For as soon as the news of the revolution had spread far and near, the peasants had joined the highwaymen and banditties, and made it a practice to plunder every one of those that chanced to lag behind, or even any baggage that happened to be at some distance from the main; and although they were more than once chastised, there was no weaning them from such practices. One day a body of foot, with their officers at their head, was cut off near Abdollah-qhan’s quarters, and almost within his sight. Another day they surrounded a convoy that came from the capital with a vast quantity of effects for Hossëin-aaly-qhan; and plundered it entirely, stripping all those that composed it; and this at only two cosses from Abdollah-qhan’s camp. On the other hand, all the lands, and Djaghirs, that belonged to the two brothers, or to their adherents, had been laid hold of by the Zemindars, who took possession of the revenues, until, said they, they might know to whom they were to remain. All these, however, being but inconsiderable objects, Abdollah-qhan dispatched Shudjahat-ollah-qhan and M8rteza-qhan, two noblemen of importance, to the capital, with orders to bring from thence one of the Princes of the Imperial blood; and he wrote to his younger brother, Nedjm-eddin-aaly-qhan, Governor-General of the province of Delhi, in which the capital is seated, to raise as many men as he could, and to provide a camp-equipage with every thing requisite for taking the field.

The letter arrived in the evening of the eighth of Zilhidj, that is, sometime before any certain intelligence could arrive at the city. But as some rumour had already found its way thither, the Governor had sent a number of armed men, with the city Cutval at their head,* to take possession of Mahmed-aamin-qhan’s palace, which they had kept encircled for the greatest part of the night, whilst the people within shewed a resolution to defend themselves; but in the morning the Governor, whether from his own notion, or in consequence of an order from Abdollah-qhan, recalled the Cutval, and desisted from a proceeding so hazarded. His attention was besides so diverted to objects of much greater importance; for two days after, that is, on the tenth of Zilhidj, which is always the day of Corban or sacrifice, he went out of the city to make his devotions in the fields, as is the custom, with a vast multitude of people, and on returning to town, he repaired directly to the castle, where are guarded the Princes of the Imperial blood. He was accompanied by Abdollah-qhan’s two envoys, and it was with them he presented himself at the door of the apartment where lived the Princes, sons of Muëzzeddin-djehandar-shah, whom he requested to come out. But so far were they from complying with such a request, that they all refused to a man, and even one of them, Nico-syur by name, stole away, and hid himself. The envoys confounded at such a refuse, repaired to Soltan Hibrahim’s apartment, a young Prince, who was son to Refi-al-cadr, and cousin-german to Bahadyr-shah, and having prevailed upon him to accept their proffer, they brought him out; and on the next day, they placed him on the throne under the name and style of Abdol-fetuh—Zehir-eddin—Mahmed-hebra­him.* Abdollah-qhan being arrived two days after, went immediately to pay his homage to the new Prince, from whom he obtained for Ghazi-eddin-qhan the office of first Paymaster-General, with the grade of eight thousand horse, and the title of Abdollah-qhan places on the throne a rival to Mahmed-shah Emir-ul-umerah. Nedjmeddin-ally-qhan was made second Pay­master; Selabet-qhan, third; and Bäyram-qhan, fourth. Favours and promotions were likewise granted to their relations and friends; and then the Minister turned his attention towards many ancient Lords, who having been of the court of Refi-ed-derdjat, now lived at home, without office and without employment, utterly neglected and forgotten. These were now sent for, received with respect, accommodated with offices and employments, and assisted with sums of money, adequate to all their wants, from fifty thousand down to a lac each. Some who had served with distinction, were proposed to the command of several new bodies of horse, which they were to raise at the rate of eighty rupees per month for each trooper. Hamed-qhan, uncle to Nizam-el-mulk, but upon bad terms with him, was complimented with a new Djaghir over and above that which he enjoyed already, and with a large sum of money. Several Nobles and Lords attached to Feroh-syur, such, for instance, as Yticad-qhan, Shahista-qhan, Sefi-qhan, and Islam-qhan, with many others more, who lived neglected this long while, and moreover uncertain of their fate, were now requested to attend, and promised honours and dignities, if they would attach themselves to the young Prince. Some of them, like Islam-qhan, and Mahmed-yar-qhan, and Sefi-qhan, who did not like the complexion of the times, excused themselves upon their bad health, and absolutely refused to meddle with honours, or dignities, or offices. But Yticad-qhan and Sëif-qhan agreed to the proposals, and accepted a sum of money for their necessities, but without having really any sincere intention; for both these Lords, as well as several others that had commanded in the guards called Vala-shahies, returned home after having followed Abdollah-qhan for form’s sake during one or two days march. The dignitaries or Mansobdars, of lesser note, such as those from five hundred to