The King had marched to Belem-gur, a fortress of his, at- fifteen cosses from Shah-djehan-abad, and having taken it in three days by dint of cannon-ball and bombs, he put to the sword every man in the garrison. Proceeding from thence to Mahtra, which is a famous place of worship for the Hindoos, he gave his Van to Djehan-qhan, recommending dispatch to that General. The latter spurred his horse, and arriving unexpectedly in a holiday, he ruined effectually that rich city; his soldiers plundering, burning, and destroying everything they met, and carrying into captivity vast numbers of the consorts and children of the best families amongst the wretched citizens; an execution that struck such a terror throughout the country, that all the inhabitants quitted their habitations, and retired within their fortresses and strongholds. Meanwhile the Abdali-king advanced as far as Acbar-abad, but here he found some resistance. Mirza-seïf-ollah-beg, who commanded from a long series of years in the citadel of that city, refused to submit, and fired his cannon to so good a purpose, that no Abdali chose to abide its reach. Djehan-qhan, meanwhile, was busy in taking one after another the Djatt fortresses, when at once a mortality broke out amongst the Abdalies which swept their people in such vast numbers, as disabled their King from prose­cuting his designs. Submitting therefore to his destiny, he recalled his troops from the Djatt country, and commenced his march to his own dominions. Being arrived at the Reservoir of Macsood-abad, which is on the same line with Shah-djehan-abad, he was visited by Alemghir the Second, who wished him a prosperous return, and much complained of Umad-el-mulk. The Abdali-king paid a regard to his grievances by conferring the ossice of “Prince of Princes” on Nedjib-qhan, now Nedjib-ed-döwlah, then present, and by recommending to his care the Emperor and his family.

And this naturally brings to our recollection that after the confinement of Ahmed-shah, and the accession of Alemghir the Second, dissensions had arisen very high between Umad-el-mulk, the Vezir, on one hand, and the two relicts of Mahmed-shah, on the other. These were Maleca-zemani, daughter to Feroh-syur and Sahaba-mahal, both related to, and both consorts of, Mahmed-shah. That Prince had from this second consort a daughter of great beauty, who had been the darling of her father’s heart. These two Princesses, mindful of having seen the honour of the Empire trodden under by the Marhattas, and fired with indig­nation at finding themselves, in every matter, at the mercy of Umad-el-mulk, resolved to quit a country where every thing went to wreck; and they sent a message to the Abdali-king, claim­ing his protection, as being both so nearly related to Mahmed-shah and to him. The Abdali-king, who thought himself much honoured by such a request, and hoped to be applauded by posterity, sent for the daughter which he himself married, and he gave the two other Empresses a separate encampment in his camp; after which he marched to Lahor. His son, Tim8r-shah, coming to join him in his way, he appointed the young Prince Governor of Pendjab, M8ltan, and Tatta, gave him Djehan-qhan for Commandant of the troops, and turning towards his own dominions, he arrived by continued marches at Cab8l, and then at Candahar, where we shall leave him for a while, in order to take breath, and to afford ourselves time to cast a look at the affairs of Decan.

Moosher-Bussy commanded the body of French that had taken service with Hedaïet-muhi-eddin-qhan-Muzaafer-djung, The French grow power­ful in Decan. and had attached himself to Nizam-el-mulk’s family. This officer availed himself so well of the credit which his post gave him, that he became extremely powerful throughout the Decan. When he came to obtain the countries of Sicacol and Radj-benderi, &c., for his Djaghir, his influence rose so high, that every affair passed through his hands, and he governed with an absolute sway*; he was decorated with the surname of Sëif-el-mulk, or “Sword of the State,” and the title of Umdut-el-mulk, or the “Greatest of the Kingdom.” This General had given so great a sway in all his affairs, public or private, to Häider-djung, a nobleman of those countries, that the latter came in fact to govern the six Soobahdaries of Decan. But the English struck with this flow of prosperty amongst the French, resolved to come in for a share of the good things and conquests of India; and with that view they joined Mahmed-aaly-qhan, son to Anvar-eddin-qhan of Gopa-ma8, under whose name they possessed themselves of some Districts of the Province of Arcat. M8sher-Bussy, meanwhile, taking umbrage at Roc8n-ed-döwlah’s administration, got him dismissed from his office of Prime Minister, which he obtained for Shah-nevaz-qhan, a nobleman with whom he had connections. This Minister, in the four years which his administration lasted, governed with so much vigour and pru­dence, that the Marhattas never thought of quitting their frontiers. It is he that drew from inaction and obscurity the two Princes, Mir Nizam-aaly and Mir Mahammed-sherif, younger brothers to Selabet-djung, two young men who hitherto had both lived in their elder’s Palace. This was in the year 1169. Mir Nizam-aaly (who now governs the Decan as Sovereign,) was decorated with the surname of the second Asef-dja, and sent to govern the Barar; and Mir Mushref, after having been successively decorated with the title sof Shudjah-el-mulk, and Burhan-el-mulk, or the “Valorous and Impetuous of the State,” was sent to govern the Kingdom of Bidjapoor; and both brothers departed to their respective stations. But in the very next year the office of first Minister was taken from Shah-nevaz-qhan, and bestowed on Mir Mushref, who came from Bidjapoor to receive it. However he did not enjoy it; for his brother, Nizam-aaly, having marched to Aoreng-abad with a good army, requested his younger brother to take some repose, and assuming at the same time his office of Prime Minister, he became the centre of all affairs, and even changed his younger brother’s title into that which had been formerly the title of their common father.

