We have said that Zaafer-qhan was the person that had the greatest influence over the Emperor’s mind, and it must be acknowledged that this nobleman had many good qualities; but he was addicted to the love of money, and open to bribery; and just at this very time it came out that the twelve lacks which it was his duty to transmit yearly to Cab8l for the payment of the garrisons of that province, had been regularly curtailed by full six, which he converted to his own use; nor did he act with more reserve throughout that infinity of affairs that passed through his hands. One would think, after so bold a peculation, that he was upon the best terms with every one of the Ministers of state; but it was the very reverse. So that his practices came to be men­tioned to the Emperor in such terms that this affair ended totally in his disgrace. That Monarch gave him a severe reprimand in public, and he made him over to the controuling office, which having found a balance of full two corors of rupees against him, obliged him to replace the money in the public treasury. He was moreover disgraced and fell into contempt; and the business of providing for Cab8l, together with some other expenditures, was committed to Qhandö8ran, whose fidelity was now acknowledged. The same charge of corruption and bribery was proved against one* Shah-Abdol-ghaf8r, a fakir of the T8ranian party, who got so much ascendency on the Emperor’s mind, as to appoint and to dismiss whomsoever he thought proper amongst the comptrol­lers of the Qhalissah-office. Grown proud of his power and influ­ence, he had been guilty of many unworthy shameful abuses, that had come to the Emperor’s knowledge. But now he was sent for, publicly disgraced, cast in prison, and exiled into Bengal; and two corors in money having been found in his house, besides an infinity of other effects, the whole was confiscated, and sent to the public treasury. Cö8ky herself, the omnipotent Cö8ky, who had been entrusted with the Imperial signet within the seraglio, and had acquired so much authority as to recommend to offices and charges, having been found to be the associate of those two men, was dismissed with disgrace, forbidden the seraglio, and obliged to refund.

After the many disgraces which had been brought upon Minis­ters as well as upon the Empire itself, by misconduct, and bad politics, one would be apt to think that the accession of power and influence which Qhandö8ran had now acquired, would have rendered him more cautious; instead of that, he listened only to his dislike against the disgraced Minister Zaafer-qhan, and he was hardly fixed in the vacated office, when he made haste to supercede Ser-b8lend-qhan, that great friend of the disgraced Minister; and he soon appointed Radja Abi-sing-rhator, to succeed him in G8djerat, whither he had orders to repair with the utmost expedition, as well as with injunctions to dismiss Ser-b8lend-qhan to court. Abi-sing, fond of his repose, and proud of his hereditary The Victo­rious Ser-b8lend-qhan
neglected, and superceded by a Gentoo Prince. dominions, sent a Naib or Deputy to take possession of the new government; but this Deputy having been chastised and expelled with disgrace by Ser-b8lend-qhan, another Deputy was sent with a greater force, and this commander also was received in the like manner. At last Abi-sing, ashamed of being repeatedly foiled with so much disgrace, marched himself at the head of an army of fifty thousand men, mostly cavalry, to which he added a good artillery; with which he entered the G8djerat. Ser-b8lend-qhan, although equally uneasy at the intrigues of the capital, and fear­ful of the power of Nizem-el-mulk, resolved with that inconsider­able, ill-paid, ill-furnished force which had been left him, to encounter his enemies. Coming out of the city of Ahmed-abad, he encamped at some Farsacks* from it; and putting himself at the head of his little army, and of a certain number of friends and old soldiers that would not quit him, he attacked Abi-sing, and fought with so much conduct and bravery, that the Radja thought proper to quit the field of battle, and retire a little farther. Ser-b8lend-qhan, who saw himself equally exposed to the machina­tions Ser-b8lend qhan, after beating the GentooPrince goes alone to pay him a visit. of the enemies at court, and to the power and intrigues of Nizam-el-mulk in the field, became satisfied with Abi sing’s retreat; and contented with having given him a lesson, he resolved to come to terms with him, and this he compassed in an unexpected manner. About the end of the day, he put on a white plain dress, and rolling a white turban round his head, he with no other escort or retinue than a few Chopdars or