H I N D O 
in the city are fhut up, owing to the riotous behaviour of 
the Rohillas from the dearnefs of grain, the Mahrattas 
preventing all fiipplies from the country. 
Auguft 29th.—Gholaum Kaudir, in a frolic of intoxi¬ 
cation, fent for Akbar Shah and feveral other princes, 
tons of Shah Aulum, to the lion baftion, where he enter¬ 
tained them with a feaft and dancing. After fome time, 
laying his head on the knees of Akbar Shah, he flept for 
two hours. On awaking, he wept, faying, “ he had been 
guilty Off great crimes, and repented of his behaviour; 
that he would reftore all the property he had taken, but 
Could not replace the eyes of Shah Aulum.” Akbar Shah, 
after fome confideration, obferved, that “ the providence 
which had given eyes to his father, had alfo taken them 
away 5 and the inltrument of heaven was not to blame.” 
'They fat at the entertainment until funrife. 
Auguft 30th.—Bedar Shah went to vifit Gholaum 
Kaudir, who would not fee him, and ordered him to 
retire to Ins apartments. The women of the harem are 
jn the greateft diftrefs for want of victuals. 
Auguft 31ft.—Bedar Shah, by meffage, entreated Gho¬ 
laum Kaudir to order fome relief to the confined princes 
and ladies of the harem; but was anfwered with angiy 
refufals. Gholaum Kaudir; in palling by the Mhal, was 
accofted with loud complaints from the unfortunate 
women, who begged him to allow them food, or let them 
leave the citadel ; but he paffed cn, faying, “ that in four 
days more he would relieve them.” He went to Bedar 
Shah’s bed-chamber, and, finding a feymetar on the bed, 
took it away; at the fame time commanding the guards 
not to let Bedar Shah come to him on any account. 
September ift. —The troops of Gholaum Kaudir are 
mutinous for their arrears. He has fpent this day in trying 
to appeafe them, but in vain. They threaten to defert him. 
Gholaum Kaudir went out to the tomb of Humaioon 
to pacify the Rohillas. After much argument, one of 
the mutineers, drawing his dagger, ruflied towards him, 
but was flopped by his companions. At length, the troops 
were fatisfied with the affurance of receiving two months 
pay immediately, and Gholaum Kaudir returned to the 
palace. 
September 3d.—News arrived that the zemindars in 
Sarungpour, the dominions of Gholaum, were in arms ; 
on which account he refolved to march to Ghofeghur, 
leaving Ifmael Beg in Delhi, to defend it againit the 
Mahrattas. 
September 4th.—Gholaum Kaudir is preparing for his 
march. A new quarrel has arifen between him and 
Ifmael Beg, concerning the divifion of the plunder. 
September 5th.—Bedar Shah requefted, by meffage, 
that Gholaum Kaudir would permit barbers to be admit¬ 
ted to Shah Aulum and his fons, who had not been ftiaved 
fince the day of his dethronement. It was allowed. Gho¬ 
laum Kaudir has been the whole day drinking, and 
liftening to the finging-girls. 
September 6-th.—A wife of the deceafed emperor Ahmed 
Shah died in the palace, and Gholaum Kaudir would not 
permit the body to be carried out for interment, though 
Bedar Shah entreated his permifiion. The Rohilla has 
been this day confulting with his officers, concerning his 
defence agair.ft the Mahrattas. 
September 7th.—As Gholaum Kaudir was fitting under 
a tree this day, a black fnake fell upon him from one of 
the branches, but he received no injury. A quantity of 
gold and jewels was difeovered in the ceiling of a cham¬ 
ber. Part of the Rohilla army crofted the river, on which 
the Mahrattas retreated to fome diftance. 
September 8th.—Bedar Shah obferved to his attendants, 
that his was a ftrange empire, for he could not even 
obtain neceffaries for his family; that he read the Koran 
nightly, flept upon the bare ground, and prayed at mid¬ 
night, in hopes that God in his mercy would have pity on 
his fituation. Gholaum Kaudir reviewed his artillery, 
and is preparing to march. 
Nothing further remarkable occurred till the 14th, 
Vol. X. No. 642. 
