This last expedition had rid Aaly-verdy-qhan of a foreign enemy, but it raised a domestic one; for by this time Mustapha-qhan’s power and influence had risen to such a heighth, that they exceeded those of a subject, or even those of an equal. He pre­tended to no less than to a superiority; and his nation having poured in vast numbers into Bengal, and filled every part of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s armies and household, he was always surrounded by such a number of them, that no one dared to dispute his will, or even to offend any one that bore the name of Afghan; so great were their numbers, and so close their union. It is observable, that these people in consquence of their numbers and their little sense and understanding, as well as their way of life in the caverns of their mountainous country, very much resembled the savage beasts. They are like them swift-footed, exceedingly courageous, and attracted by little, and highly covetous. Unmoved by the rights of gratitude, and unaffected by benefits received, they pay little attention to their benefactors, and even to the rights of friendship, and full as little to the duties of a community of bread and salt.* They turn about at once for a small subject, and from cold lifeless friends, they become at once rancorous foes and obstinate enemies. Naturally of a temper little inclined to mind benefits conferred and favours received, they easily forget the rights of a benefactor, and as easily conceive the design of killing him, nay of making away with their nearest relations; and all that, for a small reward, and on a slight subject. Unpolished and coarse-behaved, and nearly incapable of any civilization, they are stangers to the softer and more generous sentiments of humanity (in which forgiveness and beneficence cut so conspicuous a figure) and become furious and ungovernable in their revenges. The death of an Afghan, be it for any reason whatsoever, becomes with them a crime not to be expiated by any atonement Strange character of the Afghan nation. or any lapse of time, although the dead man’s relations should have already admitted of a compromise; nor do the seeds of revenge ever cease to vegetate and shoot up in their breasts. Mustapha-qhan himself was an individual of such a praiseworthy nation; and although by no means so void of sense, as his brethren, yet his cupidity, enflamed by his courage, made him cast a wishful eye upon that pomp and that wealth of Bengal, which endlessly blazed in review before his eyes; for his pride was equal to his covetousness. He marched always with a retinue of Afghans equal to Aaly-verdy-qhan’s cortege; and from being his servant he aspired to be his equal, and at last attempted to become his superior. In a word, he conceived the scheme of killing his master for opposing his pretensions. His ambition and fierce­ness being kindled by opposition, he insisted on the performance of some promises made him in the moment of necessity, and to serve a turn; and he particularly challenged the government-general of Azim-abad, as his right; although the actual incum­bent was no less a personage than his master’s nephew and son-in-law. On the other hand, the Viceroy thought it hard, that a general promise made for a small service in a moment of need, should be insisted upon as obligatory, when that moment was over; he wanted to shut up the man’s mouth by loading him with distinctions, to regain his rancorous, stubborn heart by softening it with sweet words, and to sooth his resentment by expressions full of regard. Some months were even gained in endeavouring Mustapha-qhan becomes too assuming and at length pretends to a superiority. by a variety of presents and a profusion of kindnesses, to smother the fancies and whims that were continually shooting up in that covetous mind. But can the sight of a fountain assuage the thirsty man’s raging fire, and can the allurement of a soft tale, and all the persuasion of sleep, pacify the heart that pants for enjoy­ment? The General, after having been fed some months with todays and to-morrows, at last lost all patience, and spoke openly; he tore the veil that hung still, and renounced past friendship and past obligations. Little by little the coldness encreased; and at the end of Moharrem, in the year 1158, he had already ceased to appear at Court. The reason of that cessation is thus expressed by Y8suf-aaly-qhan, in those curious memoirs he has left us of the transactions of his own time.

