It has been mentioned, that Hossëin-aaly-qhan had sent his younger brother to B8rhanp8r to prepare a camp-equipage and a train of artillery. It was the fifteenth of Shevval, in the year 1131 of the Hedjrah. But that city being upon the high road to Shah-djehan-abad, he waited there for another letter from the capital, resolved to take his final resolution upon it; but on receiving intelligence of his brother’s danger, he set out imme­diately, and having tarried only a few days in that territory to dispatch some business, he commenced his march. It was in the beginning of Muharrem, in the seventh year of the Emperor’s, which answers to the year 1132 of the Hedjrah. He was accom­panied by a vast number of persons of distinction, such as, a son of his own uncle, called the holy Navvab, but whose name was Assed-ollah-qhan. He had also all that nobleman’s children, together with Djan-nessar-qhan; Yqhlass-qhan, Deputy to the Gov­ernor of Berar; Assed-aaly-qhan, the maimed, a relation to Aali­merdan-qhan, together with Dilir-qhan of Paniput, brother to Qhan-saadyc; and Yqhtisas-qhan, nephew to Qhan-aalem; as well as Hadji-sëif-ollah-qhan, and Zyäeddin-qhan, Divan of the whole Decan, with Firoz-aaly-qhan, the Paymaster, one of the most renowned Sëids of Barr. Several Gentoo Princes had likewise accompanied him of their own motion, such as, Radja Partab-sing the Bundlah, and Radja Mohcum-sing, one of the principal Lords of the Viceroy’s court. He was also attended by all the Crown-servants of Decan; some of their own accord, and some much against their own will. His army as numerous as the billows of the sea, covered the whole plain. His cavalry alone, amongst which were ten or twelve thousand Marhattas, amounted to full thirty thousand horse. The infantry was innumerable, as num­bers of Mansobdars, or Military officers, who had never moved from their homes for either Viceroy or Prince of the Blood, had now been obliged to attend. As to the fortresses, some, like Ahmed-abad, were garrisoned by himself, and some he left to be garrisoned by the Marhattas.

All these arrangements being taken, and some days spent in dispatching business about B8rhanp8r, he departed; and pro­ceeding by continual marches, he crossed the river that flows by Acbarp8r. On his arrival at Mandöu, he was met by Yqhlass-khan, the nobleman that had been sent by the Emperor to sooth Hossëin-aaly-qhan’s mind, and to prevail upon him to return to Decan. This nobleman in a private audience recounted, “How an accommodation had been two different times agreed to, and two different times broke; how the seeds of discontent and dissension seemed to shoot up everywhere; how the Grandees of the Empire were flocking to the capital; how both Nizam-el-mulk and Mahmed-aamin-qhan continued sullen in their dis­content, and how the Emperor was more than ever addicted to Yticad-qhan.” All these matters being represented in their proper colours, could not fail to render the Viceroy anxious about his brother’s fate. He was advancing with ardour, and receiving on his way the homages and compliments of all the Governors and Commanders on his passage; but he had the mortification to find himself slighted by Merhamet-qhan, an officer of character, who commanded at Mandö8, whither he had been sent from court for the purpose of bringing to order the refractory Zemindars of that country, a service which he had performed much to his honour. This officer having neglected to pay a visit to the Viceroy, could not fail of giving offence, and of becoming obnoxious, as he experienced in the sequel. Whilst the army was on full march about 0djëin, news came that the Emperor, intimidated by the Viceroy’s march towards the capital, had paid a visit to the Vezir Abdollah-qhan, in which he had entered into a fresh treaty with him, and an end had been put to all dissensions. He had sworn to his promises upon the glorious word of God, had solemnly promised New accom­modation with the Vezir. to be henceforward a friend to his family, and had ended his visit by taking his own turbant from his head, and putting it upon that Minister’s, as a token of a brotherhood indissoluble. The Emperor, not content with those protestations, had turned towards Yticad-qhan and his other favourites, and had strongly recommended to them to bury all discontents in oblivion, to look upon this day as the last of the dissensions that had distracted his court, and henceforward to live upon good terms with his Minister. This recital having seemingly affected Hossëin-aaly-qhan, he said aloud in the middle of his court that, “as the Emperor was sincerely reconciled to them (the two brothers) he might rest assured that they on their side would henceforward behave as dutiful subjects, and I intend nothing more now” added he, “than to pay my respects to the Emperor, and then to return to Decan.” The greatest part of the assembly being composed of Decaners, could not be but much pleased at these words, as every one of them expected soon to return to his own home. But the Viceroy’s bosom-friends thought very differently; especially since that Vice­roy being in private with them was heard to say “That all that visit of the Emperor’s was but a farce, and all those protestations of his but a tale to lull him asleep,* or at least to put a stop to his march, and that there was not the least truth in the monarch’s promise, whom he knew too well to repose any con­fidence in him; and rest assured,” added he, “that if the Emperor finds an opportunity to get us within his clutches, he will not miss it on any account, nor will it be possible to save either our honour or our lives; but rest assured also that if he falls within ours, we shall not use him better.”

