As soon as this intelligence was conveyed to the Marhattas, they guessed his intention; and being resolved on their side to support the Afghans at any rate, they gave up their wonted custom of warfare; and abandoning their schemes of plundering the city of M8rsh8d-abad, they took to a mountainous country on the left of the victorious army, and marched incessantly under cover. The Bengal army on its march received some assistance from Sèif-qhan, who possessed the Fodjdary of P8raniah from a long series of years. That nobleman having heard of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s expedition, sent to his assistance Sheh-din-mahmed, son to Sheh-mudjahed, a chief Commander in his service, at the head of fifteen hundred musqueteers; excusing himself at the same time on pretence of sickness, from waiting upon him in person. The officer having crossed the Ganga at Carangola, attempted to join Aaly-verdy-qhan, who he heard would stay two or three days at Mongher; and he was already arrived at Soltan-gundj, Brave defence made by an officer. when he was set upon by the Marhattas, who hearing of his small numbers, sent a detachment to overtake him. The man without being dismayed, stood his ground the whole day, after having dispatched a swift horseman to give advice to Aaly-verdy-qhan of his situation. This Prince, although averse from dividing his army, sent the four sons of Omer-qhan with a body of troops to succour him; but before the detachment could arrive, the Mar­hattas, at sunset, had already retired to their camp, as is their custom. So that Din-mahamed availed himself of this retreat, and of the darkness of the night, to march without discontinuation, until at day-break he met the detachment, with which he marched on leisurely, so as to reach the army betimes. The next day he paid his respects to Aaly-verdy-qhan, who loaded him with caresses and encomiums. The officer in relating his engagement with the Marhattas, mentioned that having spent all the powder he had received from his master, he requested a supply from the army’s stores, lest he might he found destitute in the future engagement with the Afghans. This was a very natural request, but to the amazement of all, it was not heard; and the Viceroy, intent on sparing his stores, expressed doubts about the officer’s spending all his powder. The latter observed the length of the engagement, which had lasted from morning till evening; but the Viceroy still doubted; and it required a deal of persuasion, and many intreaties to make him spare a small quantity of gun­powder. Strange to say! that so great a Prince, and otherwise so generous a man, should have taken up so much time to con­sider whether he should bestow some gunpowder on a deserving officer: an article too so cheap, and at that time, so very neces­sary to the petitioner. It was a little after this event, that a man who carried a letter of importance from Ata-ollah-qhan to the two Afghan Generals, fell in the hands of Dost-nick-bedaqh­shani, an officer in the Bengal army. By comparing the purport of the letter with the man’s answers, it became evident that Ata-ollah-qhan solicited their concurrence and their alliance, offering them an union of concerns and interests, and exhorting them to a vigorous opposition on promise of support.

Such a discovery could not but affect the Viceroy; however his attention was soon diverted to another object. Whilst the Bengal army was on its march, Mir-habib, of whom all track had been lost in his journey through the mountainous countries, emerged all at once about Bagal-p8r, and was now on the little river of Champa-nagar, where falling unexpectedly upon the laggers of the army, he occasioned much disorder and much tumult amongst the people that attended the baggage; after which he retreated with his booty. But this did not prevent the Vice­roy from continuing his journey to Mongher, where he was met by Radja Sunder-sing, Zemindar of Ticary, who had received important favours from him, and was greatly attached to his family; and likewise by Camcar-qhan, Zemindar of Tarhut and Samáy. They both came to pay their respects, and to offer their services; and they were received with demonstrations of honour and regard. Immediately after them, came the cream of law-learning, the Prince of doctors, the withdrawer of the veil of celestial and terrestrial truths, our Lord and teacher,———Mir-mahmed-aaly-fazyl, (May God perpetuate the refreshing pure streams of his learning!) and he came to pay his respects to the Viceroy, who received him with the utmost regard, and shewed him every demonstration of honour. He is a personage, of whose merit we shall make further mention, when we come to speak more particularly of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s family, as well as of his private way of life. This excellent man was followed in a few days by some other persons of distinction, such as Qhadum-hassen-qhan, who having quitted the army for some disgust against Mehdy-nessar-qhan, was coming to Azim-abad, and had already pitched his tent at P8lvary; where hearing of that lamentable event, (his master’s death) and finding it dangerous to retreat, he thought it expedient to join his murderers, until some favour­able opportunity should serve. Hearing in the sequel that the Viceroy was arrived at Mongher, he gave the Afghans the slip, and came to pay his respects to that Prince who admitted him the honour of kissing the threshold of the sublime gate. Thither came also Ismáil-c8li-qhan, a nobleman who on the first news of the revolution at Azim-abad, had taken fright and was flying to M8rsh8d-abad; but on his coming to pay his obeysance, no kind of notice was taken of it, as he had already lost his character. News came at the same time that the two Afghan Commanders, with fifty thousand of their countrymen, all as great miscreants and as odious as themselves, had quitted the city of Azim-abad with all those implements of war which they had found ready assembled at their hands; and that they had encamped at the town of Bar. This intelligence having reached Aaly-verdy-qhan, who had tarried a few days at Mongher, only to afford some rest to his army, and to implore the Divine assistance, he dis­played his victorious standards, and marched forwards to meet the enemy.

