1904.] 
William Irvine —The Later Mughals. 
47 
expert swimmers were kept ready to pursue and seize any one who at¬ 
tempted to escape by way of the river. 
Secret overtures were accordingly made to the garrison. In 
Husain ‘All Man’s artillery a man was serving named Cura, who had 
acquaintances within the fort; and through him a message was sent to 
these men guaranteeing to them their lives and property, if they deli¬ 
vered up Prince Nekusiyar together with the fort. Curaman Jat, who 
commanded at an entrenchment near the fort, opened up similar nego- 
ciations. The garrison called these two Curas within the fort, where 
they placed a pot of Ganges water on their heads and made them swear 
an oath to carry out faithfully the terms agreed on. 1 
About this time the hazards , or captains of artillery, had told Mitr 
Sen that they could not continue the defence. Mitr Sen sent a confi¬ 
dential secretary, Nath Mall, to reassure them. This Nath Mall was 
the son of Bhukan Mall, who had been high in the service of Asad 
Man, ‘Alamgir’s wazir. Instead of listening to his remonstrances, the 
artillerymen seized Nath Mall and made him over to their friends out¬ 
side. He was brought before Husain ‘All Khan, and in his pen-box 
were found communications to Nekusiyar from many of the nobles 
holding commands in the besieging force or offices round the Emperor's 
person. Husain ‘All Khan dissembled in this matter as much as 
possible but his bosom friend, Asad ‘All Khan, a connection of the cele¬ 
brated ‘All Mardan Khan 2 was publicly disgraced. Among the letters 
found were some from Samsam-ud-daulah and Zafar Klian Roshan-ud- 
daulah. 3 
Others captured were Riip Lai and his companions, seven men in 
all, who had been sent to some of the besieging nobles in the hope of 
winning their adherence to Nekusiyar’s cause. Their captor was 
Khizr Khan, Panni; Rup Lai was executed. Sayyad Firuz ‘All 
Khan also made prisoners of Sulaiman Beg and six others. A large 
sum was offered by Husain ‘All Khan to anyone who would surrender 
the fort. 4 * * * 8 
1 Shiu Das, 30a, Mhd. Qasim, 281, 286, 287. 
S For ‘All Mardan Khan, d. 1067 H., 1656-7, see Ma,dsir-ul-umard, 11,795. He 
had four sons : one, Ibrahim Khan, d. end of Safar or early in Rabi‘ I., 1122 H. 
(1710), id., I. 295. This man’s son, Zabardast Khan, died in 1125 H. (1713). Asad 
‘All Khan, Jaulaq, had been employed by Husain ‘All Khan in the Dakhin, having 
been put in charge of Sdbah Barar after the defeat of Da,ud Khan, Panni, M-ul-u 
I, 354. 
8 Khafi Khan. IT. 836, 837. Siwdnih - i-Khizri . 
* Kam Raj, ‘Ibratnamah, 69b. 
