Whilst the Prince was listening to predictions, Hosseïn-aaly-khan was taking every measure that could promote his undertaking; and with that view he wrote to Abdollah-khan, his elder brother, Viceroy of Ilah-abad, both to give him notice of what had happened, and to entreat his concurrence. Abdollah-khan, amazed at the intelligence, answered his brother in a strain that reflected severely on the precipitancy of his conduct, “as well as on the extreme danger it was pregnant with. He adverted at the same time to the impropriety of a step, which besides all the perils of its high nature, involved in its conse­quences their consorts, children, families and seraglioes, which being actually at Shah-djehan-abad, could not fail to experience all the resentment of a Prince, little susceptible of scruple, and who saw his throne attempted.” To this reprimand, Hosseïn-aaly-khan answered. “That for his own part, he had taken his party, happen what it would, and could not retro­grade; Feroh-syur’s party is espoused by two powerful brothers. that he would never form any objections to his remain­ing, as his elder brother, with the elder party, that is, that of Muëzzeddin.” In the sequel, Abdollah-khan himself carried away by his brother’s entreaties and examples, altered his resolution, and wrote to his younger brother: “That since what had happened could not be recalled, it became them both to make the best of it. Now that you are embarked in the undertaking,” added he, “make haste to join me, as my proximity to the capital renders me the more liable to become an object of resentment to the Imperial army. Let us then join together, and have but one cause.”

This is what I find in the memoir in question. But there is another account, and this is as follows:—

The Emperor Bahadyr-shah having appointed Yzed-dö8lah, a nobleman of high rank, to the Government of Bengal, commanded Feroh-syur’s attendance at court, who being appre­hensive of a fate similar to that which his two brothers, Sultan Kerim-eddin and Prince Homaï8n, had experienced, did not choose to trust himself near the Emperor, and had protracted the time by contriving a variety of delays. Being arrived at Azim-abad, and unwilling to proceed farther, he under pretence of his consort’s being near her time, found means to prolong his stay; and he wrote to Court accordingly. During his sojourn there, some astrologers, fortune-tellers and other shrewd men, who wanted only to provide for themselves, prevailed on Hekim-refyh, his Physician, to instil in his mind notions of ascending the throne, and thereby providing for his own safety. Whilst these people were working on that weak mind, there appeared at once at Azimabad, an officer called Mahmed-reza, but better known under the name of Raïet-khan, who being one of those that had fled from Bahadyr-shah’s resentment, was contriving to repair his lost fortune, by producing a forged order for his taking possession of Rhotas, a strong fortress, south of Azimabad; and really he found means to effect his purpose, so that he was actually busy in laying in a stock of provisions and necessaries, having made his account with keeping possession. He had even the audacity to write to the Emperor, and to give him advice that his soldier had through the sloth and incapacity of the Governor found means to get such a good post; and this intelligence was likewise confirmed by the gazetteers of those parts and by the Crown-intelligencers. On this piece of advice, there came an-order from the Emperor; and it was backed by a particular letter of Azim-ush-shan, enjoining Prince Feroh-syur to chastise the impostor. But as it was not an easy matter to get admittance in the fortress, and the Prince was mention­ing it to his friends, one of them, called Dilachin-beg, a Calmuc by nation, and a stout man of resolute determined temper, but who had so far displeased the Prince as to be forbidden the Court, found means to send him a secret message by one of the principal Courtiers. “I propose,” said he, “that the Prince shall publish that he has received orders to confirm the impostor in his post, and that I shall be the person who is to carry to him the robe of investiture. Let the Prince therefore reinstate me in his Princely favour, and let him try my abilities and his own destiny in this undertaking, which I hope shall recommend me to the Imperial notice. But I may perish in the attempt; and then, if it be after having performed the service expected from me, I hope it will entitle my family and children to a subsistence for their lives.”*

This scheme of his having been approved, the officers of Government published a false account of the Imperial order they had received; and the Prince having sent for the Calmuc, put in his hand the Qhylaat, standard, and patent of investiture, and dismissed him with honor and distinction. The man thus pro­vided, put himself at the head of a numerous retinue, with which cortege he arrived at the foot of the mountain, on which Rhotas is seated; and from thence he sent the impostor notice of his errand. But the latter who was constantly upon his guard, and extremely suspicious, would not admit all that cortege, and sent only a permit for the Envoy and two more persons. The Calmuc went up with only one, and whilst the Governor, into whose hands the standard had been delivered, was intent on reading the patent, he gave him a stab with his poniard, and repeated the strokes until the Governor fell down dead, the Calmuc himself with his companion having been wounded in the scuffle. On sight of this, the officers of the garrison fell upon the impostor’s followers, killed some, wounded others, con­fined the rest; and putting the dead man’s head into the Calmuc’s hands, they sent him back to Feroh-syur, who loaded him with favours. This happened just at the time when intelligence had come of Bahadyr-shah’s demise, and when Hosseïn-aaly-khan was gone on an expedition where he intended to bring to order, and to quiet, some distant parts of his government.

