The Seven Cities of Delhi
Mahomed Shah was succeeded by his son, AHMAD SHAH, and the office of prime minister was assumed by Safdar Jang, the office being made hereditary in the Oudh family. The old Nizam of Hyderabad died at the commencement of this reign, at the age of a hundred and three.
Now the Rohillas again revolted, and Safdar Jang, the "disperser of the battle ranks," called in the aid of Hindus, summoning the Mahrattas and the Jats. There was no way of paying for their services, except to assign them the revenues of the conquered province, so the glory still further departed. Then, in 1749, the Durani chieftain again appeared on the scene; the Hindu auxiliaries
were summoned to Delhi to oppose him, but the emperor bought him off by the cession of the provinces of Lahore and Multan. The presence
of the Hindu mercenaries at Delhi was dangerous,for they were clamorous for pay, and might at any moment seize the city; so they were sent off to the Deccan to aid the son of the old Nizam to recover for himself that province, which had been usurped by his brother. There was left behind a grandson of the Nizam, named
Ghazi-ud-din, and this young man worthily upheld the party, to which he belonged, against the Oudh faction, at the head of which was
Safdar Jang, the minister. Delhi saw almost238
