Aaly-verdy-qhan was the more inclined to ascribe this victory to the particular care of Providence, as the accident happened to those unfortunate men at the bridge, might have been of the utmost consequence, his vanguard being composed wholly of their friends and relations. He therefore gave his troops some rest, and for that day encamped in the Marhatta camp. The dead bodies were fished up, disengaged from their arms and clothes, and washed and purified, according to law, and committed to the earth. It was observed that they had a bluish appearance. Doubtless it was because the weather was so very hot, it being the end of the rains; and because the unfortunate people being straightened by their arms and clothes, had undergone a kind of strangulation and choking. This remarkable victory was obtained in the month of Shaaban of the year 1155 of the Hedjrah; and Bha-sukur sensible that he had done as much as could be done, took to the valleys of the Pachaet country; his troops in the utmost fear and confusion, evacuating the districts of H8gly, Bardevan and Midnip8r, and all the other countries, which they had taken possession of. They were flying everywhere, and everywhere pursued by Aaly-verdy-qhan, who intent on their destruction, did not take a day’s rest. Bha-sukur intimidated by the enemy’s eagerness, struck into a tract full of brambles and thorny broken grounds, where the pursuers and the pursued were hardly differenced by a distance of six or seven cosses. In a few days they both arrived in a woody tract full of snakes and large red ants, but so incredibly beset with tall trees and underwood, that in no part of the forest could two horsemen pass abreast. Insomuch that it became impossible for the officers to know where their own men were. So far from being able to hear of the enemy, Bha-sukur unable to open his way to his own frontiers, through such a difficult country, and at a loss how to manage with such an enemy at his heels, found himself obliged to leave the management of the march to Mir-habib; and that able General found means to bring him back to the woods of Bishenp8r, from whence he proceeded through the plain of Chendracona, and at last emerged about Midnip8r. From thence he sent troops to oppose Sheh-maas8m, in Oressa, a Commander who encamped at Hariarp8r with a handful of men. The Marhattas informed of the feebleness of his force, fell upon him, after having several times offered him terms, which he has often refused; so that the brave officer listening only to his sense of honour and fidelity, came out of his lines with his handful of men, and after a furious engagement which cost much blood, he fell like a brave man, selling his life to the highest bidder.

Meanwhile Aaly-verdy-qhan informed that the Marhattas having given him the slip, had shown themselves in the Midni­p8r, marched back from that difficult country; and having crossed the whole Bardevan, he advanced with a resolution to attack them. So much expedition and perseverance could not but add to the fears of the Marhatta General, who far from being recovered from his panic of Catwa, fled again from Midnip8r, and then to Balisser-bender (Balassor), all this while without being able to get rid of his pursuers, as the Viceroy was continuing the pursuit without giving himself any rest. The Marhattas tired with so much obstinacy, faced about and resolved to try his chance again. The action was warm, and cost the lives of a number of brave men on both sides; but still with a greater loss on the side of Bha-sukur, who finding that his difficulties increased upon him, fled again, and was still pursued by the bravest and best mounted of the Bengal army; whilst the Viceroy fol­lowed with the main and an artillery of such large cannon, as would have shaken the globe. Matters came to such a pass that the Marhattas often cut down, and then endlessly pursued, and often experiencing the heavy blows of the enemies, at last lost courage, and could not be brought to face about, or to stand their ground for half an hour; and their General eternally pursued, fled again, until he reached the last boundaries of Oressa, and even through the frontiers of Decan; so that the Viceroy continued the pursuit as far as the Chilca Lake, where finding no enemy before him, and even no traces of their laggers, he returned crowned with glory to Catec, where hearing how bravely and faithfully he had been served by Sheh-Maas8m, he sent for his family, condoled with it, and took care of its well-being. The post of that brave man was given to Abdol-nebi-qhan, uncle to Mustapha-qhan, on whose recommendation his military degree was raised up to three thousand horse, to which distinction was added an augmentation in the effective men of his regiment, a kettle-drum, a fringed Paleky, and the title of Bahadyr or Valiant. A number of other troops were commanded to attend him, and he received strict orders to keep a watchful eye over the enemy’s motions. This officer, on his nephew’s invitation, had quitted Samana, the place of his nativity and that of his ances­tors; and with a choice body of men, composed entirely of his own nation, and officered by his own family, he had joined the army a little after the battle of Bardevan, where he had offered his services to the Viceroy. His brigade, which was of no less than five thousand men, was ordered to remain with him; and to this was added a body of musqueteers, and as much artillery and necessaries as the time and place seemed to require. But as the man, being a rough soldier, understood very little of administra­tion, the son of the first Minister, Djankiram, was ordered to attend to that business under the title of his Pishcar or agent. This was Radja D8l8bram.

It was after those arrangements had already been taken, that news came of Ab8l-mans8r-qhan’s arrival at Azim-abad, and also of some disobliging actions of his, which rendered it necessary to find a remedy, unless he came to some concessions. Such an intelligence having hastened the Viceroy’s departure from Catec, he recommended the country and inhabitants to the care of the new Governor, hung at his ear two pendants of wholesome advice, and set out on his return to M8rsh8d-abad, carrying with him his two sons-in-law, his friends, and the rest of his troops. He tra­versed the Midnip8r and Bardevan; and it was in this last place he received intelligence that Ab8l-mans8r-qhan had returned to his own country. This was at the very time when Aaly-verdy-qhan was taking measures to drive him away. The singular behaviour of that pretended succourer had made such an impression on his mind, that some days before, he had put this question to Mustapha-qhan: “General,” said he, “you hear that the Viceroy of A8d acts very much like an enemy. He disposes of every­thing in my country, with as little ceremony as if he were at home. Should it become necessary to make him change his manners, how are we to manage? For the Marhattas find me work enough.” The General, without hesitation, answered, that he did not see there any matter that should require much deliberation; let your Highness tear this man to pieces, added he, and let me scamper after the other; and rest assured that a good account shall be given of him. Whilst the Viceroy was musing on this answer, news came that Baladji-räo, the Marhatta Generalissimo, having set out by the Emperor’s order for succouring Bengal, was arrived at a few days from M8rsh8d-abad; so that the Viceroy hastened his march, sensible that he would hardly have landed in his palace, before he should have been obliged to leave it again.

