This latter advice having been approved by the Governor, who was himself extremely brave, and had a nice sense of honour and a great deal of discernment, he moved immediately from Tirhoot, and by incessant marches, he arrived at Azim-abad; from whence without alighting at his palace, he went and encamped at Djaafer-qhan’s garden, at the eastern extremity of the city. There he was met by Abdol-aaly-qhan, and by the principal noblemen of Azim-abad, such as Akydet-mend-qhan, brother to Emir-qhan, and some others, who were also the principal persons of the province, and had made haste to pay him their respects. The young Governor, having set open the door of modesty and civility, received them with an air of equality and brotherly attention (neither of which were in his style, nor in his usual humour); and by this well-timed familiarity and these unusual marks of regard, he so gained upon their hearts, that they all resolved to follow his fortunes. After so good a beginning, he applied himself to the business of assembling his forces, and of raising new ones; and as Fàiz-aaly-qhan had the title of Paymaster, both Mehdy-nessar-qhan and Abdol-aaly-qhan were appointed to confer with the chiefs of the forces and with disbanded officers, for new levies. Orders were given at the same time to a number of persons of note, to raise forces. Such were Ahmed-qhan-coréishy, grandson to Da8d-qhan-péni, Shah-djehan-yar, Sheh-ahmed-eddin, and Sheh-amrollah, as well as Kerem-qhan, Gholam-aaly-qhan, and Qhadum-hassen-qhan; and the same commands were issued to Mahta-djesvent and Radja Kyret-chund, and Radja Ram-naräin, as well as to the other Gentoo Commanders. They were directed at first to pick and choose the best mounted and the best armed, after which they might inlist every able-bodied man that should present. The Zemindars of the province likewise were sent for, and those that had con­nections with the Governor, or were attached to his person, were ordered to attend with their troops. These were Radja Sunder-sing, Namdar-qhan of Narhut and Semài, and Serdar-qhan, as well as Camcar-qhan, and some others, as powerful as Sunder-sing himself. Similar orders were sent to Beshin-sing, Zemindar of Seress Cotumbah, to Pahluvan-sing, and Surtur-sing, his brother, Zemindars of the country of Saharseram and Cheinp8r, and to Buhrut-sing, Zemindar of Arvul. All these came, and offered their services, and desired to share whatever fate might befall their Gov­ernor; and the crowds that presented continually were so great, that for a month together the business of inlisting went on day and night; so that a horse that had already been marked, that is, had already been in the service, was sure of being inlisted. In The Governor is resolved to stand his ground. that short space of time, there appeared to be borne upon the registers no less than fourteen thousand horse, over and above the infantry, which taking together the old troops and the new ones, may have amounted to as much more; but their arms did not meet with approbation; and it was concluded that new levies indifferently armed, would never bear the brunt of Mustapha-qhan’s soldiers, who were all resolute veterans, and all well mounted and well armed, unless indeed when placed behind an intrench­ment. A vast number, therefore, of pioneers and labourers was sent for from all parts of the province, and an intrenchment was soon thrown up, that encompassed all the grounds between the tower of Djaafer-qhan’s garden and the dyke or wall raised for the security of the suburbs against the waters of a neighbouring lake. A deep ditch was added to the intrenchment, and the earth dug from it proving somewhat humid, served to form a very good rampart, without needing any mortar or brickwork. Towers were also raised at proper distances, and cannon placed; and every one of them with part of the intervening curtain, was entrusted to an officer at the head of his corps. The command of the army was divided into several brigades, and every one of them put under the orders of a Commander that could be depended upon. The first was Abdol-aaly-qhan, the poor man’s uncle; the second, Ahmed-qhan-coréishy; the third, Radja Kyret-chund, son to the Prime Minister, Rày-rayàn-aalem-chund; the fourth, Radja-ram-naráin; the fifth, Qhadum-hussëin-qhan; and the sixth, Nassyr-aaly-qhan. All these were placed with their brigades at the foot of the intrenchment or rampart, which they watched day and night. The markets, sutlers, and the other camp-followers were ordered to attend behind the tents of each brigade with every necessary ready at hand. Each Commander had his tents pitched at the head of his troops, with his standard planted before his tent, and his insignia and colours pitched on the rampart; and every one was ready to give a good reception to the enemy. As for me, the most incon­siderable of mankind, who was stationed with my younger brother, Naki-aaly-qhan, I had, five months ago, quitted Shah-djehan-abad by my father’s consent (on whom be mercy for ever!) It was in the month of Zilcaad, in the year 1157; and I had come to Azim-abad, to marry in a family which had long ago agreed to the alliance. So that in the month of Moharrem, in the year 1158, I espoused the daughter of Abdol-aaly-qhan, my own grand-uncle; after which, on the 14th of the next month, I took up my post in the Governor’s intrenchments, and joined my own destiny to that of my uncle’s, who was the principal Commander; whilst my younger brother, Naky-aaly-qhan, chose to serve under the orders of his paternal-uncle, Mehdy-nessar-qhan, on whom he was ordered to attend with about a hundred horse, which he had brought with him. As to me, the least of men, although I was without command, and without pay, I chose out of a point of honour to serve that cam­paign, intending thereby to shew my gratitude for the favours received from the Governor.

