Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/486

 478 MAN settled that the latter should hold the subah of Allahabad, which had however become very much curtailed in its dimensions owing to the sarkárs of Karra, Kora, and Kálinjar having passed into the hands of the Mahrattas. Muhammad Quli Khan appointed Sayyad Fakhr-ud-dín as, his faujdar in Mánikpur, and in Patti Bilkhar and Partabgarh Nawab Najaf Khan. At this time Ismail Beg Risaldar was stationed in this sarkár, and Khan Alam Baqá-ulla Khan was driven by the Mahrattas to cross the Ganges and seek refuge in Oudh. The government of the subah became weaker and weaker every day, and Nawab Shujá-ud-daula secretly assisted the enemies of his cousin, Muhammad Quli Khan, by every means in his power. Meantime other events were in progress. No sooner was the news of the death of Safdar Jang conveyed to the Wazir Gházi-ud-dín, than, with the sanction of Alamgir, he determined on an attempt to confiscate his pos- sessions. For this purpose he set out from Delhi, accompanied by two princes of the blood and the emperor's son-in-law. Hearing of his advance, Shujá-ud-daula prepared to meet him, and sent word to his cousin, Muham- mad Quli Khan at Allahabad, to lose no time,in joining him with a suffi- cient force. Accordingly, although in no very amiable mood towards his cousin, Muhammad Quli Khan collected his forces and crossed the Ganges, into Oudh at Mánikpur. Here he was met by his Faujdar Fakhr-ud-dín, who poured into his ear such a tale of rebellion and contumacy on the part of the taluqdars within his jurisdiction, that Muhammad Quli Khan was in a measure forced to detach a portion of his forces under Najaf Khan for the punishment of these gentlemen. Defeat of the Rája of Tiloi.-Najaf Khan commenced operations against the Řája of Tiloi whom he defeated in action and whose followers he dis- persed. He was however unable to do more, as he was under the necessity. of hastening to rejoin the main force under the governor. In spite of the earnest solicitations of Fakhr-ud-din that he would remain and coerce the remaining rebels, Najaf Kban overtook Muhammad Quli Khan at Rae Bareli, Farjdar besieged at Manikpur.–No sooner was the coast clear than the taluqdars felt that they had the game in their own hands. Uniting their forces they came down on the luckless faujdar, and so closely besieged him in Mánikpur, that it was with the greatest difficulty that he managed to escape across the river, and find his way to Allahabad. Meanwhile Muhammad Quli Khan was on his way back from Sandi Pali (in the district of Bardoi) where matters had been amicably arranged. Strange to say, on his return he took little or no notice of the turbulent conduct of the taluqdars, who thus again escaped with impunity, to renew on the first opportunity, and in still greater force, their hostile attack on the Govern- ment officials. Treachery of Nawab Shujá-ud-darila.--Shortly afterwards in 1173 Hijri (A.D. 1759), Shah Alam, the heir apparent to the throne, who had left his father's court through fear of the vile Wazír Gházi-ud-din arrived at Allahabad, and proposed to Muhammad Quli Khan to accompany him in the