This accident proved of considerable detriment to the Imperial Prince; but did not check the expedition at all. He had with him several persons of character and distinction, all attached to his fortune; but all in as much distress as their master. The first of these was the poor man’s father, who went by the name and titles of Bacshy-el-mulk, Nassyr-ed-döula, Séyd-hedáiet-aaly-qhan, Bahadyr-assed-djung;* the second was Medar-ed-döula, whose other titles I do not recollect at present; The Prince, Aaly-goher, undertakes an expedition against Ben­gal. the third was Fazl-ollah-qhan, Mumtaz-ed-döula,* grandson to Yticad-qhan, the Cashmirian favourite of Feroh-syur’s; the fourth, Nob qhan; the fifth, Munnir-ed-döula, Reza-c8li-qhan, Nadyr-djung;* the sixth, Bahadyr-aaly-qhan, the eunuch. Let not the reader of these sheets imagine, that it is out of tender­ness to my father, that I have placed him at the head of this noble list. It is notorious that, on the Imperial Prince’s coming out of Shah-djehan-abad, his circumstances were so distressful and his poverty so complete, that not one man of character would think of either assisting him, or following his fortunes. Every one was, besides, in dread of the Vizir Umad-el-mulk’s resent­ment; nor had the Prince been able to come out at all, had not that Minister, who now breathed revenge against Shudja-ed-döula, set out on a journey to meet Ahmed-qhan-bangash, as well as the other Afghan Princes, whom he had brought over to his party; all considerable events, of which we shall speak fully in this Second Volume, when we shall come to recount the history of the Emperors, and principal men of Hindostan. Then shall we relate the events happened at the capital and its environs; then shall we mention, occasionally, what shall prove remarkable in them, as well as in the more distant provinces of the Empire, towards the Decan. At present our business is with the Prince Aaly-goher.—Zinet Mahal,* his mother, having obtained leave He is strongly recom­mended by his mother to Hedáiet-aaly-qhan, father to our author. from her husband, the Emperor Alemghir the second, sent for my illustrious father at the gate of the sanctuary, where she put the Prince’s hand in that nobleman’s hand, tenderly recommended him to his care, interchanged with him the most solemn and most tremendous oaths; and made use of so many entreaties, and so many tears, that my forgiven father was overcome by such an unexpected scene; and from that moment resolved firmly to support him with all the vigour and fidelity in his power. He then took the Prince apart, and encouraged him to make some efforts in his own cause; as we are going soon to mention. For we intend to recount in this Volume, whatever concerns this Prince’s wars and journeys; and in particular, his expedition into these Eastern countries; and we shall reserve for the following sheets, whatever is relative to his taking possession of Shah-djehan-abad, or refers to the countries in the environs of that capital.

The Shah-zada having entrusted my forgiven father with his person and concerns, was seconding, as much as he could, the efforts which that nobleman was making in his behalf; he looked up to him as a zealous friend, and constantly followed his directions. It is true, that he was not a man of great qualifica­tions, or great knowledge; but he compensated that deficieney by shewing himself studious to give that illustrious nobleman every mark of deference and honour in his power, both in his absence and in his presence. Nor did he relax in the sequel, but continued to oblige the brothers, relations, and friends of a man who was no more; and he did it to the utmost of his power and their own merits; and his gratitude carried such an air of sincerity, that even now it is probable he would, to all appearance, do some­thing handsome for that nobleman’s descendants, were he so much as to hear of them. Munnir-ed-döulah, who had been before in the service of Intyzam-ed-döulah, son to the Vizier Cammer-eddin-qhan, as Superintendent of his war equipage, was introduced by my forgiven father to the Prince, and soon became his favourite and Minister. But it would be unjust to conceal, that even after his elevation, he conserved the most grateful remembrance of the services rendered him by that worthy noble­man, my father; never speaking to him but with the utmost respect, and in the humblest posture; and even after his demise, he never missed an opportunity of obliging his children and family; and of shewing me, the poor man, in particular, so much deference and such marks of respect, as greatly exceeded my merits, as well as my station in the world, and even my age in life. He was a valuable man, unquestionably. May God have received him in his mansion of mercy!

