On the 1st of Muharram, A.H. 1152 (30th March, 1739), writers were appointed to levy ransom from the inhabitants under the orders of Tahmásp Khán Wakílu-s Saltanat, and lay it before the Sháh; but, in order that the inhabitants might not be completely ruined, nobles of both States were directed to superintend the settlement of the ransom in the hall of justice, where all might be spectators. The town now offered a strange spectacle. Emissaries of the kotwál and Persian nasakchís wandered from house to house and from street to street, to take inventories of the property, and enforce the appearance of the citizens, so that the sum to be contributed by each individual might be fixed according to his means. It was the wish of the Sháh that the townspeople should be preserved from violence and treated with lenity. ^{* *} Unoffending people, high and low, rich and poor, were compelled day after day to appear in the hall of justice, where they were kept from morn till night, often later, and then departed, speculating in their wretchedness on what the morrow might bring forth, and wondering to find themselves still alive. Mír Wáris and Khwája Rahmatu-llah openly, and two other persons in secret, had conspired to effect their destruction, and acted as delators. Without ever arriving at the truth, their calumnies were accepted as such. They forgot that they would reap what they sowed, feared neither God nor man, and maltreated the people.

The inventory was now ready. It appeared from this that the contributions of the capital would amount to two krors. The Sháh, therefore, appointed Ásaf Jáh, Wazíru-l mamálik, 'Azímu­llah Khán, Sarbuland Khán, Mubárizu-l Mulk, and Murtazá Khán to collect the money. Five divisions were made of all the city, and lists of the different muhallas, with their inhabitants, and the contributions to be levied from each were prepared and given to the above-named amírs.

Now commenced the work of spoliation, watered by the tears of the people. By Nawáb Ásaf Jáh Bahádur and Nawáb Sáhib Wazíru-l mamálik, but especially by the latter, who contributed a great part of the money himself, the collections were made in the most humane manner; but where the other three noblemen presided, and more particularly in the division of Mubárizu-l Mamálik, the sufferings of the citizens knew no bounds. Not only was their money taken, but whole families were ruined. Many swallowed poison, and others ended their woes with the stab of a knife. The author, whose house was in the division allotted to Mubárizu-l Mamálik, endured great persecution.*

Compact made by Muhammad Sháh with Nádir Sháh.

At a former epoch, the Monarch of the Universe and Emperor of Emperors, the Asylum of Islám, whose throne is that of Alexander, and whose court the heavens, the most noble and exalted sovereign, Nádir Sháh (may his kingdom endure for ever!), found it necessary to send ambassadors to transact certain affairs with the officials of this suppliant in the court of heaven.* We, at that time, consented to all the demands made of us; but when, at a subsequent period, Muhammad Khán Turkomán was deputed from Kandahár to recall these matters to our memory, the officers charged with the administration of this realm failed to comply with the demands of the great Emperor, and thus sowed the seeds of contention. At length the Persian army crossed the frontiers of Hindústán, and the forces of the two monarchies met in battle on the plains of Karnál. A great victory signalized the prowess of the Persian warriors. But as the illustrious Emperor, the head of the Turkomán tribes, and fount of manly virtues, treated us with kindness, we felt honoured by his friendship, which made our court the envy of Iram, and pro­ceeded in his company to Sháh-Jahánábád, where we offered for his acceptance all the treasures, jewels, and precious things of Hind. The great Emperor, complying with our request, placed a portion of our offerings within the circle of his acceptance, and, moved by the feelings of friendship, natural to the similarity of our origin and position, and by a just consideration of the favour due by a Turkomán to a descendant of the Gúrgánís, gave into our charge the crown and seals of the realm of Hindústán. In return for this liberality, surpassing indeed the kindness of a father to his son, or of brother to brother, all the countries about Sind, westward of the rivers Attock and Sind, and of the Sanjar stream, which flows from the latter, namely: Pesháwar, Bangashát, the country of Kábul, Ghaznín and the Kohistán, Hazárát, the fortress of Bhakkar and Sakhar, Khudábád and Láyagáon, the Deraját with the Bulúch and other populations, the province of Thattá, the fortress of Ráhima, the city of Badín, the parganas of Chún, Samwál, Kehrán, and all other parganas dependent on the harbours, with all forts, villages and cultivated lands, parganas and ports from the source of the river Attock, the Bakarnáchak pass, and the numerous branches of the river near Thattá, to where the river Sind and the Sind and Singarh rivulets flow into the ocean; together with whatever of any kind is the pro­duce of lands watered by the river Attock and its branches, and that may lie westward of the river Sind and the Singarh rivulet; all these have we detached from our dominions, and annexed to those of Persia. Henceforth the officers of that powerful State shall collect the revenue and exercise all authority in the aforesaid countries, and the people, great and small, dwellers in towns and in plains, tillers of the soil, men of every degree, shall be subject to their laws, and the ministers of this eternal government shall no longer have sway among them. But the fortress of Dáwar, the cities of Túharí and Bindráwach, and all the countries eastward of the rivers Attock and Sind and the Singarh rivulet, these remain attached to the kingdom of Hind.

