To return to myself, I quitted P8raniah, and went to Caran­golah, with intention to proceed to Azim-abad; when I learned that Aaly-verdy-qhan was dead, and that Seradj-ed-döulah, his grandson, had quietly been acknowledged in the three provinces of Bengal, Bahar, and Oressa. On this intelligence I thought it best to tarry at Caran-golah, in order to hear how the new Prince managed with the people of God; as such a knowledge might enable me to take my resolution accordingly, or as time and opportunity should point out. Meanwhile I heard that my two younger brothers, Séyd-aaly-qhan and Ghalib-aaly-qhan, and also my kind maternal uncle, Vehab-aaly-qhan, (which latter was of my age) had been banished out of the province of Azim-abad, where they all lived. This intelligence prevented my going to that city myself; and as the village of Caran-golah was not a place where one might pass the rainy season, fain I was to return to P8raniah, and to take my quarters again in the house I had quitted. And now to follow the order of events, the historian’s faithful pen must revert to Aaly-verdy-qhan’s demise, and give an account of Seradj-ed-döulah’s taking possession of the sover­eignty of these rich provinces, and how this event has ushered the ruin of all Hindostan, by putting it in the power of strangers to possess themselves of the most extensive and populous provinces of that region. It is only after giving some idea of that event, that we shall resume in a proper place what concerns Sháocat-djung.

We have said that Aaly-verdy-qhan fell into a dropsical A. D. 1756. habit of body on the ninth of the first Djemadi in the year 1169. He strove for some time to ward off the evil by a total abstinence from water; but afterwards on observing that such a distemper, when attacking a person of his age, always proved incurable (and he was then in his eightieth year), he ceased to observe any diet, or to abstain from water, or to take remedies. Such a state of things could not but greatly alarm Biby Gahassity, his eldest daughter, who was now relict of his nephew, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan. She had this longwhile cantoned herself at Moty-djil, where on seeing how matters went, she had distributed elephants and lacs of rupees to the troops of her deceased husband, in hopes of engaging them to stand by her, against Seradj-ed-döulah. She received their solemn promises, and took their oaths. When reverses are at hand, they engage into such liberalities. It is reported that on it becoming public that Aaly-verdy-qhan was drawing to his end, some of the principal persons of the city fearful of what might happen after his decease, requested to be recommended to Seradj-ed-döulah, by putting their hand within his. The old man smiled at the request, and said: “If you per­ceive after my death that he has been for three days together upon good terms with his grand-mother, then you or any others may have a chance for yourselves.” So well did he know the man’s character. After having said these words, he lived to the Saturday following, which was the ninth of the month of Redjeb in the year 1169; and at five o’clock in the morning, he departed this life, and repaired to the mansions of divine mercy. Immediately after his departure his principal servants and relations assembled, and after having purified his body, and wrapped it up in a winding sheet, they took it up at midnight, and carried it, pursuing his own appointment, to the feet of his mother, which is entombed at Qhosh-bagh on that side of the river opposite to Moty-djill. O Lord! should you punish him, no wonder, for he is your creature, and culprit; and should you forgive him, no wonder, for you are the most merciful.*

Aaly-verdy-qhan from his very youth shewed a serious turn of mind, averse from profligacy and debauch, and from every thing that savoured of drunkenness; nor did he seem to have much taste for such amusements as music and dancing, or for the conversation of women. He preferred to pass his time in reciting prayers, in reading the word of God, or in perusing some book of history; and he has affirmed more than once that he had never been guilty of fornication or of drinking wine; for he bore a mortal aversion to those two defilements. He always rose two hours before day-light; and after having gone through the usual evacuations and ablutions, he peformed some devotions of supererogation, and at day-break he said his prayers of divine precept, and then drank coffee with some choice friends. At seven o’clock he went out and sate in state in the hall of audience, where he listened to the representations of his military officers, of his civil officers, of all the persons in office, and of the Grandees of his Court, giving audience and a patient hearing to all comers whatever; and any one could speak to him as long as he pleased. Every one represented his affairs, and received such an answer as his case required; in general such a one as was dictated by goodness and a firm intention to oblige. This audience always lasted two hours, after which he retired into a closet, where