It was at this very critical time, that Mir-habib, and Djano-dji arrived in the neighbourhood of Azim-abad, from whence they immediately sent notice of their arrival to the two Afghan Generals. These two men who had only put in execution the several parts of that mighty revolution, which had been planned by Mir-habib, but where he and the Marhattas had pointed out to them mighty benefits which they had taken upon them­selves, thought that now was the time to confer with them. They went to pay a visit to Mir-habib as well as to Djano-dji, as to two men in whose service they reckoned themselves to be; for this Mir-habib had been the proposer, and first mobile of that whole affair. He was a man of a fiery temper, fertile in expe­dient, vindicative, and ardent in everything that tended to ruin Aaly-verdy-qhan’s power; but he was very little seconded by fortune. Djano-dji and Mir-habib bestowed rich Qhylaats on Shimshir-qhan and his colleague, whom they treated in all respects as men in their pay; and Mir-habib doubtless thought that he had conferred on them thereby the Viceroyalty of Bahar. After this visit they were dismissed to their camp; for the Afghans, who had formed high pretensions upon him for their salary, seemed only to conform to whatever he pleased. The next day Mir-habib returned the visit, upon an invitation from the Afghans, who had prepared an entertainment. He was accompanied by Mirza-mahmed-saleh, by Mohon-sing, and by some other persons of distinction. A great deal of respect was shewn him, and he was sumptuously entertained. After the entertainment, he was shewn into a magnificent tent, pitched on purpose for his taking some repose in the afternoon; they also sent a guard thither, in appearance to do him honour, but in reality for quite another purpose. The officers had orders to let Mir-habib repose leisurely; but on his offering to return to his camp, they were to pre­vent him, and to represent, “that the Afghans had engaged on that dangerous enterprise solely on his promises. That they had performed their own part, as men in his service, by dis­patching Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan; and were now to the number of fifty thousand horse and foot ready to fight the enemy, and all this, by his orders, and for his sake; but as the pay of the troops was in arrear by a vast balance, it was proper that he should provide for their immediate relief by a sum of thirty or forty lacks; after which he might return to his camp, to find the remainder.” Mir-habib’s situation now became critical; but he was extricated by his friend, Mirza-saleh, to whom he had given proper instructions, and who having examined the scheme by himself, executed the following stratagem: He engaged a number of Marhatta troopers to absent themselves from the Afghan camp; and then to return full speed, crying out that Aaly-verdy-qhan was at hand, and that his vanguard was in pur­suit of them. The troopers did as they were bid, and filled the Afghan army with tumult; and Mir-habib getting ready with his retinue, intended to return to his camp, when he was met by the two Afghan Generals who renewed their request, but were answered by Mir-habib “that they took very ill their time for stopping him and setting up a conference and a negotiation; that such a stoppage could not but produce some great evil, and would occasion precisely what the enemy wished for; that Aaly-verdy-qhan thirsting for revenge was at hand; and that such a sum would be duly considered, and as much as he could afford it, provided for after his return to his camp; but that such an affair required leisure and recollection; and that now the main business was how to get ready for an engagement, as not a moment was to be lost in disputes.” This speech produced its full effect. The Afghans considered, consented to a parley; and at last Mir-habib agreed to pay down two lacs of rupees for which a Banker became his security. It was with such a contrivance he found means to depart from the Afghan camp, and to arrive safe among his own troops, together with his right-hand-man Mirza-saleh. The next day the two armies, having just seen each other, and being only at three cosses distance, every one prepared for a general action.