HINDOOSTAN. 
their 'holding out till hie could obtain frefh reinforcements 
from the Deccan. 
The evacuation of the provinces of Delhi and Agra by 
the Mahratta army, produced a fatal change in the royal 
affairs. Shah Aulum, the pageant of every fuccefsful 
party, marched from Delhi at the invitation of the rajah 
of Jeypour, who advanced within three days’ journey of 
the capital to pay his relpefts ; but whether he was un¬ 
willing to engage in the adminiftration of the royal con¬ 
cerns, intimidated by fears of the return of the Mahrat- 
tas, or rcfolved only to aft for the prefervation of his own 
country, he in a fhort time obtained his difmiffion, and 
■withdrew to his own territories. Shah Atrium returned 
to Delhi, where he hoped to remain fecure and Undif- 
turbed, till Scindia’s return with a reinforcement, or a 
decided fuperiority of his enemies. Unhappy indeed was 
his lituation, and bitter the cup of affiiftion which was 
• ordained to follow. Over-awed by a Mahratta garrifon in 
Iris capital, and depending for fupport on the power of 
Scindia, he was obliged, at the fame time, to lend his 
name to'his enemy Ilinael Beg; who, after defeating the 
Mahrattas in the field, had taken feveral places from them, 
and now laid liege to Agra, under'pretence of the impe¬ 
rial authority. 
At this crilis ftarted up an enemy, the moll cruel and 
unrelenting of all others to the unfortunate Shah Aulum. 
Gholaum Kaudir Khan, a Rohilla chief, foil and l'uccef- 
lor to the late Zabtah Khan, determined to revenge the 
perfecutions lately offered to his father, and hoping to ac¬ 
quire additional territory and power out of the wreck of 
public affairs, marched from his refidence of Gholeghur, 
and appeared fuddenly before Delhi, which the Mahratta 
garrifon evacuated on his approach. He obliged the em¬ 
peror to confer immediately upon him the office of emir 
ul omrah, which his father had borne; after which he 
moved, as by regal authority, to lay fiege to the fortrel's 
of Alighur, where-Scindia had left a garrifon. 
The prince Jehander Shah, w'ho had refided lince the 
year 1784 at Benares, under proteftion of the Englilh, 
was at this time refolved to try his fortune in this ocean 
of troubles. He marched to Delhi, and was joined on his 
route by fome thoufands of adventurers. On his arrival 
at the capital, he was received with joy by his father, who 
empowered him to direft the operations of the felf-created 
ennr ul omrah, Gholaum Kaudir Khan ; and the prince, 
after obtaining the releafe of his women and children, who 
had been imprifoned fince his flight, repaired to the fiege 
of Aiighur. He was loon difgufted with the brutal dif- 
refpeft of the Rohilla chief; and in confequence repaired 
to Agra, in hopes of finding a better fervant in Ifmael 
Beg; but’was difappointed. The money he had brought 
with him from Benares being exhaufted, his followers be¬ 
came clamorous for pay, and the unhappy prince was 
obliged to divide among them his effefts. Not chuling 
under thefe misfortunes to return to Delhi, left the influ¬ 
ence of his brother Akbar Shah, the favourite fon of Shah 
Aulum, fhould prevail on his father to confine him in his 
unprotefted ftate, he threw himfelf again on the genera¬ 
lity of the Englilh. They again received him, and he re¬ 
paired once more to Benares, where he did not long fur- 
vive his return ; but died ip May, 1788, after an flinefs 
of little more than twenty-four hours. 
Gholaum Kaudir Khan, on the fall of Alighur, march- 
- ed to alfift Ifmael Beg in the fiege of Agra; but, they 
foon difagreeing, he left him, and proceeded to make con- 
quefts for himfelf in other parts of the country. By this 
time Scindia, having received fome fucccurs from the 
Deccan, difpatched his confidential minifter, Rana Khan, 
and Runjeet Sing, rajah of the jauts, to raife the fiege of 
Agra; near which a bloody battle enfyed, on the fixteenth 
of June, 1788, in which Ifmael Beg was completely de¬ 
feated with the lofs of all his cannon, baggage, and (tores. 
He made his efcape with great difficulty, by fwimming 
his horle acrofs the Jumna, and reached the camp of Gho¬ 
laum Kaudir Khan. The Rohilla chiefs, being joined by 
Vol. X. No. 6 4 z.' 
