooja- 
 ood-dowla offered to present them with khelats, but 
 Mohubbut Khan requested that they might be presented 
 at Pillibheet, whither the Nuwab proposed going in a 
 few days. Shooja-ood-dowla then desired Mohubbut 
 Khan to return, and to quiet the minds of the people at 
 Pillibheet, while Zoolfikar Khan remained in camp. 
 
 When Mohubbut Khan reached the encampment of 
 Seedee Busheer, he received an invitation to pass the 
 night at his tent, but anxious to rejoin his family, he 
 declined the honour: the invitation was however re- 
 peated, and Mohubbut Khan was informed that orders 
 had been issued by the Nuwab to prevent his arrival at 
 Pillibheet before the African ; thus circumstanced, he 
 was forced to comply, and en the following morning 
 they entered Pillibheet together. On the 16th of Suffur, 
 Shooja-ood-dowla also arrived, and encamped on the 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 
 
 the banks of the Dewa river ; when an order was pub- 
 lished, requiring all the troops of Hafiz to deliver up 
 their horses and arms to Seedee Busheer, and to leave 
 the town. As soon as this was done, the Nuwab called 
 on Mohubbut Khan to point out the spot where the 
 treasure of Hafiz was buried, to which Mohubbut 
 answered, that his father had no treasure but the affec- 
 tion of his subjects. On the 18th, the Nuwab required 
 the females of the family to deliver up all their orna- 
 ments to Seedee Busheer, and ordered the women to be 
 removed to tents in his camp, in order that their 
 apartments might be searched for the supposed treasure : 
 after this, three companies of sepoys were placed over 
 the tents ostensibly to protect them from thieves, but in 
 reality to prevent any persons from escaping. In the 
 evening he sent a message to Mohubbut Khan, purport- 
 ing that indisposition had hitherto prevented him from 
 receiving his visits, but that he hoped to be able to see 
 him in a few days ; his object was however accom- 
 plished, and he immediately commenced his march to 
 Bissowlee. 
 
 Saadut Khan had gone from the field of battle to his 
 house at Tanda, and from thence to Futteh-oolla Khan 
 and Mohib-oolla Khan at Bissowlee ; after some days 
 they set out for Pillibheet, and fell in with the NuwaVs 
 camp at Hafizgunje. Futteh-oolla Khan expected that 
 he should obtain a large portion of Kutheir, or at least 
 that his own pergunnahs would be confirmed to him, 
 
LIFE OF IIAFIZ OOL-MOQ.LK 
 
 but the Nuwab would not admit him for some time, 
 and when he did obtain an audience, he was scarcely 
 noticed. On quitting the tent, Saadut Khan was desired 
 to remain with Salar Jung (to whose sister Shooja- 
 oed-dowla was married), through whose intercession he 
 avoided confinement. 
 
 Zoolfikar Khan, while he remained in the Nuwab' s 
 camp at Kuttra, received an invitation from Colonel 
 Champion, who expressed his regret that the sons of 
 Hafiz had Dot in the first instance applied to him, as 
 they had no favour to expect from the Nuwab ; and con- 
 cluded by an assurance that he would address the go- 
 vernor in Calcutta on their behalf. The substance of 
 this conversation was communicated to Shooja-ood- 
 dowla, who to prevent a second conference, ordered 
 Zoolfikar Ktian to return to Bareilly, 
 
 On Shooja-ood-dowla''s arrival at Bissowlee, Futteh- 
 oolla Khan reminded him of the promises which he had 
 made on entering Kutheir ; but as the Nuwab never 
 intended to fulfil those engagements, he put an end to 
 remonstrances by confining both Futteh-oolla-Khan 
 and Mohib-oolla Khan, and then confiscated their pro- 
 perty ; after which he proceeded to Lolldong, whither 
 the remnant of the army had fled after the battle of 
 Kuttra. 
 
 Moostukeem Khan, Abdool Jubar Khan, Ahmed 
 Khan, Azum Khan, and Azeem Khan (sons of Futteh 
 Khan Khonsuman), Mahomed Hussun Khan, Moolla 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 125 
 
 Meer Baz Khan, Syfood-deen Khan, Shurf-ood-deen 
 Khan, Mahomed Khan, and many other sirdars with 
 their families had joined the troops at Lolldong ; and 
 finding that no hope remained of the arrival of any of the 
 sons of Hafiz, they elected Fyzoolla Khan as their chief, 
 and prepared to make such resistance as the nature of the 
 country, and the thickness of the forest would admit of, 
 trusting that in a short time the NuwalTs troops would 
 be obliged to retire from such a climate. 
 