By this time the news of the victories over the Marhattas had reached the Imperial Court, and the Emperor, perfectly satisfied with the Viceroy’s conduct, wrote him with his own hand a letter full of encomiums, bestowed on him the title of Hessam-el-mulk, or Sword of the Kingdom, and added to that favour that of a rich Sabre and Poniard, with a Serpich or circlet, and Djica or Aigrette, and a chaplet of large pearl; and not content with those honours, he sent him a whole dress of his own wear­ing. He at the same time complied with the petition he had sent up, and conferred new titles and new honours on the princi­pal persons of his family. Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, who enjoyed already the title of the Valorous in Wars, was decorated with that of the Respectable of the Empire; Säyd-ahmed-qhan, already the Impetuous in Battles, was proclaimed the Important of the Empire, and Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, already the Imposing in Battles, became the Honour of the State. At the same time the epithet of the Honoured of the Empire was bestowed on Ata-ollah-qhan, and those of Qhan or Lord, and Bahadyr or Valiant, on Mustapha-qhan, who also received the patents of a command of three thousand horse.

But as we have only been hinting at the extreme impropriety of Ab8l-mans8r-qhan’s conduct at Azim-abad, it becomes our duty to explain that subject more fully. His arrival at that city happened about the beginning of Shevval, 1155, and his departure about the end of the next month, precisely about the time when Aaly-verdy-qhan finding no enemies to contend with, gave the pursuit over at the lake of Chilca, and returned victorious to Catec, where he received those letters from Azim-abad that excited his indignation. But he was already in the neighbourhood of M8rsh8d-abad, when there appeared on the opposite neighbourhood of that city, two Marhatta armies, full as dangerous the one as the other, although Rago-dji-bhosslah, who commanded the one was come to ravage Bengal, and the Generalissimo Baladji-räo, who was at the head of the other, had orders to protect and succour that country. This was in the year 1156. It was at such a conjuncture, that those whom the prosperity of our family had rendered jealous found means to throw a very invidious light on the nature of the connection between my honoured father and Ab8l-mans8r-qhan. So slight an acquaintance, which had been forced upon him by the necessity of the times, was converted into a crime within Aaly-verdy-qhan’s hearing, and especially in the presence of his nephew, who was Governor-General of Bahar. Such an imputation drew conse­quences after it, which did not fail to put an end to the intimacy that had hitherto subsisted between those illustrious persons, and to turn sentiments of love and attachment into mutual disgust and heart burnings. This misunderstanding happened in the following manner: As soon as the rainy season was over, and the miry roads were already drying up, Ab8l-mans8r-qhan set out of A8d, his capital, and advanced towards Azim-abad. He was at the head of a very respectable force, consisting of about ten thou­sand Hindostanies, all stout men, well mounted, and well accoutred; and seven thousand Moghuls, all well armed, and all mounted on horses of their own country. These were mostly deserters from the army of Nadyr shah; all old soldiers, accustomed to long marches and frequent successes. He had besides a numerous artillery well served; and it was followed by a camp amply furnished with everything that could be desired.* On his set­ting out he wrote in these terms to Emir-qhan, Viceroy of Ilah-abad, who was his friend and patron: “Your respectful friend on His Majesty’s special command, backed by your own advice and request, is going to succour the Viceroy of Bengal, who is hard pressed by the Marhattas. But as such an expedition shall to all appearance be liable to a variety of difficulties and obstacles; and on the other hand, it is well known that my own Govern­ment is a continual scene of insurrections and troubles, and full of Zemindars, accustomed to insubordination and independence, whose refractory necks, of course, require continually a curbing hand; my situation at the very setting out becomes perilous. I can neither leave my consort and family amongst them, nor carry them decently along with me; nor do I possess, or see about me, any such place of shelter where I might leave them with safety. Your humble servant supplicates, therefore, that you vouchsafe him the fortress of Chennar; after which favour your respectful suitor having his heart set at ease about these two delicate articles, shall proceed with peace of mind on his expedition.” Emir-qhan on perusing that letter, complied with the request, and sending Ab8l-mans8r-qhan the patent of Governor of Chennar, he ordered his own Governor to evacuate the place, and to deliver it to him. Ab8l-mans8r-qhan furnished with such credentials, threw a bridge of boats on the Ganga, at Bana­res; and having crossed over, he went with his whole family to see and admire the fortress of Chennar;* after which he placed in it a garrison and a Governor of his own, and continued his route to Azim-abad, together with his consort and family, his design being to send them back immediately to Chennar, should there be a necessity of fighting the enemy at Azim-abad. He marched with Ab8l-man­s8r-qhan, marches to suc­cour the Vice­roy of Bengal. a pomp equally warlike and imposing. The poorman’s father, Sëid Hedáiet-aaly-qhan, Bahadyr, was at that time Deputy Governor of the province of Azim-abad, where he soon received from his master, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, a letter in these terms: “Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, the Impetuous in Wars, is commanded by the Imperial Court to come to the assistance of His Sublime High­ness, the Formidable in Battles, who is the Intrepid of the State, and the Sword of the Empire. Whenever that General shall have come near the city, you are to go out to meet him, and to do everything which you shall deem proper for receiving, entertaining, welcoming, and obliging him; and let there not happen anything that may give him displeasure.”