1896. ] W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803). 141 
Khan was despatched to the left, to the river bank, at the head of 
prince Ibrahim’s troops, while Fath-ullah Khan, Mughal, went out to 
the distance of a quarter of a késas an advanced guard. The rest 
of the troops were drawn up to form a centre and two wings, and thus 
the night was spent in anxious expectation of the next news.! 
In the morning Rafi‘u-sh-shan learnt that his father had passed 
away at the first watch of the night, and that the imperial camp had 
fallen into the possession of ‘Azimu-sh-shan. A tumult had at once 
arisen, and without delay, dark though it was, the chief nobles had 
deserted their posts round the emperor’s quarters, and had hastened 
to join one or other of the princes. A few men only, such as Islam 
Khan, the mir-diash, Hamidu-d-din Khan, Darbar Khan and Khawas 
Khan, remained at their posts and prevented the plunder of the women’s 
apartments. Many men of lower station and all the traders, who had 
their families in camp, started for the city, leading their women and 
children by the hand. Most of their property was at once plundered 
by the loose characters hanging about the army, who collected at the 
Shalihmar garden, between the camp and the city, while the streets 
and lanes of Lahdr were crowded with people who could find no house 
in which to obtain shelter. The camps of the four princes were in an 
uproar. The great nobles looked forward to inevitable death before 
the sun had set, while the soldiers clamoured for their arrears. Every 
sort of oppression was inflicted upon the paymasters; and whatever 
could be laid hands upon was carried off. Son could not help father, 
nor father, son; every one was wrapped up in thoughts for his own 
safety. Among others ‘Inayat-ullah Khan, KAdnsaman or Lord Steward, 
fled to Lahdr, and as soon as he had reached the city, made a pretext 
of being ill of a cold and thus avoided presenting himself at any of the 
four darbars,? 
At early dawn spies brought in word that prince Muhammad Karim, 
son of ‘Azimu-sh-shan, had started for the encampment of Mahabat Khan 
and Khan Zaman, sons of the late Mun‘im Khan, Bahadur Shah’s wazir. 
The real objects of this movement had not been discovered by theother side. 
Naturally, it was supposed that ‘Azimu-sh-shan, having more treasure, 
men, elephants and cannon then the other three princes put together, 
and all the great nobles, with the exception of Zi-l-fiqar Khan, having 
joined him, had taken the field at once, without allowing his opponents 
time to collect more troops. Zu-l-fiqar Khan, as soon as he heard of this 
movement on ‘Azimu-sh-shan’s part, revived the courage of his troops, 
who wished to retreat, by quoting the proverb, ‘Never take off 
1 Kamwar Khan, 104, 105. 
@ Kamwar Khan, 105; Mhd, Qasim, Lahori, 48; Yahya Khan, fol. 117 a. 