 Having dispatched Salar Jung with the whole of the 
 family of Hafiz Rehmut to the fort of Allahabad, 
 Shooja-ood-dowla reached Lolldong, and ordered his 
 men to cut down the forest: but this was an endless task, 
 and in the attempt he daily lost numbers of his troops. 
 The Afghans repeatedly sallied out and attacked his 
 posts, nor could he retaliate, as his men were ignorant of 
 the paths in the woods. Sickness also began its ravages 
 in his camp, and as the Nuwab himself was much indis- 
 posed, he proposed terms to the sirdars ; but they insisted 
 on the release of the family of Hafiz as a prelude to 
 negociation, and a messenger was dispatched to recall 
 Mohubbut Khan from Allahabad, In the mean time 
 Fyzoolla Khan privately made proposals to Colonel 
 Champion, and gave the sirdars to understand, that the 
 Colonel would consult their interest, and insist on the 
 release of the family of Hafiz ; on which assurance they 
 agreed to commit the business to his management 
 
126 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Colonel Champion sent a servant to inform Fyzoolla 
 Khan, that he would introduce him to the Nuwab, and 
 Moostukeem Khan desired leave to accompany him; 
 but Fyzoolla pretending that this might be merely a 
 plan of the Nuwab's to seize his person and put him in 
 confinement, as he had already done the sons of Hafiz, 
 objected that it would be highly inexpedient for them 
 both to put themselves in the Nuwab's power, as during 
 his absence, Moostukeem Khan was the only person 
 qualified to command the army. The Russaladars ad- 
 mitted the propriety of this remark, but demanded 
 from Fyzoolla an oath, that he would make the release 
 of HanVs family his first condition. Fyzoolla complied? 
 and said that having obtained that point, he should then 
 insist on the restoration of their respective jagheers, 
 after which he would secure the best terms procurable 
 for himself: but that failing in his first demand, he 
 would return to camp. Moostukeem Khan suspected 
 that Fyzoolla Khan would not adhere to his engage- 
 ment, and privately sent a person to report what 
 passed. 
 
 Fyzoolla Khan was introduced by Colonel Champion, 
 when after the usual compliments, the Nuwab asked 
 what terms he demanded, to which Fyzoolla answered 
 that a jagheer yielding fifteen lacs of rupees per annum 
 had been granted to him by Hafiz Rehmut, and that if 
 the Nuwab would confirm that grant, he was ready to 
 sign a treaty of peace. Colonel Champion observed, 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 127 
 
 that at his tent the first demand made was the release 
 of Hafiz^s family, and expressed his surprise at its 
 omission now ; but Fyzoolla said that he had nothing to 
 do with them, and that the Nuwab might act towards 
 them as he thought proper. A treaty was accordingly 
 drawn out, whereby the Nuwab granted to Fyzoolla 
 Khan a territory nominally yielding fifteen, but actually 
 yielding twenty-five lacs of rupees (in which were in- 
 cluded several pergunnahs of Hafiz Rehmut^s jagheer, and 
 the pergunnahs of Bilaspore, Ajoun, Thakoor-dwarra, 
 and llehur, which formed the jagheer of Doondee 
 Khan), on condition that the camp should be broken up, 
 that the troops should disperse, and that Fyzoolla should 
 bring his forces into the field, . whenever the Nuwab. 
 should be engaged in war. The treaty was dated 25th 
 October 1774, and after receiving the signature of the 
 parties, was witnessed by Colonel Champion. Fyzoolla 
 Khan, on his return to camp, informed the sirdars that 
 he had failed in his first demand, but had obtained 
 every other, and that he would hereafter shew them the 
 treaty. Moostukeem Khan abused him for his duplicity 
 and ingratitude, but the majority rejoiced to be released 
 from their present situation on any terms, and as Fy- 
 zoolla was liberal of his promises they accompanied him 
 to Rampore. 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla being seriously ill, hastened his 
 return to Fyzabad, and on his route meeting Mohubbut 
 Khan, took him in his suite. In a few days the Nuwab 
 
128 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOI.K 
 
 finding his end draw nigh, sent for his son Mir/a 
 Amanee, commonly called Asoph-ool-dowla, and charged 
 him not to release the family of Hafiz. The Nuwab 
 died on the 23d of Zekad 1188 Hejiree, corresponding 
 with the month of January 1775, and was succeeded by 
 his son Asoph-ool-dowla, who proposed sending back 
 Mohubbut Khan to Allahabad,, but was dissuaded from 
 so unpopular a measure by his uncle Mirza UlleeKhan. 
 He however stopped the allowance of one thousand ru- 
 pees per month which had been made by his father to 
 Mohubbut Khan, and even the paltry allowance of one 
 hundred rupees per diem for the support of the families 
 confined in the Fort of Allahabad was so irregularly 
 paid, that they were not unfrequently in distress for 
 food. 
 
