U)03.j W. Irvine— the Later MugfiaU. 37 
Section 13. Severities Inflicted at the Instigation of M!r Jumlah 
(March 1713-April 1714). 
The opening of the reign was marked by many executions and other 
severities to men belonging to the defeated party, and such terror of 
strangulation spread among the nobles who had held office during the 
reigns of ‘Alamgir and Bahadur Shah, that every time they started for 
the audience, they took a formal farewell of their wives and children. 
The whole of these severities are attributed, and apparently with truth, 
to the influence of Mir Jumlah. 1 Although it involves a slight break 
in the chronological order, these events will be grouped together. 
The first of these executions took place by Farrukhsivar’s orders 
during the night of the 2nd Kabi‘ I. 1125 H. (28th March, 1713). 
Sa’dullah Khan, son of ‘Inayat-ullah Khan, Kashmiri, Hidayat Kesh 
Khan, a Hindu convert, who had been central newswriter (Waqa‘i- 
nigar-z-hull) 8 and SidI Qasim, Habshi, late Kotwal or Police officer of 
Dihll, were the victims. They were strangled by the Qalmaq Slaves 
(Sa’dullah Khan struggling with them till he was overpowered), and 
their bodies were exposed for three days on the sandy space below the 
citadel. It is difficult to decide what Sa’dullah Khan’s crime had been. 
In the last year of Bahadur Shah’s reign he was deputy wazir with 
the title of Wazarat Khan, and his temporary adhesion to Jahaudar 
Shah was no worse crime in him than in many others who were par¬ 
doned, At first. Farrukhsivar had received him with favour. But on 
the 21st Muharram 1125 H. (16th February, 1713), immediately after the 
Emperor had visited Padshah Begam, the sister of ‘Alamgir, Sa’dullah 
Khan was sent to prison aud his property confiscated. As to the reason 
for his disgrace, there are two versions, with both of which the name 
of Padshah Begam is mixed up. As told by Khafi Khan, it would 
- .•= • 
appear that a forged letter had been sent to Farrukhslyar in the name 
of Padshah Begam asking for the removal of Sa’dullah Khan. The 
Begam is represented as having repudiated this letter, when Farrukh- 
siyar visited her after the execution of Sa’dullah Khan. But the only 
visit that is recorded took place a month before his execution. 
The other version is that Farrukhslyar had consulted Padghah Begam 
ns to his conduct towards Asad Khan and Zu’lfiqar Khan. She wrote a 
reply counselling him not to deal severely with them, but to admit them 
to favour and maintain them in office. She made over, the letter to 
1 Khafi Khan. JI., 732. Yahya Khan. 12 lb, puts all these executions to the 
account of the two Sayyads. The Ahwdl-i-Khawdqin , 62a, names one ’Ashur Khan 
as head of the executioners. 
8 His original name was Bhola Nath, and he succeeded to the office on hig 
father, Chatar Mali’s, death in 1109 H., Mafyir-u'A, 396, 
