The foolish Khan, when he heard these circum­stances, was greatly afflicted, and ashamed at his want of prudence. The next day the Nawaub himself mounted his horse, and, with his army and artillery, marched to Sudhote; and, having encircled the fort like a ring, he encamped there. The Khan, having no power to oppose the lion-hearted troops of Hydur, and being without resource, again despatched Muhammad Ghiaus to the presence, with professions of complete submission, and, being ashamed of his conduct, begged pardon for his former offences. When the Nawaub became acquainted with his sorrow and abject humility, his generous spirit and comprehensive clemency came into operation, and he contented himself with demanding ten lakhs of rupees, and the fort of Gunjee Kota, as the price of his forgiveness. As Huleem Khan had not even two lakhs of rupees in his trea­sury, this requisition of the Nawaub plunged him into deep thought, and uncertainty; and the silence and delay which were thus occasioned by this shuffler continued so long, that the Nawaub, in anger, ordered Meer Alí Ruza Khan to attack and take Gunjee Kota; accordingly, he, who was only looking out for such times and such orders, marched with his own troops, and besieged the hill fort, and after the labours of a week, he took it, and despatched his letter of congratulation on its capture to the Nawaub, who appointed an able Ameen, or collector, and a brave governor, to establish and preserve order in the fort, and its dependencies, and then recalled the Meer to the presence.

When the news of the capture of Gunjee Kota reached Huleem Khan, he became still more dis­ordered* in his senses than he was at first; but, being remediless, he despatched his Dewaun or minister, Abdurrusool Khan, accompanied by Muhammad Ghiaus, to the presence. These men delivered their verbal message in language replete with eloquence,* and in terms remarkable for their pro­priety and elegance, to the effect that Abdul Huleem Khan had drawn the head of shame under the hood of repentance, and that he had assembled his family and children in one apartment, and had surrounded it with a store of gunpowder, and that, with a port­fire in his hand, he was waiting the result of their message; but that, if his life could be spared, he was a man who might render acceptable or approved service to the Nawaub, and therefore that they begged the Nawaub would take him by the hand.— “To have pity on any one’s misfortunes shews greatness.”— “To grant any one his desire is great­ness.”

The Nawaub, having well considered the grief and deep humility of the embassadors, at length spoke, and said, “my first wish is that you would allow two flags, with two companies of matchlock men, merely for the honour of our name, and to shew the friendship which connects our families, to remain in your fort for two hours; and, after that, I will draw the pen of pardon through the list of your offences, great and small.” When the embassadors, well pleased, returned therefore to their master, and made him acquainted with all the Nawaub had said, and persuaded and urged him to conform to the orders of the Nawaub, he whose horse-shoe was in the fire, that is, whose necessities were pressing, with the appetite* of a religious beg­gar, listened with a willing ear, and ordered his servants, both horse and foot, who garrisoned the fort, and were ready for action, and who had fre­quently requested permission to light up the fire of contention, and commence the attack, to leave the fort. Some of the Khans, also, who had placed the foot of courage in the field of opposition to these orders, were dismissed with sour looks; and Huleem Khan sat still, waiting patiently. The Nawaub, meanwhile, having cleared the rust of uncer­tainty from the mirror of his heavenly* mind, des­patched to the fort four thousand regular infantry, of the red and yellow regiments, with two victorious ensigns, to the commanding officer of which detach­ment however he gave secret orders. Immediately on entering the gates of the fort therefore the officer left half his men at the gate and ramparts adjoining, and he himself with the remainder, proceeded straight like an arrow, and seized the mild Huleem, who was then sitting in his Hall of Audience. Hav­ing made him a prisoner, he put him into a palan­kin, and sent him, with his personal and other servants, to the presence. All this having been effected, the whole of the city and suburbs were committed to the charge of Meer Alí Ruza Khan; and, the Nawaub’s mind being then at ease, he returned to his capital, Seringaputtun, where he gave himself up to pleasure and enjoyment.

Abdul Huleem Khan, however, with his women, relations, and other dependents, were brought to Seringaputtun, and imprisoned in the Gunj Aum suburb, and a sufficient allowance was made for the expences of his establishment. His son-in-law, named Syud Muhammad, escaped by night with his wife to Naugpoor; but his other son-in-law, whose name was Behlole Khan, remained with him. In the course of time, they all, one after another, left this vain perishing scene, and thus escaped the wasting troubles and miseries of this world.*