1896. ] W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803. ) 203 
killed by plunderers. The camp followers of Jahandar Shah’s army, 
who had taken to flight, were trodden under foot by the retreating 
elephants, of which there were over two hundred present.! When this 
rout was reported to Zu-l-figar Khan, he made no attempt to retreat, but 
stood where he was for at least three hours after night had fallen. 
Although on Farrukhsiyar’s side they were beating their drums in 
token of victory, no one, not even ‘Abdu-llah Khan, ventured to move 
against Zu-l-fiqgar Khan. Meanwhile the latter had sent messengers, 
to whom he had promised large rewards, to search for Jahandar Shah 
and A‘zzu-d-din, and bring one or the other back to the battle-field. 
If one of them could be found, he intended to make one final charge in 
the hope of retieving the day. In spite of all efforts, no trace of either 
father or son could be found. Uneasy at seeing Zi-l-fiqar Khan still 
holding the field at the head of his troops, Farrukhsiyar sent him a 
message asking the reason. If he claimed the crown for himself, his 
persistence was understood. If on the other hand, he were only a sub- 
ject, then one heir of the house of Taimur was as much entitled to his 
allegiance as another. When A‘zam Shah was defeated, he had sub- - 
mitted himself to Bahadur Shah; he was bound to adopt the same 
course now, On this appeal, Zi-l-fiqar Khan withdrew slowly and in 
good order towards Agrah. To all his enquiries for Jahandar Shah 
the answer was that he must have gone to the city of Agrah. Zi-l-fiqar 
Khan pushed on as fast as possible towards the city, in the hope of 
finding the Emperor and returning with him to renew the contest. He 
drew up at Shahganj near the city, where he remained until midnight, 
then finding no trace of Jahandar Shah or his son, he marched off 
accompanied by ‘Abdu-s- gamad Khan, Raji Muhammad Khan, Shakir 
Khan and other leaders with their troops. His first march made at night 
carried him to near Kakrol, he then changed his direction and made 
for Dihli.* 
Some of Ziu-l-fiqar Khan’s officers, notably ‘Abdu-s-samad Khan, 
Ahrari, had advised him to attempt the seizure of Farrukhsiyar’s person, 
an easy enterprize, and if inthe morning it were found that Jahandar 
Shah and his son were slain, Farrukhsiyar’s gratitude could be assured by 
placing him on the throne. Zu-l-fiqar Khan declined to entertain this 
project. Others advised an immediate retreat on the Dakhin, where 
the Nawab’s deputy, Daid Khan, possessed sufficient troops and 
treasure to renew the struggle. This proposal seemed likely to be 
accepted. But Sabha Cand interposed with the remark, ‘ Think of 
1 Narn-d-din; 113; Khafi Khan, II, 703, 724; Kamwar Khan, 126. 
@ Khafi Khan, II, 724; Yahya Khan, 121 a; Iradat Khan in J. Scott, II, pt. IV 
94; B.M. No 1690, fol, 161 6. and Ahwalu-l-khawaqin, 57 6. 
