Such a piece of intelligence was soon conveyed to the Court of Catec, and M8rsh8d-c8ly-qhan, now resolved on war, thought it proper to cound the minds of those about his person. Having assembled his friends and the principal officers of his army, he made his appearance in the hall, and remained silent for a while; taking then his sabre from his own side, he laid it in the middle of the assembly, and after having represented in lively colours, the crime committed by Aaly-verdy-qhan, he reflected on that insatiable ambition of his, which not contented with impunity, aspired also to despoil the murdered Prince’s sister of what little she had left, and talked of nothing but war and of sacrificing every one to his own views. “My cause being as just, as my case is critical,” added he, “there remains nothing for me now, but to know your own minds on this iniquitous contest. If you are for stand­ing by me, let us set out together and fight together; but if you are of another mind, then for God’s sake explain yourselves early and betimes, that I may act accordingly, and provide betimes for my own safety.” This short address having seemed to be received with approbation, the principal officer of his army, Abed-aaly-qhan by name, assured him in the name of the assembly, “that he might rely on their fidelity and on their detestation of the murderer;” and having pronounced these few words, he stood up with all those present, and taking up the sabre lying on the ground, he girt it round the Viceroy’s loins, and assured him of their attachment and zeal. Such a scene having tranquillised the Governor’s mind, he thought only of preparing himself for the contests. Having mustered his army, and taken his son-in-law with him, he quitted Catec, and advanced towards the frontiers of his country. For this purpose he pushed beyond Balliser-bender (Balassor), crossed the river that flows by that town, and having advanced some miles beyond it, he took post in a spot which he judged capable of great defence. This was almost surrounded by a small river with steep lofty banks, that had within sight a country covered with woods and brambles. Not content with the natural strength of his post, he threw up some intrenchments in the least difficult parts, lined the whole with three hundred pieces of artillery, great and small, and gave his encampment such a menacing posture, that it became very dangerous to dis­lodge him. Such was the state of things, when Aaly-verdy-qhan moved from Midnapore, and having advanced towards Balliser-bender, he got a full view of a formidable post, of which he had only some idea from report. His natural daringness was at stand; to attack an enemy so incensed and so well intrenched, was impracticable. To entice him out of that strong post was the surest party; but his situation was now become critical. The Zemindars of the frontiers of Bengal became remiss in forwarding convoys to camp, and the few that would approach it, never failed to be intercepted by the Zemindars or great landholders of the Oressa, who seemed to dislike his person, and to look upon his camp as an inimical ground. Some provisions sent by the Governor of Naràin-gur were intercepted likewise, and his sutlers being at a loss how to supply themselves, provisions became very dear, and at last scarce and bad. Such a state of things required only patience in the Governor of Oressa, and it was his intention to let the enemy consume himself. But such a delay was more than could be brooked by his son-in-law, who inflamed by the sight of the enemy, and informed of his distress, wanted absolutely to sally forth and to fall upon him. The Governor made many objections, but he was overborne at last by the impetuosity of Mirza-bakyr; and about the end of Zilcaad in the same year, he quitted his strong post, and advanced towards the enemy. This was precisely what Aaly-verdy-qhan had wished, and a blunder having been this very moment committed by the enemy, he availed himself of it to the utmost. Mirza-bakyr, in pushing blindly forwards, had unfurnished that part of his retrenchment, where was posted the greatest part of his artillery, and this having been soon perceived by the enemy, Aaly-verdy-qhan sent a party Battle of Balassor. of troops, who pushed on a gallop, and seized the whole of it. The engagement commenced, of course, and it was continued with musquetry and rockets. Vast numbers of brave men were falling on both sides, and yet the action bore a doubtful aspect, M8rsh8d-c8li-qhan standing his ground bravely. In this critical moment that same Abed-qhan, who had cut so conspicuous a figure in the assembly at Catec, and owed his fortune to his Governor, but had too much Afghan blood in his veins not to long after some signal