1904.] 
W. Irvine —The Later Mughals. 
317 
Wazir’s house, the Emperor directed the boatmen to increase tlieir 
speed, in spite of the fact that the imperial equipage was drawn up, and 
the wazir waiting on the river bank to receive him. Thus this occasion 
for untying the knot was lost, and the Emperor turned again to 
Samsam-ud-daulah for advice. That noble repaired to Qutb-ul-mulk’s 
on the 9th Zu, 1 Qa’dah (3rd October, 1718) and conferred with him. 
At this time, by reason of the rise of I‘tiqad Khan (Muhammad 
Murad), Samsam-ud-daulah had fallen out of favour with Farrukh- 
siyar, and was even suspected by him of treachery. Being aware of 
this change of feeling, he was now far from well-affected to the 
Emperor, had improved his relations with Qutb-ul-mulk, and had 
inspired that noble with full confidence in his friendship. Listening to 
his advice, Qutb-ul-mulk presented himself in darbar, made his obei¬ 
sance, and, to all appearance, the quarrel was again made up, after the 
usual false speeches had been exchanged. 1 
The story goes that Samsam-ud-daulah had planned with Farrukh- 
siyar the arrest of Qutb-ul-mulk. The Emperor was to take his seat 
in the Tasblh Khanah, or chapel, round which the armed attendants 
were to be secretly collected. When the moment came, the signal was 
to be given by the cry of “ Qul ! ” and, rushing in, the slaves were to 
seize the wazir and hurry him off to prison. Qutb-ul-mulk having 
entered with a small following, Farrukhsiyar, when the time came, 
called out as agreed on, “ Qul ! ” From some motive, either of pru¬ 
dence or friendship, Samsam-ud-daulah, instead of repeating the signal, 
changed the word, and shouted “ Qul\ ” (armed retinue), the word 
used to signify that all those waiting for audience should be admitted. 
This slight change of one letter disarranged the whole plan. The 
slaves never stirred. But a large number of Qutb-ul-mulk’s armed 
retinue at once appeared in the audience-chamber, and Farrukhsiyar 
was much disturbed at seeing this crowd. As soon as the minister had 
left, he vented his rage on Samsam-ud-daulah. In his access of passion 
he threw at his favourite the seal, the box for holding the ink used 
with it, and, as some add, a metal spittoon. After this catastrophe 
Samsam-ud-daulah absented himself for several days, nor did he return 
until Farrukhsiyar had written him a friendly note in his own hand, 
asking him to attend court as usual. 2 
were mostly from Kashmir and used Kashmiri calls to each other when working. 
Anand Ram, (Mukhlis) Mirdt-ul-Istilabb , fol. 166b, B. M. Oriental, No. 1813 (Elliot 
MSS.). Anand Ram quotes Babar as to the convenience of boat travelling. 
1 Khafi Khan, II., 803, 804, Kamwar Khan, 182, Mirza Muhammad, 405. 
2 Mirza Muhammad, 405, Khushlial Cand, 411a, Shiu Das 17a, Yahya Kh an 
123b, Kam Raj, ‘ Ibratndmah , 56a, Kamwar Khan, 183, 
J. i. 41 
