This stranger, after some conversation on the same subject, proceeded on his journey; and Mahmed-c8li-qhan, with the Shah-zada, arrived some hours after. My father was with him; but I could easily observe a great change in him. He took up his abode in the same house with me; bitterly complained of the ignorance and supineness of these two men; professed himself sick of following them; and asked me what I thought was to be done? I answered, “That it would be improper in him to return to Shah-djehan-abad, where he had every thing to fear from Umad-el-mulc’s resentment; nor was it probable, that the Shah-zada’s friendship and power would answer any purpose in protecting and bringing away his family, now for­saken in that capital. That on one hand, there was no similarity sufficient between His Highness’s character, and that of Shuja-ed-döula’s, to countenance such a step, as that of his going to take service with that Prince; and on the other, an end had been put to the connections of our families with the people of Bengal, by our having followed our father’s fortunes, and attached ourselves to the Shah-zada. So that I saw but one party left, which might possibly give umbrage to His Highness, but which required our acquiescence; and this was to attach ourselves to Pahluvan-sing, a powerful Zemindar of this country, who was in high repute in the province, in great credit with both M8rly-dur and Ram-naráin, and who, besides a good body of troops, was master of more treasures than would be imagined. That to all appearance he would find means to make an agreement with Government; but that I thought like­wise, that out of a point of honour, he would so far compre­hend him in the treaty, as to do nothing for himself, unless he had done something handsome for his guest. That by such a management, there was a possibility of our family’s recovering our landed estate again, upon the product of which His High­ness might pass his days in peace and plenty.” My illustrious father heard attentively, but remained silent awhile, and he then said: “That he would not be much pleased, indeed, with the expedient I had proposed; but that nevertheless we ought to take it up, as we had no other at our disposal.” Upon this resolution, His Highness decamped from Saharseram, and went to pitch his tents close to those of Pahluvan-sing’s, upon the little river of Durgaoty. The Radja no sooner heard who he was, than he made him a visit, in which he behaved in the most respectful and most obliging manner, thinking it a happiness, as he expressed it, to travel in his company. He also imparted to His Highness his own scheme, which was, first, “to prevail upon the Shah-zada to return towards the east, for the purpose of fight­ing Miren and his English; secondly, to take M8sher Lass in his own pay, in which case he would furnish all the money necessary for assembling a powerful army, and would find means to afford to the expenses of the expedition; his sole aim being to acquire a name that might reach the latest pos­terity.” He added, “that he was bent on this design; had taken his chance; had submitted, beforehand, to his destiny; and would encounter whatever might happen, provided he could avenge his master’s death.” The Radja sent me several times with messages to the above purport, both to the Prince and to M8sher Lass; but as he was a Zemindar by trade, neither the Shah-zada, nor M8sher Lass, would repose any confidence on his promises. The Shah-zada at last took the party of writing to Colonel Clive. This letter was intended to give a fair colouring to his retreat, to lessen the levity and disgrace of all that under­taking, and to impress that General with some concern for the Prince’s forlorn situation. With that view he sent his Secretaries and seal to my father, with a request to draw up a minute of the intended letter. But the several minutes brought in, not proving consonant to his mind, he bid me write what I thought proper on the subject; upon which order, I took pen and wrote down what occurred to my mind. The minute having been everywhere approved, the M8nshies or Secretaries received orders to write it fair; after which my father presented it to the Prince, sealed it in his presence, and sent it to the Colonel. But as we have interrupted our history by these particulars, it is proper to put an end to the readers’ surprise and anxiety, by resuming our narrative of the consequences of Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s retreat, as well as of what relates to M8sher Lass, and to the Shah-zada’s history; we shall add, likewise, a few words about the good luck with which I saved my consort and family, from that scene of confusion and danger; and then we shall revert to the history of Bengal, and shall speak at length of Miren’s arrival with his English, and of their march towards Saharseram; our account shall be closed by saying a few words about what was the result of the friendship that had lately taken place between my father and Pahluvan-sing.

