Page:A Comprehensive History of India Vol 1.djvu/427

 Chap. T.'

NIZAM-UL-MOOLK, VIZIER.

393

The latter, now openly countenanced by the emperor, who placed himself at ad. 1722. their head, proved victorioas, and drove the former from the field. Abdullah, ~"

who was only on his way to Delhi when the intelligence reached him, endea- voured to maintain the struggle by setting up a new sovereign in the person of

Jhalledab. ' — Adapted from Solvjn, Les Hindous.

one of the princes confined in the capital, and mustering a large army. It was, liowever, in a great measure undisciplined, and when the final encounter took ])lace, offered Uttle more than a show of resistance. Abdallah was taken pri- soner; but, contrary to the usual practice on such occasions, was not put to death ; Mahomed Shah returned to Delhi, and, not at all abashed at the atro- cious means which he had employed, made a pompous celebration of his recovered authority.

The office of vizier, conferred at first on Mahomed Ameer Khan, as a reward Nizam-ui-

r 1 T 1 • • Mo..lk.

for headmg the conspiracy, was, on his sudden death, reserved for Nizam-ul- vizkr. Moolk. He was still in the Deccan, and found so much emploanent in settling its affairs, that nearly two years elapsed before he reached Deliii. On his amval ill January, 1722, he found everything in disorder. Mahomed Shah, occupied only with his pleasures, acted at the dictation of a favourite mistress, who had acquired such an ascendency over him, that slie was allowed to keep his private signet and use it for her own purposes. His principal counsellors were young men whose only qualification was companionship with then* master in liis revels. Nizam-ul- Moolk, who still regained the austere habits acquired in the court of Aurungzebe, soon became disgusted. Not only were all his reforms thwarted,^ but his personal ai)})earance and manners, so different from those of the youthful courtiers, were held up to ridicule for their master's special amusement. He was not the man to tolerate these rude and insulting liberties, and it was not

' Jballedar is a palanquin used by ri^ahs and wealthy persona. It is covered with silk embroidered with gold, &c.

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