Vol. I, No. 4.] Numismatic Supplement. 129 
iM. S.J 
37. Note on Kam Bakhsh and Bahadur Shah. 
T notice on p. 241 of the Journal, Vol. LX XII, Part I, for 1904, 
a statement by Mr. H. N. Wright that “Kam Bakhsh was made 
Governor of the Stbahs of Bijapur and Haidarabad by his 
brother, Shah ‘Alam Bahadur” [shouid be 8.‘A., Bahadur SAa/]. 
IT do not think that such an error,! coming from a leading numis- 
matist, should be allowed to pass without a protest. The mere 
fact that Kam Bakhsh issued coin in his own name suffices to 
show that he claimed sovereignty. 
Kam Bakhsh never held his authority from Bahadur Shah; he 
was either an independent sovereign, as his father mtended, or a 
rival who had usurped part of Bahadur Shah’s kingdom. By his 
alleged will ‘Alamgir attempted to make a partition of the 
country between his three surviving sons; and it was in pursuance 
of this design, no doubt, that on the 14th Zu,l Qa‘dah 1118 H. 
(17th February, 1707 N.S.), he nominated Kam Bakhsh to be 
Governor of Bijapur and Haidarabad. Kam Bakhsh started from 
the court at Ahmadnagar at once to take up his appointment. 
‘Alamgir died on the 2nd March, 1707 (N.S.) 
The exact words used in the will, as translated by James Frazer 
“Nadir Shah,” p. 36, are: “Whoever of my fortunate children 
“shall chance to rule the empire, let him not molest Mahommed 
“Kam Bakhsh, should he rest content with the Two New Subahs.” 
The text from which James Frazer translated was, apparently, 
that now in the Bodleian Library, see Sachau and Hthe’s ‘“ Cata- 
logue of Persian MSS.” No. 1923 (Frazer MSS. No. 118) fol. 18a. 
After doubting for a long time, I have at last come to look on 
this will as authentic. Khafi Khan, II, 549, says it was made 
over to Hamid-ud-din Khan, a confidential servant in the Emperor’s 
entourage; Kamwar Khan states that ‘Alamgir kept it, after 
signature, under his pillow. Immediately after ‘Alamgir’s 
death, its provisions were appealed to by Bahadur Shah when 
writing early in June, 1707 to his brother A‘zam Shah, then 
advancing on Agrah to contest the succession; and a copy had 
reached Strat as early as the 18th October, 1707, as may be seen 
from F. Valentyn, Oude en Nieun ost Indie,” LV, 274. The pro- 
babilities are in favour of the document having been executed ; 
| The statement quoted above was based on the following extract from 
the Muntakhabu-i-lubab (Text Vol. II. p. 605) as translated by Professor 
Dowson (Elliot’s History of India, Vol. VII, p. 405). 
“A kind and admonitory letter was addressed by the Nmperor (Shah 
"’Jam I) to his brother Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh to the following 
effect: ‘Our father entrusted you with the government of the Saba of 
Bijapur; we now relinquish to you the government of the two sibas of 
Bijapir and Haidarabad, with all their subjects and belongings, upon the 
condition, according to the old rule of the Dakhin, that the coins shall be 
struck and the khufba read in our name, The tribute which has hitherto 
been paid by the Governors of these two provinces we remit.’ 
H, N. Wrieur, 