 At this period, Mr. Bristow was appointed resident 
 at Lucnow, with instructions to demand from the Nuwab, 
 1st. the cession of the province of Benares, W in conse- 
 quence of his acquisition of the province of Kutheir, of 
 which no share was given to his ally : 2d. to make pro- 
 vision for the payment of the troops who had been en- 
 listed by the NuwaVs desire, and for his service; 3d. 
 to set at liberty the family of Hafiz Remmit, and to 
 allot annually a handsome sum for their support. 
 
 The news of Shooja-ood-dowla's death reached Mr. 
 Bristow at Patna ; but Mr. Hastings, the governor, de- 
 sired him to consider his instructions equally applicable 
 to the NuwaVs successor, who, if he did not imme- 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN'. 
 
 diately accede to the governor's demands, must be com- 
 pelled to do so. Mr. Bristow joined the Nuwab's camp 
 at Mehndee Ghaut, when Mohubbut Khan sent a con- 
 fidential servant to make acquaintance with that gentle- 
 man's moonshee, Mahomed Zakir, by whom Mohubbut 
 Khan was, in a few days, introduced to the resident. 
 Mr. Bristow received him and his brother, Zoolfikar 
 Khan, with great kindness, desired them to repeat their 
 visit without fear, as it was a part of his instructions to 
 secure a suitable provision for their family, and sent 
 them a present of five thousand rupees for their imme* 
 diate expenses. 
 
 When the orders of the governor were made known y\ 
 to Asoph-ool-dowla, he at first positively refused 
 to conform to them ; but through the intervention of 
 Mokhtiar-ood-dowlah, Syyud Moorteza Khan, he was 
 at length prevailed on to give up the province of 
 Benares, and to make provision for the payment of the 
 troops probably conceiving that, as the British govern- 
 ment were not interested in the release of Hafiz's family, 
 that point would be given up; but Mr. Bristow per- 
 severed in urging his demand, and informed the Nuwab, 
 that if he determined to detain them, he had better give 
 orders for the assembly of his troops, as the army at 
 Cawnpore had received instructions to hold themselves 
 in readiness to enforce the governor's orders. Mokhtiar- 
 ood-dowlah was now convinced that Mr. Bristow would 
 not be driven from his purpose, and he pointed out to 
 
130 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 the Nuwab the folly of involving himself in a war with 
 the English about a few individuals who could do him 
 no harm, go where they would ; and at length the Nuwab 
 consented that an order should be dispatched to Syyud 
 Mouzzuz Khan (brother of Mokhtiar-ood-dowlah), the 
 soobuhdar of Allahabad, to release the whole family, 
 who, in the month of Shaban, in the year 1189 of the 
 Hejiree, arrived at Lucnow. 
 
 \/ After much discussion, the Nuwab agreed to grant 
 an annual pension of one lac of rupees for the support of 
 the families of Hafiz Rehmut Khan and Doondee Khan, 
 in the proportion of sixty-five thousand rupees to the 
 former, and thirty-five thousand rupees to the latter. 
 
 Futteh-oolla and Mohib-oolla, the sons of Doondee 
 Khan, joined the Nuwab Nedjif Khan at Delhi, in the 
 hope that he would provide for them ; but, being dis- 
 appointed, they fixed their residence at Rampore, while 
 the majority of Hafiz Rehmufs sons remained at Luc- 
 now, subsisting on the small allowance procured for 
 them by the British government. 
 
 When Fyzoolla Khan took possession of the territory 
 granted to him by the treaty of Lolldong, he adopted 
 every means in his power for increasing the cultivation, 
 and in a few years so improved the country that the 
 produce was treble, or perhaps quadruple the former 
 amount. Being prudent in his expenditure, his coffers 
 were well filled, and he was enabled to entertain a 
 large proportion of the Afghans of Bareilly, Pillibheet, 
 
HAFIZ HEHMUT KHAN. 131 
 
 Ownlah, &c., all of whom eagerly flocked to his standard. 
 He secured the affections of his subjects and soldiery 
 during a reign of twenty -one years* and some months : 
 and died on the 19th of Zilhaije, in the year 1208 
 Hejiree (18th July, 1794), from a carbuncle on his 
 back. He left eight sons, viz. Mahomed Ullee Khan, 
 Hussun Ullee Khan, Futteh Ullee Khan, Gholam Ma- 
 homed Khan, Nizam Ullee Khan, Yakoob Ullee Khan, 
 Kasim Ullee Khan, and Kureem-oolla Khan. 
 
