All this while the body of the Governor had remained unattended to. At last, however, after two whole days, it was taken up by Séyd-mahmed the Isfahamian, father-in-law to Mir-háider-aaly, Cutval of the city, and son-in-law to the late Mirza-darab. Séyd-mahmed on the intreaties of Mir-háider-aaly, brought the body to his house, where he performed the religious rites over it, and wrapping it in a winding sheet of great value* which he had brought from Kerbela for himself, he committed it to the earth in that particular spot, that goes by the name of Hàibet-djung’s Monument, and which the deceased had bought for that very purpose in that quarter of the city, called Begum-p8ra.

Whilst that unfortunate city was in prey to all the atrocities that can be expected from the rage of an unbridled soldiery, a report spread that Aaly-verdy-qhan was advancing on his way to Azim-abad at the head of an army. Shimshir-qhan, therefore, and that abominable wretch, M8rad-shir-qhan, made haste to secure the family of the murdered Prince. With an impudence of mind, and an unfeelingness of temper, hardly to be paralleled throughout all the annals of Hindostan, those impudent wretches were not ashamed to send open carriages to bring to camp Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan’s consort and daughters, with Mirza-mehdi, his youngest son, then a boy; and without a veil, without a curtain, with not even a blanket thrown over them to intercept the sight of so many by-standers, those illustrious, those high-born persons were huddled together in those indecent carriages; and as if there had not been at hand so many by-ways to answer the same purpose, they were moreover carried along the high street and through the main market, to the great indignation of those crowds of honest folks, who thought it unlawful to raise their eyes-open upon such a forbidden spectacle, and loaded the authors of so much defilement with curses and execrations. Even the Afghans themselves joined in the general detestation. In a little time, the short lived authority of those miscreants came to an end; and the perpetrators of so much infamy felt the force of universal detestation, in the manner which this history shall certify, and which was no more than what they deserved.

The two chiefs, by spreading everywhere the money they had found in abundance, had brought together about forty thousand horse in the city, and nearly as many foot, mostly of their own nation. They took with them that numerous train of artillery which they had found ready at their hands, and they marched out to oppose Aaly-verdy-qhan. The latter was in the middle of winter, encamped at Amany-gunj, in the outskirts of the city of M8rsh8d-abad to oppose Mir-habib’s inroads, and Djano-dji’s ravages; when news came of that mighty event, of that heavy misfortune, that deprived him of a son-in-law, who was the eye and flambeau of his family, as well as the unquestionable delight of his heart; a son whom he compared to himself, whether in the arts of govern­ment or in those of the field. He had likewise lost his brother, and his daughter and grandson were kept in an unworthy con­finement. On the other hand, he reflected likewise that the same revolution had deprived him of the province of Azim-abad, that is, of a full half of his dominions; that it had passed to the hands of an enemy; and that most of his own troops were of the same nation with that enemy. All these misfortunes crowding at once upon his mind, made a deep impression on it; but he did not lose his wonted firmness, nor ever betrayed any appearance of fear, or perturbation, or ever abated anything from his usual gravity, or the confidence and majesty of his deportment. The next day he ordered a general assembly of his friends as well as of his Mili­tary officers, high or low. When he saw them assembled and seated, he informed them of what had happened, and then delivered himself in these words: Gentlemen, a stone has struck me, and struck me very hard. A son of mine, a very able, and worthy son, has been murdered. My brother has perished in the torment. My children and grand-children are now prisoners, and are turned into so many objects of contempt and contumely. After such a flow of misfortunes life is become unpalatable to me, and improper to my circumstances. Nor do I know any other remedy to my woes, than that of killing or being killed. Now after such a declaration on my part, I ask what are your own sentiments? I speak to you all; and amongst so many friends, and so many field companions, now present, who is willing amongst you to become my assistant, and my associate in this perilous affair? This speech uttered with a tone of voice, and a cast of features, impressed by a sense of deep-felt woe, made the strongest effect on that numerous assembly. They answered in one general con­fused murmur that they were all his servants; all beholden for their well-being to him; all ready to obey his commands, and all ready to follow him. On hearing these words, he paused awhile, and then added: As your services have these many years acquired incredible rights upon my gratitude, I declare to you that, who­ever shall please to become my man, my fellow soldier and suc­courer in this affair, I, on my side, shall become his man, and his fellow soldier, ready to part with my life or fortune in his cause. Either of these will be common between us; and as to those that may be disinclined from so laborious an undertaking, I have no objections to their retiring to their homes. Nor do I see why it should follow, that because I have myself preferred death to such a life, they also should prefer death to their own con­veniency. These words having again produced a murmur of approbation, and several voices speaking together, on the murmurs subsiding, an officer advanced to the Mesned, and answered in these words for all the rest: There is no doubt but every one of us, your servants, has been benefited by his attachment to your Highness. We have every one of us experienced your favours, and received a variety of obligations from your family; and now we have no other intention than that of repaying you by shedding our blood in your cause. March then, and we follow. Soldiers and friends, replied the Viceroy, If ye are true to your words, and sincere in your protestations, do confirm your oaths by the ties of religion, that they may acquire a greater solidity, and become the more binding. At these words a Coran was produced, and every one getting up, swore upon it to the truth of his word, and the fidelity of his promise. As soon as the assembly had taken their seats again, the Prince addressed them again: Gentlemen, said he, I am a debtor to every one of you; and the arrears of your pay is a debt which I must by all means discharge; but you see the times; please to take patience and allow me time to liquidate the whole gradually. For do not believe I shall be sparing of my money with men that are not sparing of their blood. The assembly consented unanimously, and promised to be all of one heart and one mind in his service.

