plundered the camp in his rear, and then surrounded Bhaskar Pant offering to pay the ten lakhs; but the CHAP. X. appeased: blockade In sheer desperation, Ali Vardi Khan threw himself Afghans on the mercy of Mustafa Khan, implored his forgive- Mahrattas ness, and promised full redress for all past grievances. Murshedabad. Mustafa Khan was a creature of impulse; he was touched with compassion for his old master, and swore once more to stand or fall with Ali Vardi Khan. He placed himself at the head of the Afghans, cut through the cordon of Mahrattas, and fought his way to Murshedabad without carriage or provisions, whilst constantly harassed by the Mahratta horsemen. But on reaching Murshedabad the city was closely blockaded by the Mahrattas; whilst parties of horsemen scoured the country round about, and plundered and destroyed the neighbouring villages, and committed the most horrible cruelties and excesses. tations. Early in June the Mahrattas began to fear that Mahratta devas. their return to Nagpore would be cut off by the approaching rains. Accordingly they struck their tents and disappeared with their plunder. On the way, however, they changed their minds, and pitched their tents on the hills of Birbhúm until the violence of the rains was over, and then reappeared in Burdwan and renewed the work of plunder and desolation. turned out that a revenue official named Mir Habib, whose defalcations had excited the wrath of Ali Vardi Khan, had escaped to the Mahratta camp, and persuaded Bhaskar Pant to remain in Bengal and take possession of the three provinces. It CHAP. X. The return of the Mahrattas brought on a widely Agony of Bengal. spread ruin. Markets and manufactures were deserted and the lands were left untilled. Weavers and husbandmen fled from the marauders with their wives and children, taking nothing with them but what they could carry in their hands. The whole population of Bengal to the westward of the Ganges, with the exception of Murshedabad, hurried over the river in shoals, never thinking themselves safe until they had reached the opposite shore. Ali Vardi Khan takes the field, Fruitless campaign. Treacherous massacre of Mahratta officers. All this while Ali Vardi Khan was preparing for a renewal of the struggle. He formed a camp in the neighbourhood of Murshedabad, and was joined by reinforcements from Patna as well as by new Afghan levies from the northwards. At the same time the Europeans in Bengal began to fortify their settlements against the Mahrattas. The campaign began in October, but Ali Vardi Khan could not bring the Mahrattas to action. His troops were worn out by marching and countermarching, but effected nothing. Parties of Mahrattas were ravaging the provinces in all directions, but Ali Vardi Khan could not send out detachments to oppose them without weakening his main army. At last Ali Vardi Khan tried treachery. Bhaskar Pant was cajoled into a conference. A large tent was set up, and assassins were hidden in the double lining. The Mahratta general and his principal officers were received with great pomp and ceremonial by Ali Vardi Khan. They took their seats cross-legged upon the carpets. A signal was given. The assassins rushed in upon the helpless guests and slaughtered them to a man. Ali Vardi Kh an waited until the head of Bhaskar CHAP. X retreat of the Pant was laid before him, and then went out and led his army against the Mahratta camp. But the enemy Revenge and had already fled in a panic, and were soon wreaking Mahrattas. their vengeance upon the unoffending inhabitants, ravaging the country with fire and sword, cutting off ears, noses, and hands, and committing countless barbarities in the search of spoil. After some months the fury of the Mahrattas was exhausted, and they retired to Nagpore. Bhonsla and Ali Vardi Khan had scarcely time to breathe, when Invasion of the he was again aroused by the horrible tidings of two more Peishwa. Mahratta invasions. On the eastern side a Mahratta army, estimated at sixty thousand horsemen, invaded Orissa under the command of Rughoji Bhonsla, Raja of Berar, to revenge the massacre of his officers. On the western side a second Mahratta army of the same strength invaded Behar, under the command of Balaji Rao, the Peishwa at Satara, to secure a share of the plunder of Bengal. between the leaders. Ali Vardi Khan was powerless to resist such over- Dissensions whelming hosts. But the Mahratta generals soon Mahratta began to intrigue against each other. At first they agreed to an equal partition of chout and plunder; but each was jealous and supicious of the other, and they soon quarrelled over the spoil. Ali Vardi Khan took advantage of their dissensions to conclude a separate treaty with the Peishwa, under which he was to pay chout to the Peishwa, and the Peishwa was to help him to drive out the Bhonsla. of chout, 1750. It would be tedious and useless to dwell upon the Final settlement perjuries and treacheries that followed. The Mahratta leaders were grasping and unscrupulous. Balaji Rao, however, was compelled to return to Satara in order to carry out his schemes for usurping the sovereignty СНАР. Х. Troubles with the Afghans. Death of Ali Vardi Khan, 1756. Domestic life of of the Mahratta empire. Meanwhile the Mahrattas of Berar returned year after year to plunder and destroy. At last, in 1750, Ali Vardi Khan came to final terms with the Raja of Berar. He left the province of Orissa in the possession of the Raja, and pledged himself to pay a yearly chout or tribute of twelve lakhs of rupees for Bengal and Behar, or about a hundred and twenty thousand pounds sterling. The anarchy attendant on the Mahratta invasions was aggravated by troubles with the Afghans. There was a growing jealousy between Haji Ahmad and Mustafa Khan. Haji Ahmad charged the Afghan commander with carrying on a secret correspondence with the Mahrattas. Mustafa Khan fled to Patna, but was pursued and slain, and his head was carried in derision through the streets of the city. His death was avenged by his Afghan soldiers. Haji Ahmad fell into their hands, and was scourged and insulted, and then tied to the foot of an elephant, and dragged through the streets of Patna, until death put an end to his agonies. Ali Vardi Khan died in 1756. His last years were disturbed by family troubles, but Bengal was delivered from Mahratta invasions. The following description of the daily routine of the old Nawab in the palace at Murshedabad has been furnished by a Muhammadan historian who flourished at his court; and whilst it contrasts strangely enough with the stormy ambition which characterised his previous career, it serves to illustrate the domestic life of a respectable Muhammadan grandee of the olden time : "The Nawab Ali Vardi Khan always rose two hours before daylight, said his prayers at daybreak, and then drank coffee with his chosen friends. From seven o'clock till nine he sat in the hall of audience, where he listened to the representations of those of his officers and grandees who had anything to say. At nine o'clock he retired and amused himself with the company of particular friends, in listening to verses of poetry or pleasant stories, or in superintending the preparation of different dishes, which were cooked in his presence and under his directions. At ten o'clock he partook of the chief meal of the day, but always in company; and when it was over, his guests washed their hands and withdrew, and he retired to his couch and was lulled to sleep by the story-tellers. At one o'clock he awoke and drank a cup of water cooled with ice or saltpetre, and performed his mid-day prayers. He next read a chapter of the Koran with a loud voice, according to the rule, and performed his afternoon prayers. Pious and learned men were then introduced, and regaled with coffee and hookahs; and the Nawab drank coffee with them but never smoked. A Koran was set up, and conferences, readings, and explanations would occupy two hours. Next the chiefs of offices were in attendance, and amongst others the wealthy Jagat Seit made his appearance; and these men read or told him the news from all parts of India. Wits and buffoons followed, with whom he cracked jokes for another two hours. By this time it would be dusk, and the Nawab said his evening prayers. Then the audience hall was cleared of men, and the ladies of the family came to see him. A supper was served of fresh and dried fruits and sweetmeats, and the Nawab generally distributed them amongst the ladies with his own hands. After supper the ladies retired to rest, and the hall was opened to officers of the guard, bed СНАР. Х. |