 Mahomed Ullee Khan being the eldest son ascended 
 the musnud, and he appointed his younger brother, 
 Gholam Mahomed Khan, his deputy, with complete 
 controul over the revenues and command of the troops. 
 Mahomed Ullee Khan was naturally of a haughty, over- 
 bearing disposition, and from the time he ascended the 
 musnud, he frequently permitted himself to make use of 
 opprobrious language to persons of respectability, whose 
 duty obliged them to attend on him. During his father's 
 life, these ebullitions of passion were not unfrequent, but 
 were of less importance : now every man of rank was in 
 daily dread of being disgraced ; and Omur Khan, with 
 Nujjoo Khan and Mahomed Saeed Khan, proposed to 
 Gholam Mahomed that he should depose his brother, and 
 himself assume the government. 
 
 Tempted by the bait of power and wealth, Gholam 
 Mahomed Khan acceded to the plot to murder his elder 
 
 * It is to be recollected that these are Mahomedan years of 354 days, 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 brother, and soon engaged the co-operation of the prin- 
 cipal sirdars, of whom some joined willingly, from dis- 
 gust at the conduct of their ruler, and others were 
 tempted by a promise of large rewards. The plot did 
 not escape the notice of some of the friends of Mahomed 
 Ullee Khan, who mentioned it to him ; but he was so 
 inflated with ideas of his own consequence, that he dis- 
 regarded every caution, and would generally answer in 
 a harsh tone : " Gholamee is my son, how should he dare 
 to plot against me ?" 
 
 On the 16th day of the month of Mohurrum in the 
 year 1209 of the Hejiree (corresponding with the 14th 
 of August A.D. 1794), which was the twenty-eighth day 
 of Mahomed Ullee Khan's reign, Gholam Mahomed 
 with his party proceeded to the fort with the intent to 
 seize and murder his brother, who was sitting in his 
 deewan-khana, slightly attended. 
 
 As Gholam Mahomed approached the gate, a servant, 
 named Nuttoo, in great agitation, announced to Mahomed 
 Ullee Khan the advance of the hostile band, observing 
 that there was yet time to close the gates against them : 
 but Mahomed Ullee Khan was still so infatuated as to 
 refuse credence to the tale ; and, while abusing Nuttoo, 
 Gholam Mahomed entered the room with the party of 
 conspirators, on which all the attendants fled. Gholam 
 Mahomed, with about five hundred men, now advanced to 
 the chebootra, or raised terrace, and called on his brother 
 to descend from the musnud, of which he was unworthy. 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KHAN. 133 
 
 Mahomed Ullee Khan drew his sword, and made two 
 or three cuts at Gholam Mahomed, which were warded 
 off by the shields of his followers. Meanwhile, Ma- 
 homed Ullee received a severe wound on his back from 
 Buhadoor Khan, and a cut on the arm, which com- 
 pelled him to drop his sword ; falling from loss of blood, 
 he was conveyed to the inner apartments by Buhadoor 
 Khan, his maternal uncle, and Gholam Mahomed took 
 advantage of his absence to seat himself on the musnud, 
 and receive the nuzzurs of his adherents : after which 
 he distributed rewards to the conspirators ; to some, 
 cash from the treasury ; to others, horses, elephants, &c. ; 
 and to Nujjoo Khan he gave his sister in marriage. 
 Having settled these important affairs, Gholam Mahomed 
 inquired the fate of his brother, and learning that Buha- 
 door Khan had taken him away, he sent Huzrut Noor 
 Khan and Khizzur Khan with a party of soldiers to 
 keep guard over him. 
 
 On the third day it was determined to remove Ma- 
 homed Ullee Khan to the fort of Doongurpore, in order 
 to separate him from the females of his family, who had 
 gathered around, on hearing that he was wounded, and 
 whose presence rendered the intrusion of men improper. 
 During two days the women would not consent to the 
 removal of Mahomed Ullee Khan, but at length Gho- 
 lam Mahomed bound himself by an oath to Syyud 
 Hiissun Shah (a man of reputed sanctity, highly esteemed 
 by the family of Fyzoolla Khan,) to spare his brother's 
 
LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK. 
 