All these preparatives being made, it was observed likewise that he placed artillery and troops upon the towers and ramparts of the city, with orders not to admit any soldier from the camp. But he had besides a secondary intention in this precaution, which was to provide against any sudden attack from Mustapha-qhan’s troops, as such an event would have put in imminent danger both the properties and families of those in the intrenchment. This precaution was also calculated to secure the properties and families of a humerous body of citizens, who had so much mur­mured And yet sends a deputa­tion to Musta­pha-qhan. against the wall then rising by the Governor’s order, and who now acknowledged the benefit they received from it. All these precautions being taken, the Governor resolved to sound Mustapha-qhan’s heart, and to ascertain how far he intended to carry hostilities with him; although there was no need indeed of any further enquiry, as he had declared himself openly and amply enough already. Three persons were pitched upon to wait upon him as envoys that had brought a proper message. The first of these was Hadji-aalem, the Cashmirian, who went since by the name of Hadji-mahmed-qhan. The second was Tadj-eddin, the divine, a native of A8d, who had been recommended by Emir-qhan, Viceroy of Ilah-abad, to the inspection of the College and Mausoleum of Séif-qhan, a building on the water side westward of the castle of Azim-abad, and a charming spot, so remarkable for its coolness, retirement, salubrity, and umbrage, that it became a general resort for the best company; it was in that delightful spot he enjoyed a large pension. The third person, which I do not exactly remember, I believe to have been the late Aga Azimáig, who had been the eye and the lamp of the family of Mahmed-qhan, once Devan or intendant of the province of Cab8l. These three venerable personages were sent to Mustapha-qhan with the following message: “If by your departure from M8rsh8d-abad Artiful and ingenious message of the Governor of Azim-abad to Mustapha. you have intirely renounced the service of His Sublime Highness, and you intend absolutely to forget us, and to quit this country, we, out of regard to past friendship and to past times, request that our friends and guests do please to alight at our houses, and to tarry at least two or thee days in our habitations, that we may once more enjoy each other’s company, and have likewise time to accommodate our guests with such carriages, tents, and necessaries as they may want for their future journey; the more so, as this will likewise put it in our power to say farewell to each other. But if the discontent you have conceived against His Sublime Highness is of a nature to admit of a healing hand, and your heart tells you that my mediation might be instrumental in removing the cause of your displeasure, and in taking out the shafts that have wounded two hearts once united by the warmest attachment; I would be happy to offer my services for so desir­able an object. But if on the other hand, it should come out that your Excellency has obtained from the presence the Imperial Patent for the Government of this province, please to let us see it, that we may peaceably quit this country, and deliver it to your Excellency without any fighting and without dispute.” The envoys found Mustapha-qhan encamped eastward of the town of Mongyhr, and after having delivered their message, they were immediately dismissed with this answer:—“Gentlemen, my inten­tion is, neither to renew my connections with the majestuous in war,* nor to quit this country as a traveller. My intention is to wrest it out of your hands; and as you seem so solicitous about patents, and about the right of taking possession of this province, I inform you, that I have in my hands, for such a proceeding, the very same patent which your uncle produced when he wrested Bengal from Ser-efraz-qhan.” Here he paused, and then added this verse:—

“We must see what is the Almighty’s pleasure in this affair.”