After having pronounced these words with much deliberate­ness, he decamped and advanced into the territory of the Radja of Gohud, where some villages were plundered, and some havoc committed. But on the Gentoo Prince’s Vekil or Ambassador appearing with a perishcush or a sum of money, the country was spared, and suffered no further damage; so strict were the orders given on that head. This was not the case with Radja Djehi-sing-sivaï’s dominions. The whole country was sacked and plundered, to punish its owner for his siding so warmly with the Emperor. In vain did the Prince’s principal Agent humble himself before the Viceroy, to whom he presented a considerable sum of money. The compliment was rejected; and every thing in his country was abandoned to the rapaciousness and fury of the soldiers. Tilled fields without number were ravaged, and young persons, of both sexes, carried into captivity; nor was any inquiry made about those disorders. In a little time the army arrived at about three or four days journey from the capital; and the roads became thronged with the retinues of people of the highest distinction, who flocked to pay their court to so poweful a Viceroy. Zaafer-qhan was of the number, as well Ratan-chund. All these together with a vast multitude of the wealthiest citizens behaved respectfully, and were received with regard; but Zaafer-qhan, who had made a show of his numerous retinue, and on that account seemed somewhat assuming, had the mortification to see himself slighted, and even rendered ridiculous. This haughti­ness in the Viceroy as well as in his brother, the Vezir, was continually fed by numbers of tale-tellers, who desirous themselves of novelties on their own account, were poisoning their minds by reports true or false; and who unawares of the fatal conse­quences that might ensue from such dissensions, were everyday contriving expedients to widen the breach which always subsisted between the two brothers and the Emperor. The principal of these was Ratan-chund, who impelled in general by his religious zeal against Mussulmen, and in particular by his enmity to the Emperor and to so many Grandees of the Empire, made such envenomed reports, and irritated the Viceroy’s mind to such a degree, that it became totally incurable. Incensed beyond measure, he had advanced close to the city, and encamped under Firoz-shah’s steeple. It was the first of Reby. On approaching The Viceroy does not think himself a sub­ject. his tent, the music played to him, which is never done but for the Emperors themselves; and after having entered it with a retinue and a pomp truly Royal, he was heard to say: That as he did not think himself a subject, he did not care to pay so much deference to the etiquette.

Even all this did not rouse the pusillanimous Emperor. Eternally floating and undecided, he talked of the Imperial indignation, and of the chastisement which might be the consequence of it; and a day after, he spoke only of forbearance and dissimulation, and even made advances towards a reconciliation and a renewal of promises and stipulations. So much feebleness discouraged even his most zealous servants. Radjah Djehi-sing, tired with so much uncertainty, once proposed to him to come resolutely out of the castle, to put himself at the head of his household and troops, and to fall suddenly upon those two rebellious brothers. “The moment,” said he, “that your troops and friends, (and these, after all, cannot be reckoned at less than twice the num­ber of those that follow your enemies) the moment your friends Generous advice of Djehi-sing-siväi rejected. shall perceive that you are acting openly and with vigour, they will flock to you from all parts, and will put it in your power to punish your enemies. I am even inclined to believe, that at such a sight, numbers that seem to follow the standard of the two brothers, will quit it, to return to their lawful master, and will be assisting in crushing them to atoms. So that these, fall­ing at once from the height of their hopes, shall be obliged to submit to your pleasure.”