Mace-bearers and servants, advanced to visit the Gentoo Prince. Abi-sing at first was extremely surprised and confounded at this intelligence; but as at the same time he thought himself highly honoured by such a visit, he got up, advanced to the gate of his tent-walls, and after the usual embrace, he took the old General by the hand, made him sit on his own Mesned, and shewed him every mark of respect in his power. Ser-b8lend-qhan, after some conversation, turned towards the Gentoo Prince, and spoke to him in these very words: “Young man,” said he, “to your own surprise I inform you that there subsists much friendship between me and you. There was a time when your father and I exchanged turbans* as brothers, and I, therefore, look upon you to be my nephew. The little fighting that has passed between us, was with an intent to vin­dicate my honour, and to approve my character, as a soldier. For there is not the least enmity between you and me; nor do I see why, being an hereditary friend to your family and self, I should abstain from paying you a visit. The Imperial service is the matter in question, and it is for that very service I had come into this country. Now that this has been committed to your care, you are welcome to it, and I wish you may bring the government into proper order. I have not myself any further business with it. I come only to request of you a travelling equipage, and some money to defray my charges.” This speech which was delivered with all the frankness of an old soldier, astonished the by-standers, and the Gentoo Prince more than any. He had his enemy in his power. Nevertheless, struck with the General’s high character, and with the anecdote it brought to his mind, he thought his honour concerned in obliging him to the utmost of his power; and sending for his steward and treasurer, he ordered them to comply with whatever directions Ser-b8lend-qhan should give them. A little before the end of the visit, the General having again mentioned the former friendship that had subsisted between him and the Gentoo Prince’s father, offered to renew the ties of it, and to strengthen them anew. He took down his own plain turban, and put it upon Abi-sing’s head, and rais­ing up the latter’s turban, which was enriched with a variety of gems of mighty value, he put it* upon his own; after which they embraced each other again in token of friendship and brother­hood, and he departed content and satisfied to his own camp, where the money and equipage arriving soon after, he quitted the country and took his journey towards the capital. But all this manœuvre gave much discontent at court; and Qhandö8ran informed that contrary to his own pleasure and to the Imperial command, he had dared to come to a battle with an Imperial Governor, after which, only the General had thought of setting out for the capital, he was exceedingly incensed; and he so far exasperated the Emperor against him, that a general order was sent to the guards of the highways to stop him whenever he should make his appearance, with injunctions to hinder his advanc­ing one step farther until he had obtained a pardon for his misdemeanour. Moreover, two hundred guards, extraordinary, were sent; one-half towards the road of Adjmir, and the other half towards that of Acber-abad, in which station they waited his coming. The General being arrived about this last city, was stopped short by the Imperial order, and forbidden from advanc­ing farther. Ser-b8lend-qhan, obliged to tarry for several days at that city in order to deprecate the Emperor’s displeasure and to obtain leave to proceed to court, was set upon by the disbanded troops that accompanied him. They mutinied, rose upon him, and fiercely asked their arrears, and were ready to commit insolencies. Luckily for him, that Saadet-qhan was then in that city. This Viceroy, who remembered to have once served under Ser-b8lend-qhan, and to have been promoted by him to a higher command, was shocked to hear the insults likely to be offered to his old commander; and he sent him a respectful message importing: “That if he were pleased to refer these mutineers and their arrears to him, his faithful servant and grateful well-wisher, he would undertake to satisfy their claims.” This generous message instead of soothing the General’s grief, served only to wound his pride. He politely declined the offer, and answered: “That thanks be to Providence, matters had not come yet to such a height, as that he should prove burthensome to his friends.” After this answer, he went into the apartment of the Ladies,* and taking some gold which he kept within for a resource, he discharged the arrears due to those troops, and the tumult sub­sided of itself.