1898.] 
149 
W. Irvine — The Later Mughals (1707-1803). 
“ him ? Are you not aware that he was our "brother, and that his 
“ blood cannot go unavenged ?” 1 
Zu-l-fiqar Khan, by this time, knew that his death was resolved 
on, and that any further display of meekness would avail him nothing. 
He changed his tone and returning taunt for taunt, cursed Farrukhsiyar 
and said, “ If you want to kill me, kill me in any way you like, what 
is the use of all this talk.” Upon this Lacin Beg and several Qalmaq 
slaves 2 3 fell upon him, threw him to the ground, twisted the strap from a 
shield round his throat and strangled him. The others stamped upon 
his chest till the breath left him. But to make quite sure a dagger 
was plunged into his body several times. Ropes were tied to his feet 
and he was dragged to the outside of the railing in front of the public 
Audience Hall. There the body was left exposed. Officials were 
deputed to confiscate the houses and property of both father and son. 
Zu-l-fiqar Khan’s retinue, which was drawn up outside the artillery 
park at the entrance of the camp, dispersed on hearing what had hap¬ 
pened, and the men sought safety wherever they could find it. All this 
took place at the time of afternoon prayer. s 
The official statement of the case against Zu-l-fiqar Khan, as found 
in Ijad, whose narrative was corrected weekly by Farrukhsiyar himself, 
follows the lines of the conversation reproduced above. The misleading 
letters and messages sent to him through Taqarrub Khan are exultingly 
referred to as an exhibition of consummate policy and statesmanship. 4 
. i . 'v V 
4. Death of Jahandar Shah. 
On the same day that saw the end of Zu-l-fiqar Khan (16th 
Muharram, 1125 H., 11th Feb., 1713), Saif-ullah Khan 5 was sent to the 
citadel with a letter in Farrukhsivar’s own hand-writing addressed to 
Muhammad Yar Khan. The ncizim , although sorrowful at Jahandar 
Shah’s fate, complied with the order and admitted the messengers. 
When the group of men entered the prison room, Lai Kumwar shrieked, 
1 Mxrza Muhammad, 163-166. 
2 The name is sometimes given as Ilac! Beg and Dilacin Beg. Ijad, 119 &, 
and Kamwar Khan, 130, say“NiirBeg and other Qalmaqs of the brotherhood of 
Ilacin Beg.” Khafi IOxan, II, 734, has Lacin Beg (Bahadur Dil Khan) “ or as some 
say, one of the celas.” Mhd. Qasim, Lahori, 172, desci'ibes the man as a servant of 
Khwaja Qutbu-d-din, son of Maulana Sharf Husain, Kajlciyah (?) He received the 
title of Bahadur Dil Khan at the request of Mir Jumlah. 
3 M. Mhd. 166, Khafi Kh*n, II, 734. 
4 Ijad, 116 a, Khizanah-i-‘amirah. 28. 
& B.M. No. 1690, fol. 162 a says Taqarrub Khan (alias Nusrat Khan), Yahya 
Beg, was the messenger. 