As for the Shah-zada, as soon as he had received the letters of invitation from Mahmed-c8li-qhan, he made haste to assemble a large number of men, especially from amongst the distressed Séyds of the ruined town of Barr; and with these he set out for Ilah-abad, leaving my father and Munnir-ed-döulah in those parts, as they had undertaken to prepare for him a field equipage, with some other necessaries; and to bring into his service, on the fame of this expedition, and on the hopes of bettering their fortunes, as many disbanded soldiers as they could persuade; after which, they were to march down to Ilah-abad. The Shah-zada having quitted Miran-p8r, the place of his residence, arrived on the frontiers of Shudja-ed-döula’s dominions, where that Prince marched out of his capital to meet him; and after having made him such a present, in money and effects, as he thought proper, he gave him much encouragement, informing him of his agreement with Mahmed-c8ly-qhan, and of his intention to march to his assistance; intention which, in fact, had never existed. The Shah-zada, having taken leave, proceeded to Ilah-abad, where on his arrival in the outskirts of that city, Mahmed-c8li-qhan went out to receive him; and after having had the honour to kiss the columns that supported the Imperial throne, he made him alight at a lodging that had been provided for the purpose; and there he imparted to him the particulars of his scheme; so that for some days, frequent councils were held on that subject. The hungry Grandees of the Prince’s famished Court were soon gained over by Mahmed-c8ly-qhan, and soon were of his opinion; especially Medar-ed-döula, who was a com­plete master of the art of becoming any one’s friend, no matter whether good or bad, for his money; for he knew how to accom­modate himself to all tempers, soon took the lead of all the Shah-zada’s friends in this affair, and soon became the channel of all intelligence, and all consultation between the Prince and Mah­med-8ly-qhan. Whilst they were holding councils, Shudja-ed-döula, who never had any other view but that of deceiving his kinsman, and who only waited for a good opportunity, took a journey to Ilah-abad, where he made him understand that he was ready to follow him as soon as the Prince should have made an impression on the enemy’s country. “But then,” said he, “I cannot think of quitting my own ground to invade any one’s dominions, and especially the Eastern ones, unless I have some place of safety where I may leave my consort and family; and you know that I cannot leave them in an open country, every moment exposed to the invasions of Umad-el-mulk, of Ahmed-qhan-bangash, and of the other Afghan Princes. Now I see no other such place of safety, but your Fortress of Chennar; and although it has no accommodations for Princesses and ladies of rank, and its climate and air are sultry and unwholesome, on account of the proximity of the hills that come close upon it, yet we shall put up with such an inconvenience. Let me have then such an order under your own hand and seal, to Mirza-nedjef-qhan, the Governor of the fortress, as I may in an emergency avail myself of, to lodge my family and consort in that castle, together with your own; for after all, our families and interests, you know, are one and the same. Once my mind easy on that subject, I will soon follow you with such a force, as, joined to yours, may insure success. Believe me, what I say is advan­tageous to both sides.” Mahmed-c8li-qhan, who was a plain, unsuspecting man, incapable of deceit, and who was, besides, actually impelled by the decrees of fate, gave the order such as it was requested, together with another to the officers of the garrison; and he even repeated his order to Mirza-nedjef-qhan, then present, in these very terms: “You know that there is no difference at all between the Lord-Navvab and me; we are german-brothers to each other, and sons of two brothers. Whether I be present or absent, he is my representative. Take care to do, as he shall command you.” Such were the expres­sions he made use of; for that senseless man conceived, that in the present circumstances, such expressions, such a confidence, and such a management, were so many strokes of policy, and would infallibly promote his expedition, by engaging Shudja-ed-döula to join heartily in it; and in that notion of his, he gave the order couched in such terms as the other dictated. Shudja-ed-döula, Mahmed-c8ly-qhan,
Lord of Ilah-abad, joins the Prince. furnished with such a piece, returned to his capital; and Mahmed-c8li-qhan prepared to set out with what troops and artillery he was master of; adding only to his train two large pieces of brass cannon, which he brought down from one of the towers of the Fortress of Ilah-abad, and which he mounted upon field-carriages. After all these preparatives, he made choice of a favourable moment, and quitting his palace in the fortress, he encamped in the suburbs of the town. It was in the year 1172 of the Hejira. Two days after he set out on his expedition, taking the Shah-zada, and his whole retinue with him.