Whilst Ahmed-abdaly was marching to besiege Peshavor, fortune was planning a new set of successes for that new Monarch. We have mentioned that, on Zekaria-qhan’s demise, his second son, Shah-nevaz-qhan, had seized the Government, and driven away his elder brother; he was now governing the two Provinces of Lahor and Mooltan, with nearly an absolute authority. He had, for his Paymaster-General, one Adina-beg-qhan, who was a very devil under the appearance of a man. This man, who had resolved to overset his master’s power, and to raise his own on its ruins, addressed him in these words: “You are no more than a nephew to Vezir Camer-eddin-qhan, but your elder brother, Yahïa-qhan, is his son-in-law besides; and he is gone to carry complaints against you to Court. Rest assured, then, that neither Emperor nor Vezir shall let you alone in the full enjoyment of two Governments.” “You have, however, one resource, and it is this: Join Ahmed-abdaly’s party, a powerful and successful man, who openly aspires to a Crown, and will look upon your joining his party as the most unexpected favour which Heaven could confer upon him.” This speech had its full effect. Shah-nevaz-qhan acknowledged the goodness of the advice, and opened a cor­respondence with the Abdaly. These two men soon came to an agreement, and it was concluded in these terms: The Crown to Ahmed; the Vezirship to Shah-nevaz. The Abdaly had been so astonished at the proposal of making him a present of two such Provinces, that he had prostrated himself on the ground, and had acknowledged the Divine interposition on his undertaking. He immediately ordered the agreement to be drawn up, got it witnessed and guaranteed by the principal Com­manders of his army, and then sent it by a person of distinction.

This scheme having taken place, the incarnate devil set up another. He wrote to Camer-eddin-qhan, the Vezir, “That his nephew had conceived chimerical schemes in his mind, affected independence, and had opened a channel of correspondence with Ahmed-abdaly. That he was become so head­strong as to make no account of the remonstrances of his best servants; but that they would not fail to make another effort upon him as soon as the Minister should have endeav­oured to sooth his mind, and to gain his heart.” The Vezir, astonished at the intelligence, took pen immediately, and with his own hand wrote a very affecting letter to his nephew. The purport was, “That their family, at all times attached to the Emperors of Hindostan, had never been defiled by the crime of ingratitude and treason. Beware of such a crime; beware of thinking that a traitor can thrive. It is a pity that a man like you should wish for the honour of obeying Ahmed-abdaly, the Yesäol, rather than that of driving such a fellow from the frontiers of Hindostan. Would not the five Provinces of Cabool, Cashmir, Tatta, Lahor, and Mooltan, fall into your hands in such a case, and would not your good uncle exert himself in supporting you with all the power of the Empire*?” This letter produced its effect, and he was aimed from his folly; but Adina-beg-qhan, who had put together all the parts of his scheme, resolved to avail himself of this rupture with Ahmed-abdaly.

We have left this Prince wondering at Nasser-qhan’s defec­tion, and marching to besiege him in Peshavor. The latter, after having defended himself as long as his provisions and ammunition lasted, and his small numbers would admit, was thinking of escaping out of the town, and providing for his safety; but this was far from being easy. His Deputy, who was equally brave and zealous, seeing his distress, addressed him in these words: “Get out of this place as well as you can, and fly towards Hindostan. I shall contrive to hold out one day and two nights more, by which time, you shall be too far off to be overtaken by any enemies.” Nassyr-qhan, having approved the advice, escaped out of the town with a few friends, and fled with all his might, but in distress of every thing. Meanwhile the Deputy having held out as much as he promised, was slain at the second assault; and Ahmed-abdaly got possession of the town, in which Nassyr-qhan’s family and consort came into the Victor’s power. Ahmed, out of regard to her merit, and to her being daughter of Zir-dest-qhan, grandson to the famous Aaly-merdan-qhan*, not only took care of supporting her with decency and honour, but he in a little time set her at liberty.

Whilst that forlorn family was receiving so generous a treatment, Nassyr-qhan arrived at Lahor, where he had taken his residence in a Mosque*. But Shah-nevaz-qhan, no sooner heard of the arrival of such an illustrious fugitive, than he went to see him, and intreated him to join him in attacking the Abdaly. The other declined the proposal several times, and declared his resolution of going to Court. Shah-nevaz-qhan, finding he could not prevail upon him, took his leave, carrying with him that Governor’s Steward. Being arrived at his palace, he desired him to accept in his master’s name an equipage suit­able to his rank and former station; and he immediately sent him all the elephants, horses, camels, arms, and furniture, necessary for a Nobleman of high pedigree, without forgetting a kitchen, and a water equipage*, with a number of cooks and a quantity of provisions. To this he added four lacs of rupees in gold for his travelling charges.

