It must be observed, that some time before this, on sending Mahmed-taky-qhan, to fight the enemy, he had expressed a desire to have such a renowned warrior as Camcar-qhan in his service, having always been studious to procure men of military talents; and he had recommended that affair to Aaly-hibrahim-qhan. The latter found means to bring the Radja to camp, where, on his arrival, he was taken into favour, and assigned a a salary suitable to his rank; but as Mir-cassem thought proper to carry him to Champa-nugur, where he tarried a few days, this opportunity put Gurghin-qhan upon proposing to join the new General to those that defended 8d8a-nala. Camcar-qhan answered, “That there were more troops already at that post than there was need; more indeed than the intrenchments would hold; so that most of them were useless; and, he added, that by going thither himself, he would become only one of the latter class; better then that some Commander-in-Chief should be sent thither to bring that multitude under some order, and to make it fight in concert.” This conversation having been protracted to some length, Camcar-qhan could not help asking the Armenian General, What he could possibly know of war, and whether he had ever seen a war or a battle? You had better hear what I tell you, added he; it is advantageous to your master, and will prove so in the sequel. Such a style was more than the other had been accustomed to. He complained to his master that Camcar-qhan would not go to the intrench­ments of 8d8a-nula, and that it appeared that Aaly-hibrahim-qhan had dissuaded him from it. This insinuation made its full eflect; and Mir-cassem, in conversation with the latter, could not help dropping many expressions that alluded to the latter’s share in that revolution. The purport of it was, “That it seemed that Camcar-qhan was not pleased to go to a warfare not of his own, possibly because he intended upon a reverse of fortune to fall upon his rear (the Navvab’s), and to plunder his baggage, the moment he should find an opportunity for it. Gurghin-qhan says so, at least,” added Mir-cassem; “possibly to close with our proposal, he wants first of all your advice.” To this speech Aaly-hibrahim-qhan answered, “That it was easy to bring the matter to a trial. Let me be confined,” said he, “as an hostage for Camcar-qhan’s behaviour; and let him be sent on any service which your Highness may advise; and I will stand the consequences of his defection.” These few words were pronounced with warmth; so that Mir-cassem thought it proper to make him some apology; and this concession engaged that nobleman to relate exactly what had passed between the Armenian and Camcar-qhan. On hearing which, Mir-cassem himself acknowledged, that the intrenchments at 8d8a-nulla required a Commander-in-Chief; but the difficulty was where to find such a man? Aaly-hibrahim-qhan answered, that at present, the only fit man he could think of, would be Gurghin-qhan himself, although it was probable he would decline going upon that service. Mir-cassem answered that he had no objections; and, on the Qhan’s saying that it was an easy matter to put the whole to the trial, Mir-cassem proposed that command to Gurghin-qhan. That General answered, “That what his Highness had represented with regard to 8d8a-nulla, was an article of which himself was thoroughly informed; but that in such times of confusion and tumult and perfidy as these, he could not part with His Highness, to whose foot he had made fast his own feet and destiny; so that it would be highly improper in him to leave His Highness alone.” In this manner Gurghin-qhan did not go; and Aaly-hibrahim-qhan, to clear his own character, engaged Camcar-qhan to make an expedition into Birbohom, with intent to put that country under contribution, and to raise on the backs of the English such a flame as would put a stop to their progress, by impeding their motions. The project was good; but destiny was not on that side; for, before Camcar-qhan could arrive there, the fate of 8d8a-nulla was already decided and over; and the man, impeded and stopped every­where by inundations and by the rains, which are excessive all over Bengal, could make no incursions, and was obliged to come back. After the defeat at 8d8a-nulla, he made the best of his way over the hills, and returned to his own country, without being able to rejoin Mir-cassem.