 life, and desired him to take a similar oath to the 
 women, alleging as an excuse for his removal, the neces- 
 sity of medical aid, and adding, that if persuasion 
 failed, force should be resorted to. Syyud Hussun Shah 
 did as he was desired, and pointed out to the Begums 
 the folly of a resistance which could be of no avail to 
 Mahomed Ullee Khan, and would inevitably cause their 
 disgrace. Under these circumstances the removal took 
 place, Huzrut Noor Khan and Khizzur Khan escort- 
 ing the litter to Doongurpore. For some days surgeons 
 attended, ostensibly for the cure of the Nuwab's wounds, 
 but a letter having been received from the Nuwab Vizier 
 Asoph-ool-dowla, requiring Gholam Mahomed to send 
 his brother to Lucnow without delay, and threatening 
 vengeance if the order were not obeyed, the conspirators 
 decided on putting Mahomed Ullee Khan to death ; and 
 accordingly Ahmed Khan shot him while he slept. An 
 inquest was then prepared, which all the principal per- 
 sons were compelled to sign, purporting that Mahomed 
 Ullee Khan, in a fit of delirium, had destroyed him- 
 self; and this document was enclosed to the Nuwab 
 Vizier. 
 
 On hearing of this wanton murder, the Nuwab Asoph- 
 ool-dowla with his forces, attended by Mr. Cherry, the 
 resident, marched from Lucnow, and at the same time 
 the British troops, consisting of eight battalions and 
 five-hundred horse, under General Abercrombie, ad- 
 vanced from Futtehgurh, proceeding by forced marches 
 
HAFIZ REHMUT KflAN. 135 
 
 to the bridge over the Sunka river, which is about four 
 koss north of Bareilly, where it was intended to await 
 the junction of the Lucnow troops. 
 
 Gholam Mahomed Khan, finding that no hope re- 
 mained of obtaining his pardon, opened the treasury, 
 distributed freely to his followers, engaged every person 
 who offered to enlist in his service, and in a little time 
 collected around him a rabble of 25,000 men, with whom 
 he proposed to march to Bareilly, and make the NuwaVs 
 country the seat of war. In two marches he reached 
 Milik, and on the third day arrived at Meergunje. On 
 the fourth morning, the writer of this narrative was 
 sitting with General Abercrombie, when a hurkarru 
 brought intelligence of the enemy's horse being only 
 three koss distant, on the opposite bank of the Dojoora 
 river. On the 2d of Rubbee-oos-sanee, in the year 
 1209 of the Hejiree, (corresponding with the 28th 
 of October A.D. 1794) Gholam Mahomed crossed the 
 river, and took up a position, with the village of 
 Bithowra in his rear. Four battalions and five hun- 
 dred horse, under the command of Colonel Burrington, 
 who were posted on the north side of the bridge, were 
 attacked by the enemy ; the Afghan horse, under Nujjoo 
 Khan, Omur Khan, and Bulund Khan, directing their 
 force on the left wing. Colonel Burrington ordered the 
 cavalry to advance in front of the infantry, to skirmish 
 with the enemy, and then retreating on the battalions, to 
 draw the Afghans within range of the guns. This was 
 
136 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK. 
 
 accordingly done; but five or six thousand of the enemy's 
 horse charged so rapidly that they overtook the British 
 cavalry, who, thus rudely attacked by such an overwhelm- 
 ing force, fled in reality ; but neglecting to file off to the 
 right and left, no opening was left for the play of the guns. 
 As soon as the Afghan horse were within musket shot, a 
 destructive fire was opened on them, and many who had 
 penetrated the infantry ranks were bayonetted. About 
 three thousand of the Afghan infantry had followed the 
 horse, and the action thus became general. Colonel 
 Burrington, Colonel Bolton, and another Colonel, witli 
 several officers of inferior note, were among the slain. 
 Gholam Mahomed Khan mounted on an elephant, and 
 surrounded by about five thousand foot, looked on from 
 an eminence (where now stands the tomb of the officers 
 who fell in the action), and perceiving that a few hun- 
 dred of his men still kept the field, beat his drum for a 
 victory, but was soon undeceived regarding the result of 
 the action ; for the cavalry under Diller Khan were 
 mowed down by the artillery of General Abercrombie. 
 Nujjoo Khan, Bulund Khan, Nuseem Khan, and several 
 other Russaladars were killed ; and Omur Khan being 
 wounded, the rest quitted the field. Gholam Mahomed, 
 without making one attempt to save the day, by leading 
 on the troops under his own immediate command, dis- 
 mounted from his elephant, selected the fleetest of his 
 horses, and rode to Rampore. General Abercrombie 
 pursued the fugitives to the Dojoora river, encamped his 
 
HAFIZ IlEHMUT KHAN. 137 
 
 army, and halted a day, to afford leisure for the inter- 
 ment of the dead. 
 
