The ground wherein that fortress and the City of Catec are seated, is an island surrounded by the waters of the Maha-nedda, and those of the Cata-djo8ri. The parts that are washed by the two rivers, are surrounded by a strong wall built with squared stone, serving as a dyke or mound against their inundations. For those rivers which are fordable for one-half of the year, swell so much in the rains that the Maha-nedda becomes a mighty stream Delightful situation of Catec. of about two cosses (or five miles in breadth), and the Cata-djo8ri of half as much. But the fortress of Bara-bhati is seated on the Maha-nedda, and about three cosses in circuit. It is built of stone, brick and mortar, with a great deal of art; and a broad ditch faced with stone, surrounds the whole. But the City of Catec itself stretches on the lesser river at about two cosses from the citadel. The Governor’s palace and the houses of the nobility and principal citizens (which in general affect the water side, and are mostly seated on the said mound) rising by five and ten yards above the mound, cut a handsome appearance; and they overlook on both sides of the water a fine extensive plain that stretches from four to five cosses around. The horizon is bounded by a forest of beautiful, lofty trees, that extend as far as the eye can reach, and line the bottom and sides of a chain of high mountains that seem to reach the very sky; and this beautiful prospect with its triple circle of beauties, is enjoyed by the inhabitants the whole year round. As that spot of fortunate ground is surrounded on every side by the waters of two rivers, such a situation renders it very strong; and should any enemy attempt to besiege the place by coming to an understanding with the neighbouring Zemindars, and the siege should chance to be protracted until the beginning of the rainy season, he would find it difficult to subsist, and his convoys would be greatly at a loss how to approach his camp. But independently of that, the country round this island, and indeed throughout the whole Oressa, is very difficult ground, especially about the rainy season, when it becomes so very intersected by frequent rivers, and endless deep torrents, that an enemy would find it impossible to reach the end of his journey. The Viceroy who was abundantly sensible of the consequence of too long a stay, and thought that so much as he had done was well enough, resolved to quit the country at any rate; and he appointed an officer of Cavalry called Sheh-abdol-subhan, a plain, simple unqualified man, to fill the office of his Deputy in Catec. The reason of such a choice was this: As there was a strong report that the Marhattahs were lurking in the forest, and would sally forth on the first opportunity, as soon as they should see the passage from Bengal put an end to by the rains, no man of character would choose to accept an office, which was untenable; so that the Viceroy determined to return at any rate, invested the very first man that accepted his invita­tion; whilst the man himself who did not dream of such a sudden promotion, thought it a good luck sent him from Heaven; and doubtless he had an eye to the known verse:

“Dominion, although even for a short time, has still irresistible charms.”

Nor is there any other way of accounting for so strange a promotion. The Viceroy having in this manner rid himself of this affair, made haste to depart, it being now the month of Assar; for the rains had already set in by the beginning of the month of Djutt, and that too with so much violence as well as persever­ance, that not a day passed without rain. So that the little streams which hitherto had afforded hardly any water, now commenced swelling at such a rate, that to get over any single of them proved a work of much time and much difficulty. In some of these indeed the water did not rise above the armpits; but then it ran with so much violence, that it was impossible to cross over. At every stream, and at every crossing, numbers of men and beasts were constantly lost, as it is expressly mentioned in those memoirs left us by Y8suf-aaly-qhan, son to Gholam-aaly-qhan. He mentions himself his having been in this manner stopped short by the little river of Termahan, which although low, ran with such fury, that for want of boats, they were obliged to cross it upon rafts made of pieces of trees and timber supported under­neath by whole skins filled with wind. It is upon such frail machines that both men and tents and merecandise were obliged to pass. But the horses and other animals being obliged to swim over, hundreds of them were lost at a time. He adds that at a little stream, where he had the inspection of the passage, he lost no less than seventeen horses. From this specimen may be guessed what must have been the loss of the whole army, before they could reach the Cassái which runs by Midnip8r; and what they must have suffered in crossing that river, where no more than four boats could be procured, and where the water was deep The Viceroy retires to his capitalthrough an infinity of difficulties. and violent. In short, there would be no end to this narrative; nor would it answer any purpose to mention that infinity of pains which every such little passage did cost infallibly. But the main evil arose from the slipperiness and miriness of the ground, which had rendered the roads so very bad, that had the army tarried a few days more at Catec, it would have been impossible to reach M8rsh8d-abad.

