These disturbances having been taken notice of at court, Moommin-qhan was sent to Cashmir, as Deputy on the part Ynaïet-ollah-qhan, who had the government of the province. This intelligence intimidated Muhtevi-qhan, who by this time had very much cooled, so as to become sensible of all the conse­quences of what he had done. In the first emotion which he felt, he took two small children of his by the hand, and went with them to Qhadja-Abdollah, one of the principal Religious of the city, with whom he had an acquaintance; and as he had heard that he intended to go out to meet the new Deputy-Gov­ernor at the head of the principal Religious and the principal citizens, he wished to be of his company in such a day. The holy man answered that he had no objections; but that he thought he would act with more propriety, were he to go to the Paymaster, Mir-shah-yor, first whose forgiveness he ought to ask for what had passed. Muhtevi-qhan being of the same opinion, went to the Paymaster’s lodgings, where the latter had, by the Qhadja’s advice, concealed a number of men from the Djud-bell, that much injured quarter of the city. On his entering the room, a few words were exchanged with him, when the Paymaster feeling some urgent necessity within his body, excused himself and went away; and this being the signal agreed upon, the concealed men rushed from their corners, and first of all ripped open, in his face, the two children’s bellies, and then falling upon him, they put him to death with all that variety of tortures which resentment could contrive. Hardly had this execution taken place, when his followers resolved to revenge his death; and running to the Djud-bell, they commenced killing, wounding, beating, and mangling the inhabitants, after which they set the houses on fire. About three thousand men were hacked to pieces by these scelerats, and these proved to be mostly Moghuls, merchants, and other strangers come for the purpose of trade. An infinity of women and children were likewise seized on, and carried away as fair booty. Property to the amount of several lacs was carried away, likewise, or spoiled utterly; nor is there describing the usage offered to those defenceless people that were carried away by those miscreants. These infernal men, after having finished what they called the first volume of their religious war, proceeded to the second, that is, they marched in a body to the lodgings of the Cazi, and of the Paymaster. The latter found means to remain concealed; the Cazi changed his dress and slunk away; and the scelerats incensed at his escape, tore up his house from the founda­tion, and handing the materials about, they left not a brick on the spot. It was some days after this execution that Moommin-qhan, the new commandant, arrived. His first care was to send Mir-ahmed-qhan to a place of safety. His second, to re-establish order and subordination; a difficult task this in a country known for a disposition to turbulency, and for being inhabited by a wicked race of men with whom a man in power must make a shift to live sometimes by yielding and as often by stiffening.

Whilst the northern parts of the Empire were recovering from a state of convulsion, the southern ones were becoming the theatre of a very dangerous war, that struck at the very being of the two brother Sëids. We have left Dilaver-aaly-qhan in full march for B8rhanp8r. Nizam-el-mulk, informed of his motions, sent against him some of his best Generals with his best troops, to whom he soon joined Ghö8ss-qhan’s cavalry, with a train of artillery and a camp-equipage, the whole under command of his trusty friend, Ynaiët-qhan. Himself mounting his elephant, came out of the city with Ghö8ss-qhan, his kinsman, and the rest of his army, and he encamped in the neighbourhood, so as to be at hand to succour Ynaiët-qhan. As soon as the enemy was discovered, Ynaiët-qhan drew up his army, and pursuing Nizam-el-mulk’s instructions, he placed the greatest part of his light and heavy artillery behind a bushy ground, where it remained loaded with that small ball called churra in India. It was along a brook whose shady banks seemed calculated for concealing it from sight; and such was its com­mander’s intention, who had under his orders a numerous body of men, whose valour had been tried, and which Nizam-el-mulk knew to be capable of conserving their presence of mind in a moment of trepidation and danger. On the other hand, Dilaver-aaly-qhan, with that fiery courage peculiar to him, and that obtuse­ness of understanding become proverbial for the men of Barr, advanced armed and mounted, in company with Dost-mahmed-qhan, an Afghan commander; and he ranged his army in this manner:—He was himself at the head of eleven thousand horse, and the two Gentoo Princes, Behim-sing and Gudj-sing followed