On the 29th of Muharram the glory of the realms of Hind proceeded to partake of an entertainment given by the ruler of Írán. A quarter of the day passed in rejoicings. A hundred and one pieces of cloth, within which were precious objects from foreign countries, and several trays of jewels, offered by the Sháh, were accepted by the royal visitor, who then took his departure. All the nobles in the regal suite, to the number of nearly one hundred, received presents suited to their rank. This festival was not without its object, for the Sháh had resolved to return to his own dominions. This was as yet secret, but on the 6th of Safar the Mullá-báshí, standing at the door of his august master's residence, with a loud voice made the following pro­clamation:—

“Soldiers, the King of Kings and Lord of beneficence, our master, the protector of the world, conquered the country of Hindústán and restored it. To-morrow our victorious banners move towards 'Irák. Be you prepared!”

On the morrow the Sháh rode forth from the citadel, and pitched his camp near the Shálamár gardens, five kos from the town, and once more the government of Hindústán devolved on Muhammad Sháh. On the 8th of the month 'Abdu-l Bákí Khán, and Hayátu-llah Khán, son of the Nawáb Názim A'azzu-d daula, were sent to Láhore with an order directing the latter to collect and forward a contribution of one kror of rupees. The messen­gers, travelling with rapidity, reached Láhore on the 21st of the same month. They were met by the Nawáb Názim in the Shálamár gardens. Hence they continued their way in company to the city. The illustrious messenger here met with the kindest and most courteous reception, and the friendship already existing between the noble entertainer and his guest was much increased. Through the exertions of Kifáyat Khán the demand for a kror of rupees was modified, and a sum of twenty lacs taken in addition to the former contribution.*

Tidings having been brought of the Sháh's arrival at Chakgard, a place thirty kos from Láhore, on the banks of the Ráví, across which a bridge of boats had been formed, the Nawáb Sáhib Názim and 'Abdu-l Bákí Khán set out to meet His Persian Majesty on the 27th of Safar. On the 3rd of Rabí'u-l awwal, the monarch crossed the river at the above-named spot, and formed his camp on the right bank. The Nawáb Názim and his companion entered the camp that same day, and were admitted to the presence. The Názim met with great courtesy, and was honoured with several presents; besides these the Sháh con­ferred on him the farmán of the Nizámat of Multán (Saifu-d daula Bahádur, the late Názim, was dead), to which His Majesty had caused to be affixed the seal of Muhammad Sháh. Dresses of honour and Arabian horses were given to Khwája 'Abdu-llah Khán, second son of the late Saifu-d daula, to Khwája Hayátu-llah Khán, and to the other chiefs in the Názim's suite. ^{* *}