The general opinion was, that Aaly-verdy-qhan, in appear­ance, was endeavouring to soften the General’s resentment, and to pacify his mind, but that in reality, he was contriving under­hand to put an end to his presumption, and to guard against his mischievous designs, being highly shocked at his excessive power, and provoked by his pretensions; at least so thought the Afghans. One day the General preparing to go to Court, sent forward according to his custom, Dil-shah and Hekin-shah, his two principal officers, who went in, paid their obeisance, and seated them­selves. Y8suf-aaly-qhan was that day at Court himself, and in the presence; and he affirms, that it being noon-time, there was no one in the hall of audience, save the usual attendants. It happened that, a little after those two men had been seated, an eunuch of the presence came in haste, and said that the Navvab-begum (meaning the Prince’s consort) was seized with a violent evacuation and vomiting*. The Viceroy, getting up imme­diately, went into the inner apartments, from whence he sent those two officers word, desiring them to be seated, until he might come out. But as messengers had already announced that Mustapha-qhan was on the way, this message gave umbrage to these two men; so that without minding its purport, they got into one of the rooms attaining the hall of audience, and rummaged it thoroughly, having imagined that it contained a number of armed men concealed, who were to fall suddenly on the General, and that it was for this reason the message about the Begum had been sent out, the intent of which, they conceived, was to put it in his power to be out of harm’s way. Full of this idea, they went away, and meeting their master who was going to alight, they communicated their fears to him. The General was struck with the report. Since he had put on an air of independence, he mistrusted every one of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s proceedings, and lent a willing ear to a groundless, and frivolous report. Immediately he returned home. The Viceroy, informed of this, sent his son-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, to reproach him for his credulity, and to bring him back by whatever means. The nobleman having overtaken Mustapha-qhan, attempted by a variety of reasons and entreaties to dissipate his suspicions, and to pacify his mind, but all to no purpose. The General returned home, where he assembled his brigade which amounted to nine thousand horse, besides some thousand musqueteers; and he then sent a message to the Viceroy, by which he renounced his service, and asked the arrears due to his men. The latter sent again his son-in-law to pacify him, especially as Nevazish-mahmed-qhan’s promises and words, bearing a great character for sincerity and fidelity, had a great authority with all the troops. But this mes­sage also availed nothing; and matters went so far, that he sent another message to the Viceroy full of reproaches, and asked as his due the Government of Azim-abad. Aaly-verdy-qhan, struck by this behaviour, was holding consultations; but both himself as well as his sons-in-law with their families and friends were equally confounded, and incapable to take a party, as the General’s valour and daringness were notorious these many years past, and his force numerous and attached personally to him. All was con­fusion and fear in the city of M8rsh8d-abad. At last preparations were made on both sides for action, and the city became a theatre of war; and the troops attached to the Viceroy run­ning to their arms, filled the streets from the palace gate down to Mustapha-qhan’s quarters. These were the brigades commanded by his two sons-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan and Säid-ahmed-qhan, with those of Mir-djaafer-qhan, of Haïder-aaly-qhan, of Fakyr-ollah-beg-qhan, of N8r-8llah-beg-qhan, and of the Afghan Umer-qhan, with his sons. The corps less numerous came also to offer their services, as well as the brigades of Musqueteers commanded by Fateh-Rào-bacshy-cheidun and some other Gentoos; they all took post round the palace, and kept watch day and night, always armed, and always ready. Shimshir-qhan and Serdar-qhan, who in their hearts were attached to their countrymen, and in appearance to their master, continued to come to Court, and kept fair with both parties. The Viceroy who had his views, thought proper to behave kindly to them, although by this time he had lost all confidence in his Afghan troops. But although resolved to trust them no more, nevertheless he was endeavouring to gain the hearts of these two Afghan Commanders; for Mustapha-qhan’s obstinacy was known to him, as well as the schemes he had conceived; and the excesses of enmity to which his resentment would carry him, were known beforehand; and on both those accounts, he thought that the best expedient that could be devised now, was to come to an agreement with that General. His heart would even relent now and then, whenever he reflected on his numerous services, his heroical valour, and his determined devotion to his interests; and he was loath to part with so ancient, so devoted, and so valuable a servant, whose deser­tion became a real loss for his own power, which would infallibly feel the consequences of it. But yet, with all these wise reflections, he neither knew how to keep a friend, nor how to humble and ruin an enemy. It was too late now; nor was this last party without its many inconveniencies; and to fight Mustapha-qhan, supported as he was by so many brave troops of his own nation, and