with a compact body of Radjp8ts. On the back of these were his artillery, and behind all, were his war-elephants. It was with such an order of battle he was advancing in a frantic manner against the enemy who waited steadily for him. Ynaiët-qhan, on the contrary, was watching the motions of his enemy. The battle commenced by discharges of musquetry and rockets, when Dilaver-aaly-qhan, inflamed by the sight of his foes, and unable to contain himself, advanced farther and farther on the retiring enemy, with­out ever suspecting anything of the ambuscade which lay in wait for him, until he found himself upon very unequal ground, which necessarily obliged his troops to break and discompose their ranks. Unmindful of this disorder, he was pushing on, until he arrived Battle of B8rhanp8r. over against that bushy ground which concealed the ambuscade, and where he was expected by a steady body of men, who taking aim leisurely, let fly a general discharge of musquetry, cannon, and rockets, which brought down almost the whole of those that followed him so eagerly. Those behind, terrified by that terrible execution, availed themselves of the smoke which had covered the plain, to quit the combat and to retreat; insomuch that Dilaver-aaly-qhan was left almost alone, and with no one about his person, but the two Radjas, and about four or five hundred men. As the ground was too uneven for either a horse or an elephant to move with ease, and the greatest part of the cavalry with the Radjp8ts were lying dead or wounded on the field of battle, whilst the rest were flying on all sides, Dost-mahmed-qhan, that Afgan of so much courage and so great a character, thought proper to retire likewise, the sense of honour having been superceded in him by a sense of fear; for fortune had already turned her back on the two brothers, and nothing that concerned them could be brought to take a favourable issue. Dilaver-aaly-qhan, in despair to see the discomfiture of his whole army, still pushed on with the two Radjahs and his brave troops, resolved not to survive his shame; and these being shot at like so many marks, were all slain to a man. This victory which had almost destroyed the enemy’s army, cost hardly anything to Nizam-el-mulk; and it is agreed on all hands that he did not lose a single officer. The enemy flying everywhere, a shout of victory arose in the victorious army; and Dilaver-aaly-qhan’s military-chest, baggage, artillery, and equipage, with every thing that could escape a general pillage, was taken possession of for Nizam-el-mulk’s use. This General, now in full possession of victory, returned in triumph to B8rhanp8r, where he spent his time in cherishing the inhabitants, and in rewarding his troops with elephants, dresses of honour, rich arms, and other favours, whilst he took care to relieve the wounded by giving them money and medicines.

The report of this victory having soon reached the capital, gave a secret but sincere satisfaction to the Emperor, as well as to Mahmed-amin-qhan, and to all those who professed an attach­ment to that Prince; but it struck the two brothers with fear and anxiety. They were holding consultations every day. Some­times they proposed to march against Nizam-el-mulk together; and sometimes they thought it better to carry the Emperor to the capital, where he should be left under the care of the elder brother, whilst Hossëin-aaly-qhan, the younger, should march against the dangerous rival that had risen in Decan. At one time, they had a mind to carry the Emperor in the middle of the theatre of war, so as to make him partake their own danger; and at another, they thought it more decent first of all to send for Hossëin-aaly-qhan’s consort and children, and then only to think of marching against Nizam-el-mulk. Another object of debate amongst them was Mahmed-amin-qhan, who did not doubt him­self of his giving them very great umbrage, insomuch that the public report was one day, that he had been put to death by the Sëids, or, at least, arrested; and another, that a reconciliation had taken place, and that every subject of animosity was buried in oblivion. They say, that the younger brother voted for his being Great debates between the two brothers. put to death; but that the elder, who objected that oaths and promises had intervened between himself and the T8ranian Lord, objected that such a death would be ungenerous, and, at any rate, dishonourable, and even inexpedient. The dispute grew warm on that single subject; and the elder brother was heard to say: “My life is a pendant of his; if you be bent on killing him, then kill me also, or let me kill myself.” It was after such debates that his life was spared at last; and, indeed, as he was predestinated to kill Hossëin-aaly-qhan himself, how could he come to be killed by him?