This affair being ended to his satisfaction, he turned his view towards raising the necessary money, and he obtained immense sums from his son-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, and not a little from his own daughter, Bibi-Ghahassity, consort to that deputy. He also got mighty sums from Djagat-seat, and from the bankers and other money-lenders, as well as from the principal persons of his Court. All these sums being immediately paid to the troops, there still remained balances due them. But whilst these arrangements were taking, the city was in danger. The Mar­hattas were in full view, and had raised a great tumult; and as their manner of waging war is extremely troublesome and importune, and they never tarry at one place, but conduct their business chiefly by repeated skirmishes and repeated retreats, the Viceroy became uneasy at what might happen in his absence; and he resolved to remain encamped, and to secure the city, until the preparatives for his intended expedition might be fully com­pleted. Meanwhile he sent his son-in-law, Sàyd-ahmed-qhan, to Bagvangola, with orders to secure the roads in those parts, in such a manner, as that the daily convoys of provisions from thence should not meet with any obstruction from the Marhattas, nor the enemy suffered to occasion a dearth in the city. He like­wise published, “That at present his business was with the Afghans, a species of foes, from whom he could not divert his attention to any other object, and against whom he must march of all necessity. That mean while the Marhattas would be left in the heart of Bengal, an army of freebooters, that would ravage the country without controul, but against whom at present he could not insure the safety of the inhabitants. That it was proper, therefore, that every one should provide for his own safety, by retiring to some sure retreat.” As soon as these words of his became public, every one of those that could afford it, retired to the other side, that is, to the northern side of the Ganga; and the multitude, that could not afford to quit their homes, recommended themselves to God, and remained in the city. Aaly-verdy-qhan’s mind being now made easy on that head, he applied it so vigorously to the preparatives of his future campaign, and he gained the affection of the soldiers so effectually by a variety of favours, and by the affability of his deportment, that about the end of the second Reby, in the year 1161, A. D. 1749, he was enabled to take the field, with fourteen or fifteen thousand horse, and eight thousand foot, at the head of which he displayed his glorious standards towards the city of Azim-abad. From Amany-gundj he went to Chapàideh, which is a village at three cosses from M8rsh8d-abad, towards the west. He left his son-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, to take care of the city in con­junction with Ata-ollah-qhan, under whose orders he put a body of five or six thousand men; commanded by Mir-djaafer-qhan; and as this officer had been for several years past Paymaster-General of the forces, an office which he had lost, and which had been bestowed on N8r-ollah-beg-qhan, the office in question was restored to him with a view to gain that General’s heart, and to shew a regard to Nevazish-mahmed-qhan’s intercession. And as it was expected that the army on its march, would be followed and harassed by the flying parties of the Marhattas, and proba­bly would suffer from a dearth, if not from a scarcity of provisions, it was recommended to the most eminent grain merchants that followed the army, and to all those that could afford the precau­tion, to lay in a store of provisions, and to accompany the army in their boats laden with stores. In short, after taking every precaution, and providing against every probable accident, he displayed the standards of good luck, and quitting Chapàideh, he resolved to march against the enemy.