he was attended by some persons who were to attend at that place, for instance, by some choice friends, and by his relations, such as Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, and also by Seradj-ed-döulah, if present. After that, he amused himself for a full hour with conversation, with hearing verses, reading poetry, or listening to some pleasing story; to which we must add some occasional orders, which he would give about some dish or other, which was always dressing in his presence at that time, to the care of which was appointed either some of the persons then present, or some person freshly come from Persia or any other country renowned for good cookery; for he was fond of good eating, and had a taste very nice and very delicate. Sometimes he ordered the meat, spice, and other necessaries, to be brought in his presence, and he gave his orders to his cooks, often direct­ing them, and often inventing some new method of proceeding. Meanwhile the heads of office, and the gentlemen and noblemen of the hall of audience were in full attendance, to be occasionally introduced, whenever they had anything to say. As soon as the cooking and dressing was over, the butler presented himself with a number of qhóans or trays and tables covered with all kinds of dishes, and he spread a large napkin. The tables covered with victuals were sent to such of his friends, as he chose to dis­tinguish; always adding some thing from those dishes which had been dressed under his direction. At dinner the conversation ran upon the good or bad taste of each dish in particular, reason­ing nicely upon their several flavours, and taking himself a mouth­ful and no more, from every one. The dinner being over, his guests washed their hands and withdrew; and this way of never eating but with a numerous company of guest, was his custom. It was in general in a company of men; but now and then he chose to dine in the sanctuary, and then he had a like com­pany of women, but not one of them a stranger, being all his daughters, grand-daughters, or nieces or relations. After dinner he retired into a closet to take a nap, at which time the story-tellers and bed-watchmen attended and did their office.* At about one o’clock he was awake, and after the usual evacuations and ablutions, he performed his purification and his noon-prayers; and these being over, he read with a high voice a chapter of the Coran,* and then performed his afternoon-prayers; after which they brought him a cup full of water, cooled with saltpetre, or with ice,* according to the season, and he drank it off at a single draught; which single draught answered all his neces­sities, without any addition whatever, for full twenty-four hours. After this, the curtain of the room being folded up, a number of pious and learned men were introduced, such as that Prince of learning, the learned Mir-mahmed-aaly-fazyl, (may God perpetuate his honours!) Naky-c8ly-qhan, Doctor Hadi-qhan, the phy­sician, Mirza-hossëin-sesevi, and another learned man from M8ltan, whose name I have forgotten. All these being introduced with respect, were honoured with a request to be seated. In general he attended to these learned assemblies in a hall set apart for that purpose. Over against his own Mesned, but on the opposite side of the hall, another Mesned was always spread for Mir-mahmed-aaly-fazyl, with a large pillow at the back of it, (that learned gentleman used always to come into the palace by the water-gate, that being the nearest). As soon as his Paleky had landed him at the rails of the terrace, which is on a level with the main hall, (a privilege granted only to three persons more, all Princes of the blood) and he had commenced ascending the steps towards the audience hall, which is not a small distance, Aaly-verdy-qhan used to rise, and to stand upon his own Mesned, waiting his walking in. When the learned man had advanced so far towards the hall, as to leave his slippers, and he had entered into the hall (and this was a vast spacious building), then the Viceroy quitted his Mesned and advanced some steps; and having made a respectful bow, the salute was returned in the same style by the learned man, who went and took his seat at the Mesned prepared for him. After his being seated, Aaly-verdy-qhan returned to his own Mesned, and resumed his seat; and then he sent him a small pillow, one of the four always placed on the right and left of the Prince’s Mesned. Immediately after, the Hoccas* of Mir-mahmed-aaly-fazyl, of Naky-c8ly-qhan, of Doctor Hadi-qhan, and of Mirza-hossëin-susévi, were brought in, and presented to them. Aaly-verdy-qhan himself never smoked, but he drank coffee, and it was distributed round. Coffee being drunk, a pillow was placed before the learned Moltani, and then a Coran was set upon it; being one of those written by Sheh-mahmed, son to Yac8b-Calini or the Calinian. It was a copy of one of those exemplaries, which having been drawn up according to the rules of the Imamites, and then presented to the Lord of Command, who approved them with the word Caafi* which he wrote underneath, were ever