all commanded by officers of his own family, seemed to be a matter of much difficulty. He one day thought of repeating his expedient of old, i.e., of going to him with only Seradj-ed-döulah, and of regaining his heart by that token of confidence. He had even sent for his Paleky, and was going to set out; but he was vigorously opposed by his two sons-in-law, and by the most dis­tinguished of his well-wishers, such as Mir-djaafer-qhan, Haïder-aaly-qhan and Fakyr-ollah-beg-qhan, and some others, who all joined together in intreating him to forbear so dangerous an experiment. They observed “That this was not a time to try what impression he could make upon that Afghan’s heart. That matters had gone too far, for any one to expect that such demonstrations of confidence and love would answer any purpose. That the man aimed at no less than at dispossessing his master, and at raising his own fortune upon his benefactor’s ruin and death. Put us to death first,” added they, “for we will not suffer you to risk your person in your enemy’s quarter.” These entreaties and reasonings staggered the Viceroy, and he thought proper to stay at home. Whilst they were yet speaking, a man of consequence deserted the General, and presented himself before the Viceroy. This was no other than the Afghan Rehem-qhan, an officer who had always served the General as his stan­dard-bearer, and was reputed his zealous companion. This officer, whether impelled by destiny, or gained over by the Vice­roy’s winning deportment, changed sides. On the other hand, the General lost also two other Commanders, upon whose national partiality he had reckoned. These were Shimshir-qhan, and Serdar-qhan, two officers of character, who refused to join him, and to follow his fortunes; having to all appearance conceived that his expulsion from Bengal, would at all events promote their own views, by withdrawing a large globe that eclipsed them totally. These defections seemed to have altered the nature of the war. For whether these desertions, by making an impression on the General’s mind, rendered him cautious of committing his fortune to the chance of war in an attack on the city of M8r­sh8d-abad, or whether the impulse of unavoidable destiny made him alter his mind, it is certain that he turned his views towards Azim-abad, thinking it easier to drive the nephew out of that city, than to fight the uncle in the middle of his capital. He therefore resolved to quit M8rsh8d-abad; and this resolution, so soon as it became known, was deemed by the Viceroy a Providential interposition in his favour. The General before his departure sent his agent to Court with a paper, containing an account of the arrears due to him, both for his own person and for his brigade; and although it wanted the formality of a review, and the certificate of the Commissary as well as a certificate of the indentity of horses called Dagh-tessehya,* and the account was made up just as he had been pleased; nevertheless the Viceroy, without referring it to the usual offices for examination, ordered the full amount to be paid immediately; and it amounted to no less than full seventeen lacs of rupees, which sum, the Viceroy said, he reckoned to be a piece of charity, and an offering made for the success of his affairs. As soon as the General had his money, he sent for the head cart-man of the city, and with threats obliged him to furnish his troops with the number of carts and pack-oxen he wanted; after which he leisurely loaded his baggage and that of his brigade, set on fire his barracks, and marched out of the city in military array and with a deal of pomp; and having advanced some cosses beyond it, he encamped. The next day he marched a full stage. As soon as the news of this departure arrived in the city, and it became certain that he was gone, the inhabitants, who knew that any engagement within their walls could produce nothing but their ruin, thought themselves recalled to life, and they looked upon his departure as a fortunate event. A few days after, the Viceroy thought proper to promote Rehem-qhan, and to add many favours to this promotion. He also advanced both Shimshir-qhan and Serdar-qhan; and by treating them with particular demonstrations of kindness, he weaned them from those rests of national attachment which they still bore to the General, as their countryman. By a stroke of refined policy, he passed over the ingratitude of two near relations of theirs, namely, Dil-shir-qhan and Alef-qhan, who had quitted his service to embrace that of the General’s. He only ceased to mention their names; and if at any time their infamous behaviour was mentioned in his presence, he abstained from reproaches and epithets, and attributed what he called their imprudence, to their youth and to their ignorance of the world. Mustapha-qhan, meanwhile, being arrived at Radj-mahl, took from the stores, kept there, such elephants, and such pieces of cannon as he thought proper, with a certain quantity of ammunition; and from that moment he acted openly as an enemy. And it being now become public, that he had parted with Aaly-verdy-qhan, on account of the latter’s failing in his promise about the Government of Azim-abad, the General’s nephew, Abdol-res8l-qhan, whom we have seen appointed Governor of the Oressa, thought proper on the receipt of a letter from his uncle, who made his defection a family quarrel, to quit his post without hesitation. So that taking his Brigade with him, he went and joined him, after having appointed one Da8d-qhan, an Afghan, to govern the country in his absence.