It was at this place that letters came from Aaly-verdy-qhan, announcing his being arrived at Azim-abad, where however he could make but a short stay, “as Mustapha-qhan had exhorted Rhago-dji-bhoslah to make an irruption into Bengal, a country in which, said he, he apprehended they would prove too hard both for the uncle and nephew. It is then important, added the letter, that you do put a finishing hand to Mustapha-qhan, as you have cemmenced him; and that I should depart for M8r­sh8d-abad to provide against the Marhattas, in such a manner, as to render a junction of those two enemies impossible.” On receipt of this letter, the Governor left the command of his army to Abdol-aaly-qhan, with Mehdy-nessar-qhan under his orders; and taking that General’s Paleky, with an additional number of chairmen, he marched all night, and at day-break, he found him­self Aaly-verdy-qhan marches to succour his nephew. near his uncle’s encampment. A little after, he paid his respects, and followed him for a few days; after which he borrowed Seradj-ed-döulah from him, and returned to his army. But hardly was he departed, when on the second day Aaly-verdy-qhan altered his mind; and thinking it best to get rid first of the enemy nearest at hand, he turned westward and joined his nephew; and both continued pursuing the enemy, as far as Zemeniah, a town on the shore of the Ganga, over against Ghazy-p8r, which latter is of Ab8l-mans8r-qhan’s Government, and inhabited as well as Zemeniah, by Afghans. The town was set on fire and plundered; and intelligence coming that Mustapha-qhan had retired to Chunar-gnur, a famous fortress in those parts, the uncle and nephew put an end to their pursuit, and returned towards Azim-abad, from whence the former continued his route to Bengal, to be there in time against the incursions of the Marhattas.

This retreat afforded Mustapha-qhan leisure to repair his artillery and his arms, to cure his wounded, and to assemble recruits and auxiliaries from all parts. The Governor did the same on his side in Azim-abad, and employed his time in recruiting his army, gaining the hearts of his soldiery, quieting the minds of the husbandmen, cherishing the farmer, and making every mili­tary preparation for the ensuing campaign.