brother urged him to hasten his march as much as possible.

Early in 1719 (end of Rabi-ul-Awal A.H. 1131) Hussein Ali arrived near Delhi, and, as if in defiance, caused his drums to be beaten within earshot of the Emperor's palace. Ferokshere at this crisis showed his usual hesitation. At one time he would be transported with rage and vow to be revenged on the two brothers, while at another he would pretend that he was anxious for a reconciliation. The few friends who remained by him saw that the end was coming, and began to desert him. One of the last to do so was the Rajput prince Jey Singh. He left when the Emperor granted the demand of Seyd Abdullah that he and his brother should be placed in supreme power over all affairs of state and that various posts in the palace and in the Government should be filled by their adherents. Two days after Jey Singh's departure the two brothers entered the citadel, the Emperor's guards were removed and their own men were placed in charge. "Of all the great men near the Emperor, none were left near him, or near the gates of the fortress except Imtiyaz Khan, registrar of the Privy Council, whose absence or presence made no difference, Zafar Khan, who for his complaisance and time serving was called 'the pea in every soup', and some helpless attendants and eunuchs." (Khafi Khan). At the first audience of the two Seyds with their royal master only a few words passed, but at a second on the following day the brothers openly upbraided him for his intrigues and treachery and denounced the ingratitude with which they had been treated in return for placing him on the throne.

Whilst this discussion was going on in the palace the city was in a state of excitement. For the first time the Mahomedan capital of the Empire was in the hands of infidels, for a large force of Mahrattas was used to garrison it. This unusual sight seems to have excited the rage of some Mahomedan horsemen, fifteen or twenty of whom attacked a band of Mahrattas and

put them to flight. A panic followed in which most of the Mahrattas attempted to leave the city, but the people rose and a massacre ensued in which some fifteen hundred Mahrattas, including Santa, a chief of note, were killed. When this riot was at its height the drums were beaten and a declaration was made that Ferokshere had abdicated and was succeeded by Rafi-ud-Darajat, grandson of Bahadur Shah. This diverted the attention of the rioters, who now attempted to enter the palace and rescue the Emperor, for though Ferokshere had disgusted the nobility he was still popular with the masses. Here, however, they were met by the Seyds' garrison and repulsed. Inside the palace everything was in confusion. Ferokshere had taken refuge in his zenana, but he was soon dragged out from amongst the shrieking women, taken to a small chamber in the top of the fort, and there blinded. "In this corner of sorrow and grief they left him with nothing but a ewer, a vessel for the necessities of nature, and a glass to drink out of." * (18 February 1719)

*Khafi Khan,

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE END OF THE KING-MAKERS AND THE BIRTH

OF A NEW KINGDOM.

THE new Emperor Darajat was a young man of less than twenty years. He was placed with such haste on the throne that there was not even time to change his clothes, all that could be done being to throw round his neck a string of pearls. He appears to have been weak both in body and mind, and was a mere puppet in the hands of the Seyds, who not only garrisoned the fort and palace with their own. soldiers but placed their friends and dependants in every post of importance. With the object of getting rid of Nizam-ulMulk he was sent to Malwa, and again he went without a murmur. There followed him, however, a number of men who, discontented with their treatment by the Seyds, looked to Nizam-ul-Mulk as their patron. These men he attached to his service by payment and by kindness, and they formed the nucleus of a force which was destined to win him a kingdom.

In the meantime in Delhi the Seyds did exactly as they liked. They scrambled for the royal treasures, and the elder brother took a number of Ferokshere's ladies and transferred them to his own zenana. It is said that the two brothers quarrelled over the division of the plunder, and that for some time jealousy and hatred took the place of the union that had hitherto existed between them. As for the unhappy

Ferokshere, he lingered for two months in his miserable prison. The operation performed on his eyes had not been thoroughly done, and he gradually recovered their use, so that he was able to attempt an escape by letting himself out of a window. He was, however, discovered and dragged back. He then attempted to bribe his jailor to let him escape, and on this failing he broke into a passion and abused the two Seyds for their ingratitude towards him. This was reported and the order went forth that Ferokshere was to be killed. The executioners entered his cell with the bow-string. "When the thong was thrown upon his neck, he seized it with both hands, and struggled violently with hands and feet, but the executioners beat his hands with sticks and made him leave go his hold. There is a common report that daggers and knives were used in that desperate struggle, but from what the author has heard no such weapon was used." (Khafi Khan). The unfortunate Emperor was then 38 years of age, and from the time of his victory over Jehander Shah he had reigned six years, nine months, and twenty-four days. His tragic end was due in a great measure to his own fault and to the manner in which he worked against the Seyds whilst openly acknowledging them as his chief ministers. He had forfeited the confidence of all the nobles, but he was still regarded by the people with affection, and when his body was carried to the tomb of Humáyún, it was followed by a crowd of men and women, chiefly the vagabonds and mendicants of the city, who had partaken of his bounty. They cried and groaned, tore their clothes, threw dust upon their heads, and scattered their abuse. The bakshis of Hussein Ali and Seyd Abdullah were ordered to attend the funeral, and they did so with several of the principal men of the city. Stones were cast at them. No one would take the bread or the copper coins which were offered in charity. On the third day some vagabonds and beggars met, cooked food, and distributed it among the poor and remained assembled all