Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057345).pdf/487

 MAN 479 capacity of Wazír in his expedition to Bengal. The governor of Allaha- bad readily consented, and at the same time wrote to his cousin Shujá- ud-daula, and invited him to co-operate. The latter, however, not placing much reliance in the ultimate success of the scheme, had recourse to an artifice, and under pretence of not possessing so secure a fortress as that of Allahabad, within which to leave his family and possessions during his absence, promised to accompany his cousin if he would temporarily give up to him the fort of Allahabad. The latter, unsuspicious of any trea- cherous designs, at once acceded to Shujá-ud-daula's proposal, and set off with Shah Alam for Bengal. No sooner was his back turned than Shujá- ad-daula, already master of the fort, lost no time in making himself master of the surrounding country, After a few months his cousin returned defeated and dispirited, and accompanied by only five or six horsemen. Shujá-ud-daula seized the opportunity, and sent him a prisoner to Oudh (Fyzabad).* Advance of the Mahrattas into Oudh. The next year, 1173 Hijri, Alamgir II. was assassinated, and Shah Alam, though absent, was now the rightful sovereign : Shujá-ud-daula had therefore to support his preten- sions against the latter. In 1174 Hijri, Najaf Khan and Ismail Beg Khan came into the Mánikpur Sarkár, in order to make terms with the Rajput chiefs. Matters were in train towards an amicable settlement, when Shu- já-ud-daula refused to actively support the Mahrattas, now suffering all the horrors of a protracted siege in Pánipat. In consequence of this refusal, Biswás Ráo, the Mabratta Grand Wazir, sent word to Gopál Pandit, faujdar of Fatehpur Haswa, and Kishná Nand Pandit, faujdar of Karra, to harry the territory of Shujá-ud-daula. These officers, however, were not possessed of sufficient power to carry out these orders, as the bulk of their forces had been drawn off to reinforce the Mahratta army. They found themselves speedily relieved from this difficulty, as, no sooner were the Rajput taluqdars made aware of the nature of Biswás Ráo's message, than they sent word to the two faujdars to cross the Ganges at once into Oudh, where troops to any extent would be placed at their disposal, and, at the same time, they signified their readiness to take part in the enterprise. Manikpur plundered.---Accordingly Gopál, favjdar, crossed at Dalmau in the Rae Bareli district, while his colleague crossed at Mánikpur, At both places they found large forces in readiness to receive them. At Dal- mau & general massacre of the inhabitants, who were chiefly Muham- madans, took place, bat at Mánikpur, owing it is asserted to the more humane disposition of Kishna Nand, no such horrors were enacted. Never- theless the place was gutted, and the property of many fugitives, who were attempting to escape, was plundered from the boats as they were going down the river. Then commenced a series of raids and petty engage- ments throughout this and the adjoining districts, in which Shujá-ud- daula's lieutenants had to hold their own against the combined forces of the taluqdars and the Mahratta agents. Nolsn's History of the British Empire in India, Vol. II,, pp. 267-68. He writes The Nawab of Oudh bad proved treacherous, and had seized the capital of his ally, the Nawab of Allababad, who wilbdrey his forces from before Patna to reve his own territorien."
 * For a full account of this usfortunate attempt against the Subahdar of Bengal, vide