As the army, on its return, was marching over the plain of Paleki, on the tenth of the first Djamady of the year 1165, the Prime Minister Ramdass was set upon by some troops, and killed outright*. Selabet-djung continued his journey to Haïder-abad, from whence he sent for Shah-nevaz-qhan whom he invested with the office of Prime Minister, and of his Lieutenant-General. The new Minister was going to apply to the duties of that important station, when sudden intelligence came that the Prince of Princes, Ghazi-eddin-qhan, having obtained the investi­ture of all the Soobahdaries of Decan, was coming at the head of a mighty army. On this intelligence, Shah-nevaz-qhan left a Deputy to execute his office, and departed for Kermla, the residence of Djanodji-salhar, a Marhatta Prince of the Barar. The intention of this sudden voyage was to engage that Prince, and likewise Baladji-räo, who had been in connection with the Minister so early as the times of Nizam-el-mulk, to mediate an accommo­dation between Selabet-djung and his competitor, who had amongst his troops a large body of Marhatta Cavalry commanded by Holkar-malhar. On Shah-nevaz-qhan’s departure from Haïder-abad, Semsam-ed döwlah was invested with the govern­ment of that Capital; but Ghazi-eddin-qhan* suddenly dying at Aoreng-abad, Holkar-malhar, who had got from him the gift of the whole country of Qhandess, Sunk-mer, and Djalima, obtained from Selabet-djung a confirmation of the grant, and proved the only man that had benefited by those mighty troubles. After this, Shah-nevaz-qhan quitted Kermla, and joined his master who had advanced near Aoreng-abad to fight his brother and rival. There he re-assumed his office of Lieutenant-General, sent back Semsam-ed-döwlah to Haïder-abad, and as the rainy season was approaching, both the Prince and the Minister took up their winter-quarters in that city.

It was in this year 1164, that Radja Assiri-sing, son to Radja Adjet-sing-seväi, departed this life, and a report spread that he had been poisoned. The Rana of Oodeïpur died at the same time. It is also in this same year that Nassyr-djung, having been attacked by the French in the night, was in the confusion murdered by his ungrateful Afghan soldiers; and this intelli­gence reaching the Court at the end of the year, his elder brother, Ghazi-eddin-qhan, took mourning for him, and being sent for to Court, was complimented with a Qhylaat to that effect. As he was extremely displeased with the Court, he resolved to assume the Government of the whole Decan, and to make his residence there; but the Ministers insisted upon a present. This affair took up some days, when it was accomplished at last; and the Qhylaat of that mighty Viceroyalty having been bestowed upon him, he departed to take possession, as we have already said.