a thousand horse, proved more sincere in their attachment, and were therefore preferred according to their merits. As to the common troopers, their pay was carried from fifty rupees a month to full eighty. But as men and horses were The Vezir acquires parti­sans, and in a little time raises within the city an incredible army. promiscuously admitted, without giving a due preference to old soldiers, these as well as those that were advantageously mounted and armed, took offence at an undistinguishing inattention, that confounded them with inadequate new levies, and they became discontented. Nevertheless, the necessities of the times not allowing the rulers to pay to their discontent all the attention it deserved, the levies went on without much minding the dis­tinctions of old or new soldiers, and still less that of the tribe and race; insomuch that whoever brought a horse, was enlisted, of course, without much inquiry about what nation or tribe he might be. In this manner an army of ninety thousand horse was in a little time levied in the capital, at the expense of one coror of rupees for levy-money.*

The seventeenth of Zilhidj, that is, five days after the corona­tion, Abdollah-qhan brought the new Emperor out of the citadel, in the middle of as much cortege and as much royal pomp as could be put together on so short notice, and he marched with him to the Yid-gah,* out of the city, where he encamped, and where he was joined by several persons of consequence, who quitted the Imperial army and joined him with their troops. At the same time Gh8lam-aaly-qhan and Nedjabet-aaly-qhan (the latter was cousin-german to Abdollah-qhan and only fourteen years old) were sent back to the city, with commission to keep it quiet and free from tumults. And as the news he now received assured him that Mahmed-shah was advancing by the Djatt country, he took to the road of Saint Cö8t8b-eddin’s Monument in order to be on his passage; but on being better informed, he struck to the left and encamped at Ferid-p8r, whilst Mahmed-shah was coming through Ecber-abad. There he made some stay, in expectation of being joined by his younger brothers, Sëif-eddin-aaly-qhan, and Sëid-mahmed-qhan, as well as by some other Lords and Com­manders, who were to bring a body of Sëids of Barr with their own troops. This short stay proved of service to him, as every day he was joined by some body of troops, as well as by the bravest amongst the Afghans; besides several considerable Zemindars who flocked amongst the Afghans; besides several considerable Zemindars, who flocked to him from the environs at the head of their men. Shoals of Hossëin-aaly-qhan’s veteran soldiers, who had been prevailed upon to enlist with Mahmed-shah, and to touch one month of his pay, now made it a practice to steal away, and to come by hundreds and two hundreds at a time, all mounted and armed. Abdollah-qhan thus strengthened, moved to Pel8l, where he was joined by his two brothers, and by some other com­manders, who besides their own troops, had brought one hundred and sixty cart-loads of Sëids of Barr, every one of whom thought himself equal to a Rustem and an Afrassiab. These were ordered to form a circle round Abdollah-qhan’s elephant, a post for which they had shewn much eagerness, not only in hopes of preferment, but also to exhibit their regard for that Minister with whom, as Sëids, they claimed the rights of kindred and brotherhood. As to the veterans brought by his two brothers, they amounted at least to ten thousand effective troopers, and hardly were they in camp, when they were followed by Churamon the Djatt, (father to Bedun-sing and grandfather to Barchund) a powerful Zemindar of the province of Ecber-abad, and owner of the very ground whereon Mahmed-shah was treading. Immediately after, arrived Radja Mocum-sing, late Divan to Hossëin-aaly-qhan, the same who had been so kindly used by Mahmed-shah. But his inclina­tion overbalancing those new ties, he fled from that camp and came to Abdollah-qhan, bringing with him a good body of troops with several veteran officers and commanders. All these several successive bodies were in addition to that numerous army brought out of the capital, and they formed so immense a surface, that the The Ve?? army is al?? doubled by succours ?? flock to camp. soil undertrodden by so much cavalry and infantry disappeared at once, and could not be seen, but after some search. All these forces were in such high spirits, that Churamon having gone a skirmishing the very day of his arrival, he brought away three or four elephants and a large number of camels, belonging to the enemy, all which he presented to Abdollah-qhan, as an auspicious beginning; but which that General requested him to accept at his hand, as an earnest of future victory. The two adverse armies had advanced so near, that Mahmed-shah was encamped in the neighbourhood of Shah-p8r, and the distance would have been reduced to nothing, had not that Prince stopped there, to wait for the famous Abdol-semed-qhan, Governor of M8ltan, and the Radja Dehiradj-djehi-sing, who, however, did not appear, either through the badness of the roads, or for some other reason. It was then the ninth of Moharrem; but in that interval Mahmed-qhan-bangash joined him with three thousand horse, as did Ghaïret-qhan the Rohilah, and Bayazid-qhan the Mevati, with their respective corps; and in a little time more, four thousand effective troopers arrived from Radja Djehi-sing’s country.