 The soldiers of Simboonath, the Nazim of Bareilly, 
 cut off the heads of Nujjoo Khan, Bulund Khan, and 
 Nuseem Khan, and carried them to their master, who 
 dispatched them to the Nuwab Vizier, then in camp 
 at Tissooa. On the following day Mr. Cherry joined 
 General Abercrombie, and the Nuwab arrived at Ba- 
 reilly, whence his Excellency's army proceeded to Meer- 
 gunje, and joined the British troops. 
 
 It was ascertained that Gholam Mahomed Khan, with 
 his family, had fled to Futtachore, leaving in Rampore 
 Ahmed Ullee Khan, the infant son of Mahomed Ullee 
 Khan ; sentinels were therefore placed to guard the 
 town. Support and protection was promised to the 
 youthful heir and the Begums of the deceased Nawab, 
 and the army then pursued Gholam Mahomed. 
 
 The combined forces marched to Tanda, Thakoor- 
 dwara, Rehur, Putta, and encamped within a koss of 
 Futtachore. Gholam Mahomed Khan had sent his 
 vakeels to Rampore, to solicit his pardon ; and at this 
 encampment Syd Khan and Laljeemul again waited on 
 Mr. Cherry, who said, that if their master expected any 
 favour, he must attend in person, and throw himself on 
 the mercy of General Abercrombie and the Vizier; but 
 that he never would be allowed to rule at Rampore. On 
 receiving this answer, his principal advisers, Omur Khan, 
 Sunnoo Khan (brother of Nujjoo Khan), Diller Khan, 
 
138 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 Mahomed Saeed Khan, Mahomed Hussun Khan, and 
 others, recommended his adopting this measure; but 
 the soldiers were bent on war, and urged that at 
 the foot of the hills, in the midst of a forest, the 
 discipline of the British troops would be of no avail ; 
 that they, as well from their numbers as from their 
 knowledge of the paths in the forest, would have a great 
 advantage over their opponents ; that, if they were suc- 
 cessful, an advantageous treaty might be concluded; 
 and if otherwise, Gholam Mahomed could but surrender 
 at the last. He, however, had seen enough of the cow- 
 ardice of his men not to place any reliance on them, and 
 therefore wrote to Mr. Cherry that he would wait on 
 him on the following day ; which he accordingly did, 
 attended only by Omur Khan, Sunnoo Khan, Saeed 
 Khan, and about fifty followers. 
 
 General Abercrombie allotted a tent for his accom- 
 modation, and appointed a battalion to guard him. He 
 was required by Mr. Cherry to send for the treasure of 
 the deceased Nuwab : to which he objected, that the sol- 
 diers would not resign it unless he went in person ; but 
 was told to send his sirdars. These officers accordingly 
 proceeded to Futtachore, and made known their demand 
 to Nusur-oolla Khan, to whose charge the treasure was 
 entrusted ; but he refused to give it up unless a stipula- 
 tion were made for the payment of the troops ; and 
 when, after three days 1 negociation, his consent was ob- 
 tained, the men interfered, and prevented its removal. 
 
HAFI7 HEHMUT KHAN. 139 
 
 Nusur-oolla Khan privately suggested to Mr. Cherry, 
 the expediency of removing Gholam Mahomed Khan, 
 and sending for Ahmed Ullee Khan from Rampore, 
 urging that so long as Gholam Mahomed remained at 
 hand, the troops would adhere to his interest ; accord- 
 ingly, on the ninth day from his arrival at Futtachore, 
 Gholam Mahomed was dispatched towards Benares 
 under charge of a battalion and three hundred cavalry : 
 and Ahmed Ullee Khan arrived in camp. The troops 
 still persisted in their refusal to relinquish the treasure, 
 and after fifteen days, it was agreed that their arrears 
 should be paid. On the twenty-ninth day after their 
 arrival at Putta, peace was concluded, and General 
 Abercrombrie with the Nuwab Vizier returned via Ram- 
 pore to Bareilly, where the final arrangement was made. 
 One half of the territory held by the late Fyzoolla 
 Khan was taken by the Nuwab, and the remainder was 
 confirmed to Ahmed Ullee Khan ; but as he was then 
 only seven years of age, his maternal uncle Nusur-oolla 
 Khan was appointed regent for a term of twelve years, 
 with a salary of forty thousand rupees per annum. To 
 the three elder sons of Fyzoolla Khan, visa. Hussun 
 Ullee Khan, Futteh Ullee Khan, and Nizam Ullee 
 Khan, was allotted each an annual stipend of twenty- 
 four thousand rupees ; to each of the three younger 
 sons twenty thousand, and to Gholam Mahomed Khan 
 eighteen thousand. 
 
