As to Aaly-verdy-qhan he made only a stay of a few days at Djaafer-qhan’s garden, to finish some affairs of urgent neces­sity, and from thence he departed for Bengal. He had some­time before dispatched Munaam-qhan, a gentleman of eloquence and abilities, as his Ambassador to Rhago-dji-bhoslah; and having now left with his nephew a Commander of importance, called Rehem-qhan, with his whole brigade, he pursued his route. Rhago-dji was already on his march, and he had entered the plains of Bardevan, when Munaam-qhan overtook him, and proposed to compromise matters by an agreement; but as the Marhatta Prince imagined that the proposal arose from mere necessity, he asked no less than three Corors of rupees for his forbearance. Aaly-verdy-qhan, who was only endeavouring to gain time, spun out the negotiation by a variety of delays and artifices for two months and-a-half together, in which time Rhago-dji did not move. And matters went on slowly, until news arrived of the defeat and death of Mustapha-qhan; and this event having put it in Aaly-verdy-qhan’s power to reject Rhago-dji’s unreasonable demands, the negotiation was broke off, and he immediately put himself at the head of his army. But we reserve a detail of this campaign and negotiation for the following sheets, in which we shall mention the total defeat and death of Mustapha-qhan.

By this time the dry season drew to an end, and the rainy one was going to set in, when the Governor hearing of Mustapha-qhan’s preparatives, quitted the city and advanced to meet him, resolved to make an end of that obstinate enemy. This General had in his sojourn at Chunar-ghur made so good use of the money he was possessed of, that he had assembled about his person a great number of Rohillas, with whom he set out for the province of Azim-abad, foreseeing that the rains would be soon at hand, and that Rhago-dji would not be so early in those parts. His intention was to take up his quarters in the Sercar or Dis­trict of Shah-abad, where he knew that the Zemindars of the country, and especially Bab8-advant-sing, and the Zemindar of Djugdis-p8r, were dissatisfied with the Government; but he also intended to fight; convinced that if he came to gain a consider­able advantage everything would follow victory; and if he should chance to be killed, he would be rid of all his troubles, for by this time his money drew to an end. But he knew that should the Governor, on account of his apprehensions from the Marhattas, delay his departure from his Capital, the river Sohon would swell by the next rains, and would become an effectual bar to his advanc­ing towards the Afghans; by which event himself (Mustapha-qhan) would be at full leisure to come to an understanding with the Zemindars of the Shah-abad, and would be enabled to quarter his army there, and to collect all the revenues of that district. He concluded therefore that, recruited by such good quarters, and supplied with money, he would have it in his power to wait for Rhago-dji; or should that General be already about M8rsh8d-abad, this would afford to himself time enough to repair thither, and to effect a junction; after which he reckoned that a good account might be given of Aaly-verdy-qhan. He knew likewise that good recruits might be found in the Marhatta camp, for his own troops, and was resolved to take his chance, happen what it would.