As soon as Shuja-ed-döula heard that Mahmed-c8li-qhan was returning from his infructuous expedition, he forgot at once all those ties of blood, friendship, and consanguinity, which subsisted between them; and giving way to his inhumanity, and to all the faithlessness of an unfeeling temper, he ordered his Deputy, Radja Beni-bahadyr,* to join Radja Belvent, Zemindar of Banares, and to oppose that unfortunate man’s return. The two Radjas having joined their forces, posted themselves about two cosses below Ram-nugur, a town built by Belvent-sing, over against Banares, and where he had his palace; and after having placed their cannon and troops in such a manner, as to intercept the passage entirely, they sent a message to the Shah-zada and to M8sher Lass, to inform them that, as they had no business at all with them, they were at liberty to go whithersoever they might think proper; but that they would oppose Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s moving from his place. The Shah-zada thinking himself happy to escape unhurt from such a scene of confusion and perfidy, took M8sher Lass in his pay, and struck into the road of little Mirza-p8r; his intention being to repair to Chitur-p8r, in the Bondul-cand, where he intended to take up his residence. Mahmed-c8li-qhan remained encamped at the little town of Séyd-radja, but was so narrowly watched, that if any one from his camp presumed to part with the main for ever so little a distance, he was presently plundered by the Zemindars of Belvent-sing’s country. However, Yahia-qhan, one of his Commanders, having obtained the Shah-zada’s leave, went out and encamped at Mirza­p8r with an intention to repair to Shah-djehan-abad; whilst Mahmed-c8li-qhan, with an army entangled in the net of a reverse of fortune, was losing his time and character in messages and negotiations. Most of his Commanders, who were men of valour, advised him to fight his way through the troops of the two Radjas, as the best party he could take; and indeed it was the only one advisable, the only one, at least, that would have saved his honour, and rescued his character from reproach, even on the supposition that he would have miscarried in the attempt. But the unfortunate man was confounded, and like one bewildered; and he had lost his presence of mind totally. As to myself, after having seen my father’s junction effected with Pahluvan-sing, and made my mind easy on that head, I took my consort and family, with my brother, Séyd-aaly-qhan, and lodged in the caravansera of Keremnassa, with an intention to repair to Banares; and it is at that spot that I heard that my other brother, Ghalib-aaly-qhan, was safely arrived in that city with his consort, his mother-in-law, and his whole family. I wished to join him; but there was no crossing the Ganga, the Radja Belvent having seized, and confined under his fort at Ram-nagur, all the boats in the river, whilst his people, meanwhile, were plundering and stripping, indiscriminately, every one that came from Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s army. Fain I was to return back, and to apply to Radja Pahluvan-sing for his recommendation to Radja Belvent; and this he did with the best grace in the world, requesting his friend to send an escort for my safety, to furnish me with boats, and to lodge me decently at Banares. My father was pleased to write on his side a letter to Belvent-sing, of the same purport. Having dispatched the two letters, I took some soldiers of Pahlu­van-sing’s with me, and set out with my family and with Séyd-aaly-qhan, by the road of Chéinp8r, which road goes along the skirts of the mountains. Naky-aaly-qhan remained with my father. In the middle of my march, two servants of Radja Belvent’s came to me, with an order of his to all his officers, by which they were directed to watch over my person and effects, to escort me by the road, and to provide me with lodgings and provisions. The two men, moreover, had orders to attend me as my guides. Notwithstanding all those attentions, no sooner was I arrived near Mirzap8r, than I was stopped by the guards, and obliged to a second application to the Radja, who sent an officer to disengage me; this man carried me to Mirzap8r, where he made me alight in a good lodging. The next morning he furnished me with boats; so that with the favour of God, we crossed the Ganga, and arrived safe at Banares. There I passed some months in enjoying the precious honour of attending on His Holy Highness, His Highness Saint Mahmed-aaly-hezin, (whom God may station amongst the highest of his elect!) I had also the inestimable advantage of enjoying the company of my maternal uncle, Séyd-abdol-aaly-qhan, the impetuous in battles. In a few days more, another person of distinction contrived to escape out of Mahmed-c8li-qhan’s army, and arrived safe at Banares. It was Bayram-qhan, grandson to the Navvab R8h-8llah-qhan, once Paymaster-General to the Emperor Aoreng-zeb; he had already sent to that city his consort and family. A few days after my arrival at Banares, I heard that Mahmed-c8li-qhan having applied to the two Radjas for liberty to repair to Shuja-ed-döulah’s Court, with only a few servants, they had thought themselves obliged to write for it to their master, who sent his consent. On that single consent he was simple enough to cross the Ganga, with a dozen of troopers and a few servants, and to advance towards that Prince’s capital. But at the same time, the two Radjas had received an order to seize his effects, to plunder his camp, and to strip his troops, as soon as he should have proceeded on his journey. The senseless man was hardly gone these three or four days, when the two Radjas mounted, and getting into his camp, they gave the plunder of it to their troops, whilst they pro­ceeded to seize his effects; so that there arose in camp such a scene of confusion, screams and distress, as retraced to the mind the Day of Judgment. Numbers of soldiers and officers were ill used; and every one of them lost their little all. Those only escaped the general wreck, who having acquaintances in the enemy’s army, had the good luck to retire by times thither in the night time. Numbers of others, especially of the Séyds of Barr, who formed a numerous body, threw themselves on the protection of a Séyd who had a command in Beni-bahadyr’s army; a man of honour and character, who found means to protect them. Others had in the night time escaped to his quarters, where they remained safe from those rapacious hands, or were passed unnoticed in the confusion of that day. What seems singular is, that out of so many Commanders of character, one only should have thought of putting himself on his defence; and this was Zin-el-abedin-qhan, the same who having in the sequel become Vezir to Shah-aalum, lost his life at the assault of Azim-abad; an illustrious Commander, of whom we shall speak in the sequel. He escaped with his honour and his property in consequence of his own bravery and resolution, and of the attachment which his men bore to his person. This glorious action was performed in the following manner:—