146 
W. Irvine — The Later Mugjidls (1707-1803). 
[No. 2, 
man selected as their envoy was one Muhammad Ja‘far, who had long 
been steward to Farrukhsiyar and had lately been raised to the title of 
Taqarrub Khan. As he was a native of Iran, it was thought that he 
would be more trusted than any one else by Asad KMn and Zu-l-fiqar 
Khan, who were also from that country. Taqarrub Khan swore the 
most solemn oaths on the qnran that no harm should happen to Asad 
Khan or his son. He hinted to them that it was dangerous to accept 
an introduction through the Sayyid brothers, as in secret Farrukhsiyar 
was already displeased with them, and was not likely to turn a gracious 
ear to any representation from them. Persuaded by these arguments, 
Asad Khan proposed that he and Zu-l-fiqar Khan should set out to¬ 
gether. His son preferred that, in the first instance, Asad Khan should 
go alone, that they might see what sort of fate was in store for them. 
Asad Khan would not listen to any such proposal. He was convinced 
that, as their services could not be dispensed with, no harm could come 
to them. Finally on the 15th Muharram the two nobles accompanied 
Taqarrub Khan to the camp at Khizrabad and passed the night in their 
own tents, it beiug arranged that they should be received in the morn¬ 
ing. Their too ready acquiescence bears out the truth of the proverb, 
“ When Heath arrives, the physician becomes a simpleton.” 1 
We are told by Warid, I know not with what amount of truth, 
that after Zu-l-fiqar Khan’s death the hand which Taqarrub Khan had 
employed in taking the false oath on the quran began at once to wither. 
He could not move it, and it grew continually worse. He lived on asses’ 
milk, he tried every remedy, nothing was of the least use. Thus the 
hand remained a witness to his false oath until three years afterwards 
his end came. 2 
On the 16th Muharram the presentation of Asad Khan and his 
son took place. Zu-l-fiqar Khan, as he entered the imperial enclosure, 
felt a presentiment of his impending doom. He said to his father that 
he would withdraw and greet the Emperor the next day, when on his 
march into the city. Asad Khan lost his temper and gave a sharp 
answer. Zu-l-fiqar Khan was silenced, and they entered the enclosure 
account could they be allowed to live. Thereupon Farrukhsiyar decided that Asad 
Khan was innocent; but they were at liberty to kill the other two. 
1 Yahya Khan, 121b, cun qazd dyad, tabib ablah shawad. Mirza Muhammad, 
159, Kamwar Khan, 129, Warid, 113, Khafi Khan, II, 732, 733. 
2 T. Kh. died on the -9th Kabi‘ II, 1128, 1st April, 1716, Tdrikh-i-Mhdz. Mirza 
Mhd., 261, says he died of diqq (hectic fever, consumption, atrophy), of which he 
had been seriously ill for one year. He left sons, one of whom, Tahir Khan, 
was on the 7th Jumadi II, 1128 H. created Taqarrub Khan, see Kamwar Khan, 163, 
161. 