After having given in this manner some account of the troubles in Decan, let us cast our eyes on those that arose on the affairs of Hindostan. In the year 1165 Ahmed-shah, the Abdaly, came into that country for the fourth time, and marched towards Lahor. But the Viceroy Mir-mann8, alias Muäien-el-mulk, being informed of his coming, was beforehand with him, and not only resisted his attacks for four months together, but several times came out and drove him to a distance; insomuch that the Abdaly Prince became sensible that there was no going farther. But jealousy and inner divisions, that bane of all Hindostani affairs, defeated so much resolution and so much good conduct. Adina-beg-qhan, by his eternal treacheries, ruined this brave nobleman also; and Radja C8ramul, his Divan, a man really attached to his master, having been slain, all went to wreck after his death, and Mir-mann8 was overcome, as we are going to explain. The repeated engagements between the two parties had already lasted four months, when Adina-beg-qhan, who intended treason under the mask of friendship, persuaded the Viceroy that it was now time to quit his intrenchment, and to advance in the plain. C8ramul opposed this advice, and was of opinion that they ought to remain as they were three or four days more, after which the Abdali wanting provisions, and already tired of so bloody and so fruitless an expedition, would retire of his own accord. This was the wises step; but the Viceroy, prompted by his own ardour and courage, listened to the importunities of Adina-beg-qhan, and coming out of his post he advanced towards the Abdali camp, and in his way stopped at some lofty ground covered with brick-kilns, where he had planted his cannon. But this cannon after one discharge was found to want amm??pition, whilst a large number of camels, each loaded with a couple of Zemberecks or Swivels, of one pound-ball, came from the Abdali’s side, and by Adina-beg-qhan’s advice, opened upon the Hindostanies; the Abdalies at the same time made an attack upon the camp. In Mir-mann8 betrayed and defeated. this emergency Adina-beg-qhan proposed to call Radja C8ramul with a body of troops from the intrenchment. The latter sent for answer that yesterday he had opposed the Viceroy’s going out, and now he was afraid that should he move from his post, the soldiers, on seeing the back of his elephant, would think it a flight, and would possibly follow; an error which would be enough to bring on a defeat. As the Viceroy found himself pressed, repeated orders were sent to C8ramul to come. C8ra­mul surprised and afflicted at the preciseness of the order, assembled his Commanders, and having recommended to them firmness and resolution, he mounted his elephant, and went towards his master. He had hardly advanced one cosse from camp, when he perceived that those very Commanders, whom he had just been haranguing, were in motion for a flight, with all their troops in the greatest disorder. Straight he returned back, and putting himself at the head of a few troops that made a stand, he repulsed the Abdalies; and he was following them out of the intrenchment, when he was struck by a musket-ball that obliged him to surrender his soul to his Maker. This man was his master’s universal agent, and the very soul of the army. On seeing him fall, soldiers and officers took to flight; and the Viceroy having returned to the city, sent the Mufti Abdollah to make an accommodation, in which it was agreed that Mir-mann8 should wait on Ahmed-shah-abdali. This being agreed to, the latter sent Djehan-qhan, an officer of distinction, to bring him to Is well used by the victors. his camp, which commission this officer executed with the utmost deference and respect. The Shah received the Viceroy with the utmost kindness, made use of mild expressions to console him, and having appointed him his Deputy and Lieutenant both in Lahor and M8ltan, he returned towards Cab8l and Candahar, two places that had become the Capitals of his dominions, and the places of his residence. From that day those two rich prov­inces of Pendjab* and M8ltan were severed from the Empire of Hindostan, and added to the new monarchy of the Abdalies.

Whilst the Abdaly King was stopped short by Mir-mann8, he sent an Ambassador to the Court of Delhi. It was Calender-qhan. This step having made impression on the Court of Delhi, which became apprehensive that the Abdalies would soon come upon the Capital, the Ministers wrote repeatedly to Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, the Vezir, to take the Marhatta Malhar with him, and to return to Court with the utmost expedition. The Vezir having sent for Malhar, engaged him, under promise of a mighty sum, to make the campaign with him; and he returned with his army, and with that General to the Capital. But meanwhile Djavid-qhan, the eunuch, who now acted as Prime Minister, finding him­self supported by a party of treacherous Grandees, all jealous of the fresh accession of glory which the Vezir might gain a second time, made haste to clap up a peace with Calender-qhan; and The Court eunuchs sub­mit to an humiliating treaty with the Abdalies. having granted him all his demands, as well as the cession of Pendjab and M8ltan, he quickly dismissed him from the Capital. The Vezir being arrived after this treaty, was shocked at so shameful a compromise, and at so much precipitation. In his resentment and indignation, he refused to come into the city, and encamped on the other side of the Djumna. He afterwards sent word to the Ministers, that it was at their requests that he had brought the Marhatta Malhar with his whole cavalry, under promise of a mighty sum of money; and now that they had rendered that assistance unnecessary, who was to satisfy the Marhatta’s claims? Such a requisition could not but embarrass them; but they were rescued out of their difficulties by a lucky event. Ghazi-eddin-qhan, who had put on his Qhylaat for the Viceroyalty of all the Decan, was stopped short by the Ministers, who previously insisted on a Pishcush or present, which the other wished to avoid. It was at this time that the Vezir sent his message, and put it in the Viceroy’s power to avail himself now of the difficulties under which the Court laboured, in order to carry his point. He sent them word that, if they would give him his patents without delay, he would undertake to satisfy Malhar’s demands, and would also take that General with him. The proposal being accepted, he appointed his own son as his Deputy at Court, took Malhar with him, and departed for his new Government.