1903.] 
55 
W. Irvine — The Later Mughals. 
“ ( sher-i-qalln ) and not true fighters (mard-i-maidan ). They talked 
“well, but evaded dealing with the kernel (rnagAz) of the matter.” 
Mir Jumlah, having no real strength of character, knew that he was 
not fitted to enter the lists as a champion to fight the Sayyads. He 
therefore made excuses and drew on one side. Who, then, was “ to bell 
the cat ” ? There remained Khan Dauran. He was in reality a mere 
braggadacio, a big talker of the kind supposed to be the peculiar pro¬ 
duct of Hindustan ; 1 and he was frightened lest lie should ever be 
called on to take the lead, and lose his life in the attempt to destroy 
the Sayyads. Therefore he went secretly to Farrukhsiyar and suggest¬ 
ed as the best course that Muhammad Amin Khan should be propitiated 
in every way, and the control of the affair confided to him. When it 
had been concluded and the Sayyads destroyed, he could be removed 
from office before he had time to consolidate his power. Overtures 
ought to be made to him 2 
Muhammad Amin Khan, who had learnt the inmost secrets of the 
plot, and was also disheartened by the shifting moods of Farrukhsiyar, 
was far from ready to accept the office. He said that he had no wish to 
be wazir; he was a plain soldier unaccustomed to such duties. If 
fighting men were wanted and the Emperor would head the troops in 
person, he would perform the obligations of a loyal servant and give 
his life for his master. But in the absence of His Majesty, his own 
troops and those of his relations were unequal to an attack on the 
Sayyads. The imperial and Wald Shdhl troops had been warned for 
service under him ; but he had no proof of their fighting quality. How 
could he feel any confidence in them ? Besides, - they were all of them 
near death’s door from poverty and hunger, having neither good 
horses nor effective arms. In the Wdla Shdhi corps they had enlisted 
many townsmen, who neither respected others nor were themselves 
respected. Indeed, many lowcaste men and mere artisans held com¬ 
mands. He could not rely on such troops. Finding this lack of zeal 
among his partisans, Farrukhsiyar began to lose heart. The men of the 
Haft GauJci, or personal guard, were ordered into the palace ; and the 
unity and firm resolve of the Sayyads having been fully ascertained, it 
was decided to resume friendly relations with them. 
While all these schemes were in progress, the Sayyads stopped at 
home and were never seen at darbdr. Crowds of their dependents and 
1 R. F. Burton “ Book of the Sword,” 108, note 4, applies to the Indians the 
lines: 
“for profound 
“And solid lying much renowned.’ 
2 Mirza Muhammad, 194, ATiwal-i-khawdqin, 77h. 