 On Gholam Mahomed's arrival at Benares, all his pro- 
 
140 LIFE OF HAFIZ OOL-MOOLK 
 
 perty was restored to him, and a house was assigned for 
 his residence. In a few months, Mr. Cherry was re- 
 moved from Lucnow to Benares, when Gholam Ma- 
 homed requested permission to make a pilgrimage to 
 Mecca, and was allowed to do so : he accordingly hired 
 a vessel in Calcutta, visited Mecca and Medina, re- 
 turned to Bombay, and marched to Jyepore, where he 
 was kindly received by the Rajah, who made him an 
 offer of the Shekhowatee country, yielding three lacs of 
 rupees per annum. To take possession of this country, 
 Gholam Mahomed summoned five hundred Afghans 
 from Rampore, but the Rajah broke his promise, and 
 Gholam Mahomed in distress went to Nagore, Bikaneer, 
 Bawulpore, Mooltan, and Peshawur, at which latter 
 place above one hundred of his followers died from the 
 intense cold. From thence he proceeded by the route of 
 Khybur and Jelolabad to Cabool, and being admitted to 
 an interview with the king solicited his aid. His Majesty 
 answered that he had already employment enough with 
 his own subjects, but a royal firman was addressed to the 
 Nuwab Vizier and to the British government, directing 
 that he should be restored to the musnud : with this 
 document he returned to Hindoostan, but on reaching 
 Nadoun, he heard of the death of Asoph-ool-dowla, and 
 despairing of success fixed his abode there, where he 
 still continues to receive his annual stipend of eighteen 
 thousand rupees. 
 
 Nusur-oolla Khan continued regent till his death in 
 
HAF1Z 11EHMUT KHAN. 141 
 
 the month of Shuwal 1225 Hejiree (corresponding with 
 October 1810), a period of sixteen years ; for Ahmed 
 U llee Khan was so dissipated a character, that he could 
 not be prevailed on to attend to business. Hukeem 
 Gholam Hoossein succeeded Nusur-oolla Khan, but in a 
 few months he resisgned in disgust, and Ahmed Ullee 
 Khan then assumed the reins of government. 
 
N O T E S. 
 
 Note (a), page 5. 
 
 IT is extraordinary that the Afghans, who in common with all Ma- 
 homedans, despise the Jews, should yet trace their descent from that 
 people. The person named Kys Abdool-rasheed is supposed to have 
 been the first Afghan convert to Mahomedanism ; and the following is 
 his pedigree, as given by the author of the Kholasut-ool-insab. 
 
 Kys, Abd-ool-rasheed bin Eesa, bin Salool, bin Otba, bin Naeem, bin 
 Morra, bin Kulundur, bin Sikundur, bin Rehman, bin Ain, bin Muhtool, 
 bin Salem, bin Selah, bin Farood, bin Jehan, bin Phalool, bin Ikram, 
 bin Amal, bin Hadeefa, bin Minhal, bin Kys, bin Alim, bin Samuel, bin 
 Haroon, bin Kumrood, bin Abi, bin Zaleeb, bin Tullal, bin Levi, bin 
 Aumil, bin Tarej, bin Arzooud, bin Mundul, bin Suleem, bin Afghana, 
 bin Armeea, bin Sarool (commonly called Mullik Taloot), bin Kys, bin 
 Otba, bin Eesa, bin Ruel, bin Yihooda, bin Yakoob Israeel, bin Ishak r 
 bin Ibraheem, bin Terukh, bin Nahor, bin Sarukh, bin Mulik, bin Me- 
 thuselah, bin Idris, bin Yezd, bin Mahaleel, bin Ainush, bin Shesh, bin? 
 Adam. 
 
 Note (6), page 40. 
 
 The Mahomedan law does not sanction slavery, except the per- 
 sons be Hubeshee (natives of Abyssinia, Hubesh), or infidels taken in 
 battle ; but almost every person of fortune has one or more Chelas, who 
 though employed as servants, are considered as adopted children ; they 
 are generally treated with great kindness, and not unfrequently share the 
 property of their patrons. 
 
 The grand difference between a Chela and a Gholam (slave), consists 
 in the entire liberty of the former to quit his patron; though to do so, 
 is considered disgraceful, and the instances are rare even an African, 
 on embracing the faith of Islam, can no longer be held in slavery. 
 
 The foregoing remarks apply only to Mahomedan law ; by the British 
 code in force in India, the importation of slaves from any quarter is 
 illegal, though domestic slavery (if such a term can be applied to the 
 persons employed in the zenanas, and tQ whose charge the whole wealth 
 of the family is entrusted) still exists. 
 
 Note (c), page 47. 
 
