1896. ] W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803). 143 
2. ‘AziMU-SH-SHAN STANDS ON THE DEFENSIVE. 
We will now return to ‘Azimu-sh-shan’s camp. On the preceding 
night, when Aminu-d-din, Sambhali, brought word that the emperor had 
passed away, ‘Azimu-sh-shan first shed a few tears of sorrow at his father’s 
death, then the drums were beaten in honour of a new sovereign’s ac- 
cession, aud all the persons in attendance presented their congratula- 
tions and offerings. The prince’s advisers at once said to him that as 
Zua-l-fiqar Khan was an open enemy, not a moment should be lost in mak- 
ing hima prisoner. Since he was at that time alone between the 
imperial audience tent and the outer enclosure, they could easily cap- 
ture him. Ni‘mat-ullah Khan and ‘Aqidat Khan, in particular, insist- 
ed upon this order being given. From the first the prince made objec- 
tions, for he feared that the imperial family would at once be plundered. 
After all, what could Zu-l-figar Khan do? Reliance must be placed on 
God’s help alone. The leading men then ceased to urge the matter 
further, but said to each other, ‘'’he Lord help and preserve us! the 
first words of invocation have been said wrong.’ ! On leaving the private 
audience-hall, Ni‘mat-ullah Khan, disregarding the prince’s order, 
rushed off with a strong force, but before he could reach the spot, 
Zu-|-fiqar Khan had left and gone to his own quarters, where he renewed 
his oaths to Jahaudar Shah and by misleading promises persuaded the 
two younger princes to make common cause with their eldest brother. ? 
The next three days were passed by Zu-l-fiqar Khanin negociating 
with the princes, rallying troops to their standard, and bringing artillery 
from the fort at Lahor. The former agreement between the princes 
was renewed. Zi-l-fiqar Khan visited Rafi‘u-sh-shan and Jahan Shah, 
and urged them both to carry out their enthronement and assume 
regal honours and titles. When Zu-l-fiqar Khan paid his visit to prince 
Rafi‘u-sh-shan, he used the most flattering words and placed his head 
on the prince’s feet. The prince said to him, ‘ You place your head 
on my feet, lay rather your hand on my head, for have I not become an 
orphan ?’ and taking the hand of Za-l-fiqar Khan, pressed it. Zu-l-fiqar 
Khan made some appropriate reply and then left for his own camp.* 
a ditch round the other three sides. Faqir Sayyad Jamalu-d-din, in a letter of the 
12th January 1893 (with which I was favoured by my old friend, Mr. A. H. Benton 
of the Civil Service) says that there is now no Budanah viilage there, and suggesis 
instead Uwan, some miles N. E. of the Shalimar garden. 
1 Bism-illah-i-avval ghalat shud, [That is to say, the very first step taken is a 
wrong one. Kd. | 
2 Dasturu-l-insha, 16. 
3 Kamwar Khan, 107; Nuru-d-din, 26. ‘There isa long letter, which I reject as 
apocryphal, in a work professing to be the Inshde of Har Karan, son of MathuraDas, 
