154 W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803). [No. 2, 
two swords cannot be got into one scabbard, there cannot be two kings 
in one kingdom.! Each day witnessed the invention of new excuses. ? 
His hope was that the two princes haying no money, their armies, 
largely composed of mere mercenaries, would during this prolonged 
delay disperse of themselves. One day he paid a visit to prince Rafi‘i-sh 
shan and made to him the usual evasive promises. Another day he visited 
Jahan Shah. Rustam Dil Khan, who had been released from prison 
shortly before Bahadur Shah’s death, had from the first taken the side of 
Jahan Shah. He and Mukhlis Khan, Harisi, now said to the prince 
that this man (Zi-|-fiqgar Khan) was the root of all the troubles, if he 
were disposed of, the rest would be easy. Jahan Shah refused his 
consent, repeating the line, ‘When God the Beneficent is our friend, 
what can our enemy do?’ Moreover, Zu-l-fiqgar Khan’s obsequious 
manners in his presence led him to believe that the man was at heart 
his friend. One of Jahan Shah’s chief men gave Zi-l-fiqar Khana 
hint and he hastened his departure, asking as a pretext that an officer 
might be sent with him to take over the prince’s share of the treasure 
and military stores. The prince, only too delighted at the prospect, 
gave him his dismissal at once. As he left he said to the two nobles 
above-named, ‘ You have done your best for your master, but if he does 
not accept, it is because fate so decrees and not through your fault.’ 
When he reached his quarters, he gave a flat denial to the officer who hadac- 
companied him, and sent off both money and matériel to Jahandar Shah. * 
During this interval Rafi‘u-sh-shan, through his conduct to Hakimu- 
-l-Mulk, had cooled the zeal of any nobles who might have assisted 
him. Hakimu-l-Mulk had received from hima promise of being his 
chief minister, and was deep in his confidence. But by chance there fell 
into the prince’s hands letters from the Hakim to Zi-l-fiqar Khan, giving 
full details of all the prince’s intentions and plans. These letters had, it 
seems, been passing daily. Hakimu-l-Mulk was sent for and so severely 
treated that he was carried away to his quarters half dead. ® 
5. DeratH or JAHAN SHAH. 
At last no doubt remained of Zu-l-fiqar Khan’s intentions, and 
further delay was obviously useless. The princes ordered the enlist- 
1 Do shamshér dar yak ghilaf 6 do Padshah dar yak mulk budan muhal ast, 
Yahya Khan, 117 6. 
2 The Dutchmen, who take Jahandar Shah’s side throughout, put the blame 
on prince Jahan Shah’s greediness, in claiming one-half instead of one-third of the 
confiscated, property — Valentyn, IV, 293. 
3 Dushman cah kunad, ct Mihrban bashad dést. 
4 Kamwar Khan, 110; Khishhal Cand, 385 a-386 a; Yahya Khan, 117 0, 
§ Yahya Khan, fol. 118 a. ; 