O S T A N. 7 1 
when' Gholaum Kaudir, alarmed at information of Ifhiael 
Beg’s being in treaty with Scindia to deliver him up to 
that chief, fuddenly left the palace, and fwam the Jumna 
on an elephant, to join the part of his army encamped on 
the other fide. In a few days, however, he returned ; and, 
going to Shah Aulum, affured him, that, though he might 
reign again if the Mahrattas were victorious, he fhould 
not enjoy the prefence of his children, as they fhould be 
put to death in cafe of his defeat. The favage Rohilla 
then obliged all the fons of the unfortunate emperor to 
embark in a boat, and crofs the river to his camp. Akbar 
Shah making fome refiftance, Gholaum Kaudir drew his 
feymetar, and threatened to kill him, if he did not embark ; 
when the prince was obliged to comply. The plunder of 
the palace was alfo carried off in boats. The day follow¬ 
ing, the Rohilla returned to the citadel, and feyerely beat 
Shah Aulum with his own hands, threatening to murder 
all the princes. He then obliged the aged begums, Mal- 
lekeh Zummaneh and Sahebeh Mhal, to go to his camp, 
in. fpite of their lamentations and entreaties. Then, fetting 
fire to all the combuftible parts of the city, he evacuated it, 
and repaired to his camp. Upon his departure, a detach¬ 
ment of Mahrattas took poffeffion of the city and palace. 
Rana Khan, the chief, releafed Shah Aulum from his con¬ 
finement, and ordered refrefhments for the unfortunate em¬ 
peror, and the numerous perfons in the harem; who, for 
feven days, had been able to procure no fuftenance but dry 
grain and water. New coins were ordered to be ftruck in 
the name of Shah Aulum, who was again faluted emperor; 
but he wifned to decline the throne in favour of his fon 
Akbar Shah, whom he had always intended for his lucceflbr. 
Rana Khan, having thus fettled affairs at Delhi, and 
being reinforced by Ali Bahadur, with a coniiderable 
force from the Deccan, croffed thd Jumna, to attack Gho¬ 
laum Kaudir. That chief, finding It impoffible to Hand 
againft fo powerful an enemy, endeavoured to make his 
retreat into his own country; but was intercepted. He 
took refuge in the town of Mhirta, and made propofals 
of fubmiffion ; but the Mahrattas would not hear them ; 
and on the 21ft of December, 1788, they made a general 
affault on the place. Gholaum Kaudir defended himfelf 
a whole day againft their attacks ; but, feeing that he mull 
eventually be reduced, he in the night mounted a fleet 
horle, and made his efcape. He had not rode many miles, 
when his horfe Humbled, and Gholaum was fo bruifed by 
the fall, that he could not move. In this fituation he 
was leized by fome villagers, who carried him to the 
Mahratta camp. He had, previous to his flight, concealed 
the moft valuable jewels acquired from the plunder of the 
palace, in his faddle and houfings. To whole lot this 
great prize fell, is not known, as the horfe was never alter 
heard of. The Nazir, and other chiefs who had remained 
in Mhirta, were in the morning obliged to furrender, with 
the troops, at the diferetion of the enemy. Gholaum Kau¬ 
dir was at firll treated with diftinftion; but foon put into 
heavy irons, with his companion in treachery, the diabolical 
Nazir. Akbar Shah and the other fons of Shah Aulum, 
with the begums Mallekeh Zummaneh and Sahebeh Mhal, 
alfo the depofed Bedar Shah, were refpeflfully treated by 
Rana Khan, who fent them to Delhi, with a proper efcort 
for their protection. Bedar Shah was remanded to im- 
prifonment. The Mahrattas then poffefled themfelves of 
Ghofeghur, and all the territories of Gholaum Kaudir 
fell into the hands of Scindia, againit whofe army the 
Rohillas aqd Afghans could no longer Hand. The wretch 
Gholaum Kaudir now received from Scindia the uncom¬ 
mon punilhment due to fuch a feries of uncommon crimes. 
His ears, nofe, arms, and legs, were cut off; and in this 
mutilated condition he was fent to Shah Aulum; but 
died on the road, before he reached Delhi. There the 
fragments of his body were carried about in proceffion, 
and afterwards elevated confpicuoully over the principal 
gates of the city, as the laft means of gratifying the re- 
l'entment of the enraged inhabitants. Thele Ihocking 
events clofed the year 1788. 
X 
Tke 