The Viceroy had hardly dismissed that illustrious fugitive, when he received a letter from the Abdali-king, with an invitation to come over to his camp. The other refused flatly. The Abdaly reminded him of his engagement; and Shah-nevaz-qhan answered only by letters that shewed how much his mind was altered. This being heard of by Shah-sabur, who was become Ahmed’s director and tutelar saint, and who now remembered of his being born at Lahor, and of his having lived a long time there, he took Ahmed’s leave, and went alone to Lahor, where he landed in the Mufty-Abdollah’s house. Shah-nevaz-qhan, hearing of that extraordinary man’s arrival, sent Adina-beg-qhan and his Divan, Radja Kura-mull*, to know his purpose. The holy man answered: “I have no business with any of you, nor do I intend you any harm. I come only because I cannot help remembering that I was born in this city, had connections with some of its citizens, and am under obligations to some of its former rulers. I cannot help feeling for them all; therfore I tell you, faithlessness has never proved successfull; neither is it an object of approbation with either God or man; nor is your sabre equal to Ahmed-abdaly’s sabre.” He was yet speaking, when a voice from behind broke out in this excla­mation: “Is his sabre of iron, and ours of wood?” “No,” replied the Fakir, “your sabre, as well as his, is of iron; but your fortune is not equal to his. His star is now in its ascension, and I do not see that yours keeps pace with it.”

Adina-beg-qhan, who carried this message to his master, seemed to be affected by it; nor was Shah-nevaz-qhan himself without some emotion. But, however, no peace took place, and he ordered the Fakyr to be kept in custody in Adina-beg-qhan’s palace. Ahmed, finding that nothing was to be gained by letters, marched to Lahor, from whence Shah-nevaz-qhan came out with a numerous army, well furnished with artillery and every other necessary; and both sides seemed eager to engage, when the Viceroy sent to ask from a Fakyr, who meddled with Astrology, what he thought would be the fate of the day. Shah-kelb-aaly (for such was the man’s name)* answered. “This day is not favourable to you. If you can help it, abstain from fighting to-day. The day of to-morrow, with the following days, will be more favourable to your cause. Beware of engaging to-day.” The Viceroy, on this answer, sent orders to his Commanders not to fight to-day, but to keep themselves within their retrenchment, even should they be attacked; in which case, they were only to repel the enemy. This said, he went to his tent, and took some repose until supper time came; and he was already seated with Adina-beg-qhan and some other Commanders, when they heard the report of a great gun, and then another. Upon enquiry it was found, that a body of the enemy’s horse having made its appearance, two hundred Kuzzelbashes on horseback had quitted the intrenchment to fight them, and that the enemy had retired; but had come again to the number of about two thousand, which large body had dispersed on some cannon being fired at them. Some time after, a swift horseman came to the Viceroy to desire immediate assistance. He said, that Kuzzelbashes having sallied forth a second time, had been worsted and obliged to retreat within the enclosure; and as they came pellmell with the enemy, the artillery had therefore forborn firing; in consequence of which the Abdalies had penetrated within the camp, and were filling it with slaughter and confusion. On hearing this Shah-nevez-qhan was going to mount, and he immediately sent Adina-beg-qhan to the assistance of those attacked, with orders to drive the Abdalies out of the intenchment only. This officer, having put his hand upon his eyes in token of obedience, marched with his troops, but he took to the left, and contented himself with being a spectator of the engagement. By this time the Viceroy was upon his elephant, and whilst he was encouraging his men, Adina-beg-qhan advanced a little farther, but stopped short again. Luckily it was already dark, and the Abdalies had retired of their own accord. But Adina-beg-qhan having already retired with his troops within the city, even so early as the evening, a panic had seized most of those that remained, and every one strove to save himself within the walls, without minding their Officers. The Viceroy, confounded at this reverse, returned to his quarters, where he wanted to alight in his tent. This was strongly opposed by a relation of his who sat behind him, and objected that there was no safety left in camp; and that it was better to retire within the walls, and to fight the enemy from behind that cover. This the Viceroy admitted, but he proposed to take such a party only to-morrow, adding that this was an unfavourable day for him, and that to-morrow all would be well again. The other continuing to object, the Viceroy gave way; but as soon as he had turned the head of his elephant towards the city, such as had remained yet in camp, took example from him, and fled on all sides, making haste to get at the gate. At this moment, a body of faithless Tooranians in his service, who had preserved their presence of mind, availing themselves of the general panic, fell at once upon the runaways, and commenced killing and stripping and plundering. Not content with that, they advanced to the head quarters, where they plundered the Governor’s tents and equipage, whilst he was yet in sight. The Viceroy amazed at this sudden revolution, alighted at his Palace, where some of his Commanders arrived at the same time, propos­ing terms of accommodement. The Paymaster-General, Adina-beg-qhan, arrived also. The Viceroy bid him bring the Fakyr. The Paymaster answered, that in the confusion they had killed him. Killed him! said the Viceroy, incensed, and seizing one of the marble knobs that kept the carpets fixed to the ground, he struck the Paymaster in the breast, exclaiming at the same time, that after such an action they could not even shew their faces. Finding that matters were past all remedy, he distributed to a number of trusty servants a quantity of bags of gold, and putting some caskets full of jewels of high value in the hands of some eunuchs attached to his person, he quitted the city and fled; and thus the army without being beaten, left the victory to the enemy. The next morning, the Abdalies entered the city with­out the least opposition, and fell aplundering so leisurely, that nothing could escape their hands. Adina-beg-qhan had had the precaution to get early out of the place with his troops, and all his fortune, and to take to a precipitate flight. Meanwhile the Viceroy, after being overtaken by his Tooranians, who offered him all kinds of insults and ill usage, met the Vezir upon the road, who dismissed him to the Capital.