It was in this same year that Baladji-räo, the Marhatta, advanced upon the frontiers of Aoreng-abad, with intention to avail himself of the rising broils, so as to have a pretence for quarreling. But the conjunctures upon which he had reckoned had already ceased; and Nizam-aaly, having left his apparent Lord, Selabet-djung, to defend the city of Aoreng-abad, came out himself with his brother, Mir-mushref, and advanced upon Baladji-räo, whom he lead beating, as far as Sund-gur, which is at thirty cosses from Aoreng-abad; but there he thought proper to come to an accommodation in which he consented to give Baladji-räo throughout all Decan, a Djaghir of thirty-seven lacs of rupees. After this he returned to Aoreng-abad. But M8shur Bussy, who commanded an independent body of troops, having taken umbrage at this absolute authority assumed by Nizam-aaly, conceived the design of breaking his rising power (although in fact he only accelerated the ruin of Nizam-el-mulk’s family), as he conceived that so long as Nizam-aaly should be at the head of so great a force, the influence of the French would become only a secondary object. By the means of some underhand management, conducted by Haïder-djung, who, as we have said, was everything in his affairs, he debauched from Nizam-aaly’s service his best officers, and amongst others Hibrahim-qhan, the Gardi*, an officer of character, attached this longwhile to that young Prince, whom he served with a body of his own troops. He debauched in the same manner some other Com­manders and troops, which he took in his own service, making good from his own treasury eight lacs of rupees, which were due to them by Nizam-aaly upon their arrears. By such an artful management he reduced the young Prince to the condition of a bird which has lost its feathers. He at the same time laid hold of Shah-nevaz-qhan, and got him confined. Being now satisfied on those two important articles, he conceived a third scheme, which was that of confining Nizam-aaly in the fortress of Gol­condah, under pretence of carrying him to Haïder-abad, and giving him the government of that Province; which removal once effected, he conceived that he should remain master of the Government to all intents and purposes. This scheme was laid with great secrecy; but Nizam-aaly having by dint of penetra­tion guessed the whole of its drift, he resolved to be beforehand with M8shur Bussy, by killing his Minister, Haïder-djung. Hav­ing imparted his design to a few trusty persons, he fixed on the third of Ramazan, in the year 1171, for its execution. That very day Haïder-djung was coming to Nizam-aaly’s quarters for some Troublest in Decan, and daring action of Nizam-aaly’s. business, and having observed some movements that did not please him, he wanted to go back, when he was set upon instantly and had his throat cut in a moment. Nizam-aaly after striking such a blow, threw himself upon a horse, and fairly made his escape; the whole French army with their artillery, in order of battle, standing astonished and dismayed, as if they had been an army of statues and pictures, set upright in a plain. This was a daring intrepid action, that equalled any thing done by Rustem or Ispent-yar*, and where it seemed that Mooshur-Bussy, and all his officers were out of their senses. In this confusion, some of Haïder-djung’s people ran to Shah-nevaz-qhan, and his son, Mir Abdol-nebi-qhan, and put them both to death, together with another nobleman of consequence, called Amin-ed-döwlah. The tumult being over, Selabet-djung, Mir Mushref, and Mooshur-Bussy, returned to Haïder-abad. As to Nizam-aaly, he took to the road of B8rhanp8r, found means to regain his old servant, Hibrahim-qhan-gardi; and after that action, he marched with him in that city, where they put under contribution the rich men of the country, and amongst others Mahmed-anvar-qhan, the B8rhan-p8rian. This nobleman had acted as mediator in the treaty which had once taken place between the Marhatta General, Sancradji-malhar, and the Viceroy, Hossein-aaly-qhan; by which the latter had consented to pay the Marhattas, a Chö8t, or a tribute. This nobleman incensed to find himself so tormented for money, said farewell to his own existence, and was buried in the Garden of Shah-yssa, alias Djund-allah. These contribu­tions having put it in Nizam-aaly’s power to raise a good body of troops, he marched from B8rhanp8r, and took up his quarters at Bassem, a principal town of the dependencies of Barar. There he had many disputes and several engagements with the Mucasdar, or Marhatta Governor of that Province, who was Djano-dji, son to Ragho-dji-bhosselah, with whom he at last con­cluded an agreement. After this he marched to Haïder-abad, where great disputes and dissensions arose between the three brothers. At last it was agreed that Selabet-djung and Nizam-aaly should remain and live together; but that Mir Mushref should immediately proceed to his Government of Bidjapoor.