Whilst the Bengal army was making its way to its Capital through so many difficulties, Mir-habib and his Marhattahs were emerging from their lurking places in the forest, and falling upon the Commanding officer at Catec. The latter although far from having forces enough to face a great army, had however courage enough to fight it. No sooner did he hear of the enemy’s approach, which happened to be six or seven days after his master’s depar­ture, than he marched out to fight; not that he was not sensible of the unequality of his force, but he thought his character at stake. He therefore charged vigorously, and behaved with a valour and conduct that did him a deal of honour; until having received six wounds, and lost the use of his arm, he was overpowered, and taken prisoner. This event was announced to the Viceroy whilst he was in Balisser-bender. Such a reverse could not but wound his pride; but as the season did not admit of returning back, the business of revenging his Deputy’s defeat was deferred to the next season. So that he pursued his journey, and after a number of fatiguing marches, he arrived at Catwa, where cross­ing over upon a bridge of boats that had been prepared before­hand, he on the beginning of Redjeb arrived at Moti-djil, a palace which he had commenced. There he was met by his son-in-law, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, by Hossëin-c8li-qhan, and by number of persons of distinction, which were received with honours and with presents; and it was at Moti-djil, that Bir8-dutt, who had hitherto succeeded to the Prime Minister or Ráy-ráyán, but without assuming the title, now received the investiture of that high office in a rich Qhylaat, which constituted him Comptroller and Superintendent of the Revenue office.

It was here likewise that the fall of Fahr-eddin-hossëin-qhan was determined. His incapacity and cowardice had become now so apparent, that his very friends and troops used to quit him every day, and to take service with Sáyd-ahmed-qhan at P8raniah; whilst himself with his immense baggage, and his riches, immense, was spending at Malda the whole rainy season, as if waiting what was to happen next. The Viceroy who now became fully apprised of his imbecility, sent some trusty persons to bring him over to M8rsh8d-abad, where he assigned him suitable lodgings, and a suitable pension, with guards to watch over his person. So that at one and the same stroke he took possession of that immense heap of money and jewels that had been amassing for half a century together.

We have said that on Háider-aaly-qhan’s brigade being broke, the whole of that detachment had undergone the same fate; so that their Commander retired to M8rsh8d-abad, where he had lost his eye-sight; and this misfortune had confined him to his house. But his broken troops applied to Seradj-ed-döulah, by whose intercession they were re-admitted into the service. The command of the artillery and of the corps attached to it, was bestowed on that young Prince himself; and Sheh-zia-ollah, who had been for years together the friend and favourite of Ata-ollah-qhan, was invested with the Deputyship of that office. About this time Mehdy-nessar-qhan, my uncle, who at the instigation of Seradj-ed-döulah’s mother, had fallen out with Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, of P8raniah, now made his appearance at M8rsh8d-abad, accompanied by Naky-aaly-qhan, my younger brother, by Gholam-reza-qhan, son to Mir-mortezevi-qhan, and by some other persons of distinction; all which he presented to Seradj-ed-döulah, on whose mind he soon acquired a complete ascendency. The young Prince, who had taken offence at his uncle’s behaviour this long­while, and who knew how much Mehdy-nessar-qhan had been attached to his father, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, the murdered Viceroy of Azim-abad, received him with open arms, gave him service, as well as to all his friends, admitted them to his friend­ship, and assigned them suitable pensions. Mehdy-nessar-qhan gained so much ground upon that young Prince’s mind, that he became his principal favourite, and the daily object of endless favours and kindnesses.