All these projects were overset by the Governor, who guessed at every one of them by the mere keenness of his genius, and resolved to be beforehand with his enemy. He set out immediately with an army of fourteen thousand horse, having with him two new officers of distinction, namely, Sheh-din-mahmed, a relation of Ser-b8lend-qhan’s (the same whom Séif-qhan, Governor of P8raniah had sent to his uncle’s assistance), and Rehem-qhan the Rohillah, another officer whom Aaly-verdy-qhan had left with his whole brigade, as a man of courage and conduct. The Governor, after a few days’ march, forded the Sohon; and the second day, he reached the plain, which is near Djugdis-p8r, where he encamped in an open ground that had a little river in front; and as the enemy was now very near, the Azim-abad army passed that whole day under arms, and at night part of it only was awake. The Governor himself passed the greatest part of the night in putting up prayers to the Supreme Judge of disputes; and at day-break, having finished his morning prayer, he mounted his elephant, and ranged his army in battle array. His father, Hadji-ahmed, insisted on their making use of the same method that had succeeded so well lately, to wit, entrenching themselves, and fighting the enemy from behind a rampart. But this advice was vigorously opposed by Mehdy-nessar-qhan, and some other Commanders of approved valour and conduct, who argued in this manner: “The first time,” said they, “we were beaten, and the enemy was our conqueror; but now the scales are turned; he has been beaten, and we are his conquerors. If we follow the advice of retrenching ourselves, we give him the very advantage he is desirous to have. The rainy season is at hand, and we shall in consequence of such a dilatory warfare be soon obliged to return to the city; whereas he shall remain on the other side of the Sohon, and protected by this mighty river, he shall enjoy the revenues of one full half of the province (and we doubt very much whether the other half is so rich); but this is not all. At the end of the rains you shall find your enemy stronger than ever by his junction with the Marhattas.” This advice being that which the Governor approved in his heart, he ordered Abdol-aaly-qhan, who commanded his vanguard or first line to march slowly, as if to look out for a place to entrench himself, but with injunctions to fall immediately upon the enemy the moment he should see him deluded into some security, so as to keep him engaged until he should come up himself. This order was executed with no less ability than it had been conceived. We had hardly advanced at some distance, when we perceived Mustapha-qhan dividing his army in two parts, one of which he led himself to action, whilst he gave the other to B8lend-qhan; and this last officer was advancing, when a hall of a cannon coming from behind us, struck the elephant he mounted, and brought him down. Immediately a fluctuation was perceived in his corps; The Afghans victorious a third time, are worsted again, and Musta­pha-qhan is slain. which being perceived by Mustapha-qhan he advanced himself with his division, and all fell sabre in hand, like a storm of light­ning and hail upon Dá8d-qhan, who was advancing and firing with the field-pieces under his command. In an instant the Afghans put to flight the troops that attended him; but that officer dis­daining to fly, stood his ground with seventeen men that did not quit him, and he fell in the field of braves, leaving an honourable name behind. On sight of Dá8d-qhan’s fate, the troops which were advancing to his assistance, stopped short, and fled to a man; and Mustapha-qhan having trampled this flying body under his foot, turned upon Qhadum-h8ssëin-qhan, on his left; and a sharp engagement ensued between them, in which Qhadum-hussëin-qhan fell dead with fifty or sixty of the bravest that fought by his side. Abdol-aaly-qhan observing that the army was intimidated by so much slaughter, resolved to make a stand with a small body that had not quitted him; and as the artillery impeded the ground, and the oxen linked together, hindered his passing, he ordered the ropes that held them to be cut asunder; after which he went forwards, and was joined by Mehdy-nessar-qhan, with five or six gentlemen more, amongst whom was Naky-aaly-qhan, my brother, who had been forsaken by his people. These six heroes swore they would share our fate; and a moment after, Sheh-djehan-yar and Radja Sunder Sing, who were behind with a dozen of troopers, joined us. This body was soon reinforced by Rehem-qhan the Rohilla, who made his appearance from the right with fifteen and sixteen men armed with spears. Abdol-aaly-qhan then finding himself so luckily reinforced, advanced towards Mustapha-qhan, as did the latter towards him. At this critical moment, and whilst we were advancing, a musket-ball, coming from I know not what quarter, hitted Mustapha-qhan in the heart, and went through and through his body; but by this time our small troop had exerted themselves so bravely that the ground was strewed with his dead and wounded. The rest see­ing their General slain, and such a slaughter about his elephant, did not think it proper to contend any more, and fled every one as his mind prompted him; even his son that brave intrepid soldier, hearing of his father’s death, turned about and fled. The Governor arriving at this time, ordered Hashem-aaly-qhan, his gentleman usher, to get up on the elephant, and to bring down Mustapha-qhan’s head; and this having been done, it was immediately fixed on a spear, and sent through the ranks; after which it was sent to the Emperor (Mahmed-shah). But his body was sent to Azim-abad, with orders to commit it to the earth, after having carried it through the market and through the prin­cipal streets. The order was going to be executed; but the inhumation was opposed by Mir-mahmed-mergeshy, one of the most illustrious Séyds, born at Sh8ster, in Iran,* a personage remarkable for his piety and virtue, who had once undertaken to bring about a pacification between the two parties. This beatle­man affirmed that he had seen in a dream the Prince of ??ts, Aaly M8rteza,* giving him orders to strike that inimical Afghan with a sabre; and as he did not obey instantly, His Majesty had taken the sabre himself, and smitten him twice and-a-half upon his own loins. The holy man hearing that the Afghan’s body had been severed from his head, and would be committed to the earth, after having been rolled through the city, fastened to an elephant’s foot, said that he was sorry for it; for according to his dream, his body was first to be cut in two, and then only buried. These words having been reported to the Governor, he ordered the body to be cut in two, and one part to be hung at the western gate, and the other at the eastern; and this order having been executed, after a deal of time his members became offensive, and having been let down, each part was buried where it had been hanging. M8rteza-qhan, who whilst others were yet fight­ing, had quitted the field with numbers that followed him, probably had remembered the Poet’s saying:

He thought so himself, and made the best of his way out of that scene of slaughter, after which he took shelter in the mountains; but Yassa-qhan, brother to Mustapha-qhan’s consort, was taken prisoner, and after a few days’ confinement, was dismissed with a present of wearing apparel, and some money to bear his expenses to his home. Dilshir-qhan, son to Shimshir-qhan’s sister, and younger brother to Moradshir-qhan, having received three wounds, one of which was by a musket-ball which travealed his body at the navel, had fallen senseless on the ground, and he was reputed dead, when the Governor passing that way, recollected that he had been his play-fellow in his childhood; and observing signs of life in him, he ordered him to be placed on his Paleky and carried to his tent, where able Chirurgeons are ordered to attend him, but to no purpose; the wounds prolong past remedy, he expired the third day. Aalef-qhan, son-in-law

Sérdar-qhan was one of those who fled with M8rteza-qhan, and saved his life. The Governor, after having returned his humble acknowledgments to God Almighty for so signal a victory, alighted in Mustapha-qhan’s tent, where he received the respects and nuzurs of his Commanders and officers. At night he turned to Abdol-aaly-qhan my uncle’s tent, where he took plea­sure in expatiating with many encomiums upon his heroical valour, and the eminent share he had had in the victory; and as Musta­pha-qhan’s elephant, standard, and kettle-drum had been seized by Abdol-aaly-qhan, after the battle, the Governor having ordered the music to play, requested him to keep the whole; and in the letters of congratulation to the Viceroy, his grandfather, he requested his interest at Court, to the end that the above insignia might be confirmed to his friend. The Viceroy hearing of the signal success, obtained by his nephew’s alertness and bravery, and informed of the eminent share which Abdol-aaly-qhan, his relation, had in it, sent to each of them an elephant, a rich Qhy­laat, a poniard, and a sabre with a hilt of gold enriched with jewels. The two heroes hearing of these tokens of approbation, went out of the city to Djaafer-qhan’s garden to receive the presents with the usual demonstrations of respect on such occasions; and having their Qhylaats on, they made a profound bow towards Bengal, and then mounted together to make their entry into the city of Azim-abad, with a great deal of pomp and magnificence. In a couple of months after, a kettle-drum and standard came from the Emperor for the brave Abdol-aaly-qhan.