Whilst the latter lay encamped on the little river of Champa-nugur, he was joined by Mirza-nedjef-qhan, a warrior of conse­quence. This Commander, who is now Generalissimo of the Emperor of Hindostan, and the Lord of Lords of his Court, was one of the sons of the Sadr-el-s8d8r of Iran*, and a near relation of Mirza-muhsen’s, who was himself brother to Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, father to Shudjah-ed-döulah. This warrior, tired and shocked with that train of endless perfidies which disgraced that Prince’s conduct, had quitted his dominions to seek his fortune elsewhere; and he was now arrived in camp with a small number of troopers, in quest of service. Mir-cassem, who thought his arrival advantageous to his affairs, received him in his service, and, on his own request, sent him to join the defend­ers of 8d8a-nulla. There was a large number of troops in those intrenchments; and the artillery was equally numerous. The latter, with the Talingas, was commaded by Marcar the Armenian, by Somro the European, and by Arat8n, another Armenian. The other troops were commanded by Assed-ollah-qhan, who had with him Mahmed-naky-qhan and several other Commanders, such as Aalem-qhan, and Djaafer-qhan, and Sheh-háibet-ollah, and Mir-himmet-aaly the Paymaster; all of whom were at the head of their respective corps, but all of whom trusted so much to the natural strength of that post, and to the impractibility of the enemy’s forcing this passage, that they became negligent in their duty; for most of the officers that had any money, made it a practice, on the beginning of the night, to gorge themselves with wine, and to pass the remainder of it in looking at the performances of dance-women, or in taking them to their beds. But Mirza-nedjef-qhan thought only how to signalise himself. Having joined to his troops some picked men from those commanded by Mir-mehdy-qhan, brother to Assed-ollah-qhan, and some more from amongst those in the immediate corps of Mir-cassem’s, he resolved to raise his character by some action of eclat. On reviewing often the intrenchment in that part which touched to the foot of the hills, he had picked an important intelligence from many of the highlanders, namely, that at that particular part there was a ford through the lake and morass, which led safely to the English encampment. Mirza-nedjef-qhan, upon this intelligence, came out at about three o’clock in the morning, and falling upon that part of the English camp, (and there Mir-djaafer-qhan had his quarters) he occasioned so much tumult and consternation in it, that the old Navvab fled to his boats, and was going to drop down the river, when the English sent a body of Talingas to his assistance. On sight of these, Nedjef-qhan, who had made an ample booty, returned within the intrenchment again; but as he made a practice of such sorties, the English confounded at their repetition, com­menced examining from whence these men could possibly come out. Fortune came to their assistance in that inquiry. The path by which Nedjef-qhan used to make his sorties, had been taken notice of by an English soldier, who having fled from his own nation, had been long ago in Mir-cassem’s service. This man, who according to the rules of service amongst the English, would have been put to death, had he fallen in their hands, had set out in the darkness of the night, and had gone through the ford, setting several marks on his passage; and, being come out upon dry ground, he approached within hearing of the English sentries, and cried out in the English language, “That he was such a one; and that if they would procure his pardon, he would find means to carry his brethren over the intrenchment.” Fortune sided with this man. There happened to be upon duty at that part some English Officers, who recollected his voice, and these assured him, with a solemn oath, that his life would be safe, and that he might come over in full safety. Upon these assurances, he marched up to them, informed them of what he had observed, and on a certain night he promised to return, and to shew them the ford. This interval was employed by the English in providing ladders, and every requisite for an assault, and escalade. At the appointed time, which was about ten o’clock at night, the man made his appearance, and took with him a Battalion of Grandils,* being a body of picked men, in which Colonel Goddard served then as Lieutenant. The latter had orders on his getting upon the intrenchment, to raise as high as he could a mashal, or burning taper,* as a signal of his being there. The Battalion of Grandils putting their arms and ammunition upon their heads, went into the lake under the guidance of the soldier; and, after having waded about a mile, with the water sometimes at their middle, and sometimes at their arm-pits, they arrived about midnight, at the foot of the intrenchment or wall, where they found every body fast asleep. This sight had its full effect upon those courageous English. Applying their ladders in silence, they got upon the rampart in an instant, where a fifer, who happened to awake, having pretended to give the alarm with his instrument, was instantly dispatched with bayonets; this being an arm not unlike the iron of a pike, which the English carry at their muskets, and of which they make great use. The whole number being now got up, they formed their ranks, and raised up the burning taper, that had been agreed upon for a signal. At the sight of this, the English, who waited only for it, assembled in great numbers, and gave an alarm at the gate and bridge over the fossé. A furious fire of cannon, mortars, and musquetry, immediately poured upon that part; whilst the battalion that had got within on the opposite side, commenced firing upon those they met on their march. On the first discharge numbers were slain, and numbers were wounded; amongst which last was Mahmed-naky-qhan, Mir-himmet-aaly, the Gazip8rian Paymaster, being of the former number; and the terror and dismay became so great everywhere, that whoever chanced to get awake, thought of nothing but of making his escape, and flying with all his might. The runaways, in their flight towards the gate and stone bridge, overturned those that were encamped there. Some were tumbled into the river, and escaped on the other side; but numbers were carried away and drowned. Meanwhile, those of the English who were yet without the intrenchment, having taken notice of the consterna­tion and astonishment that had seized the beseiged, got quietly over the wall, and placing a pahara of theirs (which consists of six or seven men) on the small bridge that served for a passage over the river, they seemed to have shut up a whole army within The strong post at 8d8a is surprised and forced by the English. a net. Those, who like Somro and Marcar, and some others, had already passed the bridge, escaped with their lives; but the others, who amounted to a multitude, innumerable, did not fare so well; and whoever came towards the bridge, was stopped short by the sentry posted there, (which word in their language signifies a watchman) and commanded to lay down his arms and accoutrements, and to part with his horse; after which, he was suffered to pass naked and disgraced. This, however, was not the fate of Nedjef-qhan. With a few troopers that stuck to him, he found means to escape over the hills; and Assed-ollah-qhan, after flying two full cosses on foot, at last got a horse, and con­tinued August. his flight. Those that had escaped in the beginning of the alarm, continued their route with their arms and baggage; but those that had passed after the bridge had been secured, were naked and destitute of every thing, so as to cut the most August. piteous figure, on their appearing in Mir-cassem’s camp. This surprise and assault happened on the night of the 26th of Sefer, A. D. 1763. in the year 1177 of the Prophet’s flight; and, at about seven o’clock in the morning, the whole of the numerous troops in that intrenchment was totally defeated and dispersed; nor could any thing be descried but runaways in the greatest distress.*