perfidy; Abed-qhan, I say, was seen to move from his post. He had already made his bargain with the famous Mustapha-qhan, who was his countryman, and a favourite General of the enemy’s. The perfide Abed-qhan having advanced, as to an attack, with his whole corps, struck to the left where he per­ceived the signal agreed to, and having ranged his whole bri­gade close to Mustapha-qhan, he stood stock-still, like one that should have come to see the fight as a common spectator. But even this defection did not appal M8rsh8d-c8li-qhan; his troops stood their ground, and he seemed to be everywhere, being fol­lowed by a body of Sëids of Barr, long ago attached to his person, and who being desirous to shew their zeal, as well as jealous of their national character,* advanced the feet of daringness and made so vigorous an attack, that the enemy unable to stand their impetuosity, commenced giving way, and even some of the Ben­gal troops fled openly. The moment was come when Aaly-verdy-qhan was to forfeit his character* and to be covered with eternal disgrace. Luckily for him that Mirza-bakyr, having just quitted his post at the right, and attacked the left wing of the enemies, which he threw into so much disorder that the troops were actually giving way, was himself disordered by his very attack. This wing was composed of the flower of the enemy’s army. Mir-djaafer-qhan, who commanded there, seeing how matters went, jumped down from his horse, and putting himself at the head of a strong body, he advanced to the assistance of the discomfited troops, where Musahab-qhan, as well as Dilir-qhan and Assalet-qhan, both Afghans, and both intrepid sons of the valorous Umer-qhan, were making a stand. Mir-djaafer exerted himself so man­fully in that trying moment, that he on that day acquired high character for military conduct and soldier-like prowess. The combat became warm and bloody, and Mir-muhabbet-aaly, with Mir-acber-aaly, the two Commanders of the Sëids, having received several mortal wounds, which made them drink to the dregs the cup of bitter potion presented them by inexorable fate, whilst Mirza-bakyr himself was receiving several dangerous wounds on the neck, head and breast, their troops were appalled and gave way. Mirza-bakyr, unable to support himself, was carried out of the field, and the troops being deprived of such valorous Commanders, took fright, dispersed, and fought only how to escape the slaughter. M8rsh8d-c8ly-qhan, finding now that fortune had turned her back upon him, thought only how to secure a retreat, and taking his wounded son-in-law in a Paleky he turned towards Balisser-bender, in which he took shelter with about three thousand men that still stood by him; not that he expected any thing from that handful, he was only intent on giving them the slip. Under pretence that he intended to intrench himself there, he marched them out of the town, where he threw up some earth on the outskirts of it, and turning at the same time towards the river, he alighted from his elephant, as if intending to take some refreshment. There happened to be then in the river, but close to the shore, a ship ready to sail, which belonged to an ancient friend, and ancient companion of his, being a native of S8ret-bender (Surat) as well as himself. This friend had this long while enriched himself by fitting out vessels for several parts of India, and he was just close by him; and the ship full of goods and grain, was unfurling her sails. Hadji-mahsen had fought by his side, and had his full share of the perils of the day. Now it must be observed that ships have always a vessel called feness (Pinnace), this is the young one of a ship and this serves for the purpose of going ashore; so that the people in the ship seeing on land a great concourse of people, sent their feness to inquire after M8rsh8d-cl8y-qhan’s affairs, without suspecting all this while that their owner had been in the battle. This sight of the feness entirely altered the ideas of both the Governor, and the ship’s owner. The latter pointed to the vessel with the finger, and after a pause, he observed, that the sending down such a vessel looked very much like a special inter­position of Providence in their behalf. In an instant the Gover­nor was of his opinion, and without consulting any one, or giv­ing the smallest hint of his design to any one of the by-standers, he proposed to go on board as on a party of pleasure, and only to see a ship; and without taking any thing with him, he carried M8rshood-c8ly-qhan
vanquished, flies to Masulipatam. his son-in-law, and a few of the most necessary servants, and getting into the feness, he reached the ship, which immediately drew up her anchor and made sail. In six days more she reached Machli-bender (Masulipatam).