after reputed authentic, and called by that epithet. The learned M8ltany read one or two chapters of it, translating at the same time, phrase after phrase; and the niceties and difficulties in those chapters were occasionally elucidated and explained by the Lord Mir-mahmed-aaly the learned. Sometimes Aaly-verdy-qhan himself would offer a question, or ask about some particular passage; in which case he was answered by Mir-mahmed-aaly-fazyl. These conferences and readings always lasted two hours; after which the Lord-séyd rose, and Aaly-verdy-qhan having as usual advanced some steps, made him a respectful bow, and remained standing until the Lord had put on his slippers, and was advancing to his Paleky, at which time he returned to his Mesned, and resumed his seat. The learned men being departed, the chiefs of offices, the general intelligencer, and the rich banker, Djagat-seat, with some others, attended, and read or mentioned the news of every part of Hindia; or they reported such statements and revenue matters, as had remained from the morning audience; and this second audience likewise took up two full hours. Sometimes Nevazish-mahmed-qhan attended; and sometimes it was Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, if in town; and sometimes Seradj-ed-döulah. These being departed, the room was instantly filled by a number of facetious persons and other bonmots people, such as Mirza-shemseddin; Mirza-zin-el-abedin, the butler; Mirza-cazem, chief holsterer, and chief of the candle and oil-office; Mir-djevad-cooch-beghy; and the Hermaphrodite Mahm8d* with some others of that stamp; and for about two hours together he amused himself with their craking jokes upon each other, and with their mutual satires. By this time it becoming dusky, the taper-bearers and candle-lighters presented themselves in order with their implements, lighted,* as is the Hindostany custom, and from the farther end of the yard made their bows, and then repaired to their stations. It was at that particular time, that the Viceroy made his nightly-prayer; and the hall being cleared of men, and made womanish,* his consort attended, together with Seradj-ed-döulah’s consort and some other Princesses of his family which came to see him; and as Aaly-verdy-qhan never supped, but only ate some fruit, a quantity of fresh or dried fruits with a quantity of sweetmeats was presented to him, of which he ate a little, desiring the ladies to partake of the entertainment; and in general he distributed to each her share. This repast being over, the ladies retired, and the hall being made manish again, it was immediately filled with the officers of the guard, the bed-watchmen, and the story-tellers; at which time he used to get upon his bed, where the latter lulled him to sleep. After having slept two or three hours, he would awake, and ask what hour it was and who was present? And being answered accordingly, he took another nap, waking and asking by turns three or four times every night; but at all times he was awake and up, two hours before the dawn of the day, to recommence that circle of evacuations and occupations which we have been just describing. He was so bountiful in rewarding his servants, and in obliging his Ministers, his relations, and all those that could approach him, that his character in that respect is almost beyond belief. He remembered every one of the friends and acquaintances he had ever had at Shah-djehan-abad, and such especially as had obliged him in his days of distress and poverty; and whenever he could discover any of these, or any of their children, or of their descendants, he never failed to send for them from that capital, and to make them such presents, or to promote them to such offices, or to put such emoluments in their way, as they had never so much as dreamed of. And when those he had enriched in this manner, came to die, he took such care of their widows, children, and heirs, as no man in these hard times, and none even in times past, ever took of his own relations. His administration was so full of lenity, and his attention so intense to the security and quiet of the subject, and of the husbandman especially, that none of them can be said to have been so much at their ease on their father’s knees, or in their mother’s lap; nor was there a man in office with him, without excepting his very menial servants, that did not make fortunes by lacs. For although he did not shew much inclination for such accomplishments, as dancing and sing­ing, or for an intimate society with women, he had an inclination for all other kinds of pleasures and pastimes, and knew how to reward those that excelled in them. He understood arts, was fond of exquisite performances, and never failed to shew his regard to the artistes. Fond of the pastime of a witty conver­sation, he was himself excellent company; so far, as to be hardly equalled by any of his contemporaries. A prudent, keen, general, and a valorous soldier, there are hardly any qualifications which he did not possess; and few are the virtues which shall not be found to have made part of his character.