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W. Irvine —The Later Mug hats. 
post of danger in Malwah, now arrived near the city. In the prece- 
ding year he had received orders to clear the Malwah province from an 
incursion of the Mahrattas, but owing to the delay he made, for objects 
of his own, he fell under the imperial displeasure, was removed from 
the office of Second Bakhshi, and exiled from Court as permanent gov¬ 
ernor of Malwah. Fr’om that time he had been employed in his new 
province. In the interval Farrukhsiyar. pursuing his endeavours to 
destroy,the Sayyads, had recourse first to I‘tiqad Khan and then to 
Sarbuland Khan. Despairing of them, he turned next to Ajit Singh, 
who went over at once to the opposite side. Nizam-ul-mulk was next 
appealed to. Seeing clearly the Emperor’s want of firmness, he de* 
dined to undertake the business himself, but continued to favour the 
idea and to give advice. Some say that on his suggestion his 
cousin, Muhammad Amin Khan, was recalled. Ho doubt, if Hizam-ul- 
mulk and Muhammad Amin Khan, could have believed in the truth of 
the promises made to them, and had been properly supported, in all 
probability the two Sayyads would have been uprooted easily enough. 
But Farrukhsiyar was a prey to unreasoning terrors, and he could never 
come to any firm resolve. 1 
When the rumours of Husain ‘All Khan’s intended return to 
• “ 
Court were confirmed, Muhammad Amin Khan knew not what course 
to adopt. His force was not strong enough to enable him to throw 
himself across the Nawab’s route and block his way. To openly "evade 
a meeting would leave an indelible stain on his reputation for courage. 
Luckily, the order came for his return to Court and he set out at once. 2 
In the meantime Farrukhsiyar came to the conclusion that he could 
never oust the Sayyads, and seeing no other way of escape tried to 
make friends with them. By this time Muhammad Amin Khan had 
marched back as far as Agrah. Qutb-ul-mulk thereupon remarked 
that as his Majesty had no longer any distrust of him, why or where¬ 
fore had he recalled Muhammad Amin Khan P Farrukhsiyar, frighten¬ 
ed that there would be trouble, sent off urgent orders to Muhammad 
Amin Khan directing his return to Malwah. As this order did not suit 
that noble’s plans he disobeyed it, and leaving his baggage in Agrah, 
he made forced marches towards Dihli. On the 20th Safar (11th 
January, 1719) he was at Barahpulah, a few miles to the south of the 
city. 
On learning of Muhammad Amin Khan’s arrival, Qutb-ul-mulk 
1 Mirza Muhammad, 433. 
2 Khafi Khan, II, 802, on the other hand, asserts that he left Malwah without 
orders and without permission. 