This time of suspense was seized by Feroh-syur; and before any intelligence might arrive of any of the deceased Emperor’s children having ascended the throne, he ordered the public prayers at the mosques to be read in Azim-ush-shan, his father’s name, published that he had ascended the throne and taken possession, and he wished him a prosperous reign. Having reflected in the sequel on the high nature of his proceeding, and dreading the consequences of his hastiness, he sent a submissive message to Hosseïn-aaly-khan, the Governor of the Province, by which he excused what had passed, and at the same time desired his attendance, as he had sentiments of the highest esteem for his person. Some days after the Governor returned to Azimabad; but as he did not seem inclined to enter into any connections with Feroh-syur, he was visited by the Prince’s mother, who soothed his mind, promised him the disposal of all the affairs of the Empire, and taking to witness her own Coran, which she had brought for the purpose, she protested by God Almighty’s Messenger, that he would never repent of such an union of con­cerns. This interview had calmed the Governor’s apprehensions, and entirely gained his heart, when news came of Azim-ush-shan’s death, and of Djehandar-shah’s ascension to the throne. But by this time the Governor had advanced himself so far with Feroh-syur, that there was no receding with any safety; and he thought it better boldly to push on. He, therefore, ordered public prayers to be said in the mosques for Feroh-syur, coined money in his name, and displayed to the full the standard of contention and open war with Djehandar-shah. Feroh-syur, in return, made it a point to cement daily his union with him, and to add every­day to his influence and authority.

The Governor being now in earnest, assembled the bankers and principal men of the city; and having borrowed from them large sums of money, proportionable to their circumstances, for which he gave bonds signed by the Prince, and payable on his having subdued his enemies, he soon assembled a good army, and on an auspicious day, he set out on his expedition, carrying the Prince at the head of his troops. At the same time he appointed Sëyd-ghäiret-khan, his sister’s son, for his Lieutenant-General in the province; and knowing that a convoy carrying the tribute of Bengal, was on its way to Ilah-abad, he wrote to Abdollah-khan, his brother, to entreat his seizing so fair a prize, which, however, he was to reserve entirely for the Prince’s use, unless he might want some small part of it for his own necessities. This convoy was under the charge of Shudjah-khan, son-in-law to Djaafer-khan, Viceroy of Bengal. Abdollah-khan no sooner received the Prince’s order thereon, than he stopped it, converted part of it to the use of his troops, but kept the remainder for his brother’s occasions. He also reviewed the artillery of the citadel and province, and pitched upon a number of pieces that were to compose his train. Whilst he was push­ing his preparatives with vigour, Djehandar-shah, informed of his rebellion, had given his government to Radji-mahmed-khan, whose lieutenant, Sëyd-abdol-ghaffar-khan, a man of character, had orders to expell Abdollah-khan; and he had been furnished for that purpose with twelve thousand horse, and a quantity of artillery. Abdolla-khan, who had been all this while expect­ing his brother with the Prince, confounded at their non-appear­ance, and not thinking his small force a match for the Imperial troops, had shut himself up within his citadel, after having sent one-half of his people to harass the Imperialists. These troops of his which hardly amounted to seven thousand men, cavalry and infantry, were commanded by his three younger brothers, Noor-eddin-aaly-khan, Nedjm-eddin-aaly-khan, and Seïf-eddin-aaly-khan, to whom he added his own Major-General and Pay­master, the Baqhshy Abdol-mohsen-khan, a man of resolution, born at Bidjapoor in Decan, but originally of Nedjef-esh­reff.* Sëyd-abdol-ghaffar, who had as good an opinion of himself as he had a small one of those three young men, turned their rear, and pushing to the citadel, he besieged it in form, after having sent word to the Governor, that he had left his nephews behind, because he had no inclination to play with children. This sarcasm which was faithfully reported to those young men, put them upon recommending themselves to that General’s good opinion. With this view, they fell upon his rear, as he was on full march; but their troops, which besides being all new levies, were greatly inferior in number, fell into con­fusion on the first on a set, and were losing ground every moment. This was no sooner perceived by the three young men, than resolved not to survive a defeat, they joined some of those that yet stood their ground to a body of Seïds of Bar, per­sonally attached to them; and stretching the feet of boldness and despair through the field of battle, they fell on the enemy like so many famished tigers of the wilderness, and were per­forming exploits worthy of being recorded in history. Fortune seemed to take side with the young heroes; one of those violent winds, common in that season, arose at that very time, and blew such clouds of dust and sand into the very faces of the enemies, as blinded them entirely. Unable to resist its violence, and still less to distinguish the friend from the foe, they fell into con­fusion, and became incapable of listening to command, or of keeping their ranks. This being perceived by the young heroes, they redoubled their efforts, killed Abdol-ghaffar’s brother, and were pushing with fury forwards, when a rumour having arisen in the enemy’s troops that their General had been slain, it made such a discouraging effect, that even those that stood bravely their ground, fell off and retreated. From that moment the con­fusion and flight became general, and the proud Imperialist General received a shameful defeat; for Djehandar-shah’s for­tune was now upon the decline. This victory could not fail of raising the spirits of Feroh-syur’s party, but it affected Abdollah-khan in a very different manner; his younger brother, Noor-eddin-aaly-khan, a young man of the greatest hopes, lost his life in it, and in his first campaign, drank of the cup of the martyr­dom, and went to join the choruses of his brave and pious ances­tors. Abdollah-khan, obliged to order the military music to strike up, was at a loss how to conceal his grief and tears upon the loss of such a hero whose eulogium he pronounced

“The Cup of gladness in his hand, with his brother’s corpse, on his shoulder.”