73 
many more of their followers, refolved to march forth¬ 
with to the capital, and compel Shah Aulum to give up 
his conneftion with their enemies the Mahrattas. To 
this they were mitigated by feveral of the dependents of 
the emperor ; who, having offended Scindia, dreaded his 
difpleafure, (hould they fall again into his hands. The 
fupinenefs of the Mahrattas, after their defeat of Ifmael 
Beg, is not to be accounted for. Inltead of marching im¬ 
mediately to Delhi, Scindia only advanced to Muttra; lb 
that the unfortunate Shah Aulum was left expofed to the' 
infult and treachery of his lervants, and, in the end, to 
dethronement, plunder, and lofs of light! 
Gholaum Kaudir Khan, on his arrival oppofite Delhi, 
requefted the emperor to admit him into the city, but 
was refufed; upon which he refolved to make his way by 
force; and, with Ifmael Beg, crofted the Jumna in the 
night. Rajah Himmut Bahadur, and the few Mahrattas 
in the place, fled inftantiy; and the Mogul ciijefs, with 
their followers in the emperor’s lervice, joined JLftnael 
'Beg; l'o that the unhappy Shah Aulum, unable to refill:, 
was obliged to open the gates of the citadel, and receive 
the rebels. They were introduced by the Nazir, who an- 
fwered for their fidelity to his majefty, and that they would 
free him from the controul of the Mahrattas, and the 
dilgrace of depending for a cafual fupport on the infidels, 
■the natural enemies to the faithful. Gholaum Kaudir, 
and Ifmael Beg, falling at the emperor’s feet, allured him 
that their only objeft was his honour, and the expulsion 
of the Mahrattas; which they' promifed to effeft, if one 
of the young princes was authorized to accompany them 
to the field. A treaty was then drawn up, and folernhiy 
ratified by oaths in one of the mofques in the palace, by 
which it was ftipulated, that Shah Aulum Ihould receive 
a third part of the revenues for the fupport of his honour 
and dignity. The emperor, in confequence, committed 
his fon Soleyman Shekkoh to their care, and a day was 
fixed for his march againft the Mahrattas; but this ad- 
juftment was deceitful. In a few days, Gholaum Kaudir 
demanded a large fum of money to pay the troops, which 
Shah Aulum refufed ; and the favage Rohilla refolved to 
poflefs himfelf of whatever treafure might be found in the 
palace, by dethroning the emperor. To this infamous 
conduft he was excited by the treacherous Nazir, who, 
forgetting thirty years of confidence and favour, had in¬ 
formed him that his mafter poffeffed hoards of treafure 
and jewels, though he pretended inability to latisfy the 
troops. The Nazir is the fuperintendent of the private 
apartments of the harem, always a eunuch. The degrad¬ 
ed and deplorable fituation of the once auguft family of 
Timour will appear more fully, in the following faithful 
tranfiation of a jourual of the monftrous tranfaftions of 
the unfeeling Gholaum Kaudir, as given in Captain Scott’s 
Hiftory of Deccan ; a work which claims particular at¬ 
tention and regard. 
July 26, 1788.—About feven in the morning, Meerza 
Ifmael Beg, with his officers, and Meerza Muttullub Khan, 
repaired to Gholaum Kaudir, who was feated in the hall 
of audience ; and, after fome converfation, fent repeated 
demands of money from the emperor, through the Nazir. 
Meerza Muttullub obferved, that, had his majefty pofleffed 
fuch a confiderable fum, his affairs would not have fallen 
into fuch extremity. He was commanded to be lilent by 
Gholaum Kaudir ; who, fent two attendants to bring Be- 
dar Bukht, Ion of the emperor Ahmed Shah. This prince, 
being conducted into the oratory, was feated on the throne, 
and the cuftomary falutations of royalty made to him by 
the chiefs. Gholaum Kaudir then difpatched Shah Au¬ 
lum, with nineteen princes, his Ions and grandfons, un¬ 
der a guard to the apartment called Noor Mahal. After 
this a difpute arofe between Gholaum Kaudir and Ifmael 
Beg, concerning the latter’s remaining in the palace; and 
Ifmael Beg at length departed in wrath to his camp. 
July 27.—Bedar Bukht received the compliments of the 
officers, and ordered feveral of the depofed emperor’s fer- 
vants into confinement. Soleyman Shekkoh was brought 
U from 