 It does not appear from the history, that Javeid Khan could have 
 done more lor Sufdur Jung than supply him with guns and ammunition : 
 
NOTES. 14(3 
 
 as the king's known attachment to the family of Mahomed Khan Bun- 
 gish, is a sufficient reason for the refusal of the royal troops ; and I am 
 inclined to think with Colonel Dow, that jealousy of the Eunuch's influ- 
 ence at court induced Sufdur Jung to commit the murder. 
 
 Note (d), page 4*9. 
 
 The author would give us to understand that Nujeeb Khan's bravery 
 obliged Sufdur Jung to retire to Oude, but the fact is, that the new 
 Vizier Imadool-moolk attacked Sufdur Jung in the month of Rejjib 1166 
 Hejiree. The armies were opposed to each other for six months without 
 any decisive blow being struck ; and the King, to rid himself of Sufdur 
 Jung, granted him a new sunnud for the provinces of Oude and Allaha- 
 bad, on receipt of which he left Delhi in the month of Mohurrum, 1 167 
 Hejiree. 
 
 Note (d), page 81. 
 
 I have translated the whole of this story, exactly as related by the 
 historian, though we know that Sooraj-ood-dowla had escaped from 
 Moorshedabad before Jaffier Ullee Khan was placed on the musnud, that 
 he was taken prisoner at Rajemahl, and was subsequently put to deatli at 
 Moorshedabad by order of Meerun. 
 
 Note (e), page 82. 
 This probably alludes to the attack made on the 3d of May 1764. 
 
 Note (/), page 82. 
 
 Shooja-ood-dowla, before he left Patna, proposed terms ; and the En- 
 glish demanded the surrender of a German named Reinhard, (but more 
 commonly called from his gloomy countenance " Sombre,") and about two 
 hundred European deserters ; but the Vizier's sole object was to gain 
 time to recruit his army, and to tamper with Jaffier Ullee Khan, whom 
 he hoped by means of Nundcomar to bring over to his cause. 
 
 Note (,) page 85. 
 
 This battle was fought on the 23d of October 1764-. The English 
 army consisted of 857 Europeans, and 6,21 5 sepoys ; of whom 101 Euro- 
 peans and 773 sepoys were killed or wounded. 133 pieces of cannon 
 
 were captured. 
 
 Note (A), page 85. 
 
 Col. Munro led the English army to Benares, when he resigned, 
 and was succeeded by Major Fletcher, who sent one division of the 
 army under Major Hibbert to invest the fort of Chunar, after taking 
 which he entered Oude, while Major Fletcher with another division 
 subdued the Allahabad district. 
 
 Note (t), page 86. 
 
 This battle was fought by General Carnac in May 1765, and a 
 second action took place at Akberpore in the latter end of the same year, 
 when the Mahrattas entirely quitted the province of Allahabad. 
 
144 NOTES. 
 
 
 Note (A), page 87. 
 
 By this treaty, which under instructions from Lord Clive, was 
 signed at Allahabad in August 1765 by General Carnac, the Niiwab 
 ceded Chunar to the English, Corah and Allahabad to the King, and 
 confirmed Rajah Bulwunt Sing in the Zemindarree of Benares. 
 Note O'), page 95. 
 
 .This was in 1771, and by a treaty concluded at Benares 7th Sep- 
 tember 1773, the pergunnahs of Corah, Currah, and Allahabad, which 
 by the treaty of 16th August 1765 had been given to Shah Alum, were 
 restored to the Vizier on his paying 50 lacs of rupees to the British 
 government. 
 
 Note(Z), page 11 6, line 25. 
 
 It is well known that Colonel George, who commanded the artil- 
 lery, observing a person particularly conspicuous in the action, levelled 
 a 6-pounder at him, and shot him through the body : it was afterwards 
 discovered to have been Hafiz. 
 
 The historian relates that Hafiz was visited by an unknown Derveish, 
 who told him that he might choose whether he would be victorious over 
 his enemies, or be defeated, and become a saint and that he chose the 
 latter, saying that the world had no charms for him. He adds, that this 
 circumstance occurring at such a time, made him careless in his prepa- 
 rations to meet the enemy, and induced him to reject the propositions 
 of the Surdars for entrenching his camp at Kuttra- 
 Note (n), page 128. 
 
 In 1773, the province of Benares had been confirmed to Cheyt 
 Sing, the son and successor of Bulwunt Sing, but Shooja-ood-dowla was 
 so much offended at the interference of the British Government in behalf 
 of his vassal, that had he not required their aid against Hafiz Rehmut, 
 he would not have consented to such a measure. 
 
 ERRATA. 
 
 In page 88, note, for " two miles and a half," read <( seven miles and 
 a half." 
 
 In page 40, line 18, for " Child," read " Chela." 
 
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