
i 

Vol. IV, No. 10.] The Later Mughals. 567 
[N.8.] 
si « fasnily and bre Yea rity in him I have Sorthe 
se hese sara “e 7 siity, if it please the Most ey God, i in 
ttending on his stirrap, we honoured 
“ matter will be laid before you. Tosay more would = to trans- 
“gress the rules of politeness.” In these more or less ironical 
terms the gauntlet was thrown down by ‘Abdullah Khan before 
Muhammad Shah and his supporters.! 
Section 18.—Prince MowamMap [praHim RAISED TO THE THRONE. 
‘Abdullah Khan’s letter to his brother, Najm-ud-din ‘Ali 
Khan, instructing him to begin enlistments, reached Dihli late on 
the 8th Zi,l Hijjah 1132 H. (October 10th, 1720). Before the 
bad news could spread, he gave out a report the very contrary of 
the truth, and sent the head of the police with cavalry and in- 
fantry to the house of Muhammad Amin Khan. By midnight 
the house had been surrounded. But Muhammad Amin Khan’s 
had made ready for resistance, rejoicing and singing all the while, 
and tomate to everybody what had really happened. 
e news spread like wildfire through every street and lane 
of the citys. * § oon, either a note came from ‘Abdullah Khan 
forbidding interference with the women and family of Muham- 
min Khan, or else Najm-ud-din ‘Ali Khan changed his 
mind. At any rate, the troops ae the house were with- 
drawn. During the night the death occurred of Kesi Rae, 
husband of Ratn Cand’s sister. r, and himself chief official of the 
Dihli sébahdar; and although he had been then on_ his death- ee 
for several days, it was given ont that he had poisoned himself 
On the day of the ‘Id (16th Zu,l Hijjah, October 12th, 1720), 
Najm-ud-din ‘Ali Khan attended the great Pe a , his eyes 
of tears, and as he ee returning, home ‘Abdullah ‘Khan’ 8 a 
Raeted 
Forthwith he fen to the prison-house of the princes sail 
sent men to the dwelling of Jahandar Shah’s sons. At first the 
princes shut their as» in the faces of the mPBSeNgers, but after 
ae? altercatio ion was On learning their 
was brought out of prison and placed upon the throne, the 
khutbah he recited with ‘the titles Abi,l Fath, Zahir-ud-din, 
Mubammad Ibrahim, Ss coin was issued in his name. the 
latter the fs inscription was : 
} Shit Das, 564, 2 Khafi Khan, IT, 913. 3 Khafi Khan, II, 914. 



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