But the Governor’s anxieties soon returned upon him. He had left behind his whole family, his consort, and his riches, which last had been hoarded from long hand, and now amounted to a vast sum; and this thought, but especially that of his consort and children, were enough to distract his mind. He, therefore, sent his son-in-law towards Sicacol and Ganjam, which are on the frontiers of the Oressa, to try what could be done, as those towns have a great intercourse with Catec. But Providence which watched over that forlorn family, had already suscitated a saviour for it, and this was the Radja or Prince of Ratip8r, who is also Lord of Djagennat, a famous place of resort and pilgrimages from all India, and where the diversity of clans so remarkable amongst Gentoos, and the shyness from each other which it produces, ceases at once by an ancient law, to make place for a mutual intercourse deemed obligatory in a sacred place held in the highest veneration.* This Gentoo Prince, who was a particular friend of M8rsh8d-c8ly-qhan, seemed to be an exception to the general run of mankind, as if he had gloried in being one of those few, who in the adverse fortunes of their benefactors, and friends, remember of former benefits and of former connec­tions and act accordingly. Hearing of the late defeat, and con­cluding that the victorious would soon become masters of Catec, he sent a number of carriages, and a strong escort, with orders to bring every thing belonging to his friend out of that city. The whole was under the command of Sheh-morad, a trusty officer of his household, who arriving at the nick of time, took with him not only the forlorn family, and the treasures, but even the whole furniture, and every person or servant belonging to the Governor. Setting out without loss of time, he traversed the whole Oressa, and carried his charge safe to Inchap8r, which is a town and district dependant on Sicacol and Ganjam; and moreover he remained there on his master’s part to execute the Prince’s com­mands. By a further good luck, the Governor of the country happened to be Anver-eddin-qhan, who was an acquaintance of M8rsh8d-c8ly-qhan, and who received that forlorn family as his guests, and took care to furnish it with every necessary and every conveniency in his power. Bakyr-aaly-qhan arriving a few days after, and finding his consort and wealth unexpectedly arrived and freed from every danger, returned thanks to God Almighty for so signal a delivery. Fromthence he sent his mother-in-law to her husband, together with her funiture and treasures, and after tarrying a few days to hear from Catec, he returned to his father-in-law; who finding himself in a country that belonged to Nizam-el-mulk, Viceroy of Decan, thought himself happy to have obtained shelter in his dominions, and he made a stay there to recover of his fatigues. But Aaly-verdy-qhan did not think of repose.

Intent on availing himself of his success, he pushed on to Catec, where he stayed about a month to bring that country under control; and this was not a difficult task, as he had lived a long while on those parts in the time of Shudjah-qhan and had had connections with every one of the Zemindars. He now sent for them, and after having spoken kindly to them all, and conferred upon each in particular such favours as he seemed to deserve, he dismissed them contented. Sending at the same time for his second son-in-law, Sëid-ahmed-qhan, he appointed him Governor-General of the province, after having made him sit on the Mes­ned of command in his presence, and put on his shoulders the Qhylaat of that investiture. But as he did not trust altogether to the young officers which Sëid-ahmed-qhan had put at the head of his own brigade, he gave the command of it to one of his own veteran officers, called Godjur-qhan, with permission to raise as many more troops as his Governor might think convenable. After Aaly-verdy-qhan leaves his grandson in the Govern­ment of the Oressa. all these arrangements, he quitted the Oressa, and took the road of M8rsh8d-abad, the capital of his dominions, where he graced again by his presence, the Mesned of command and sovereignty.

This time of recess he employed constantly in determining revenue matters, in disciplining and stationing his army, in eas­ing the husbandmen, and obliging every noble, and every plebeian, that had access to his person. He kept under his eyes his nephew, Mirza-mahmed, whom he had adopted, as well as his brother, yet a child, which he had got adopted by his nephew, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan; and he made it a point to have at his Court all Great respect paid by Aaly-verdy-qhan to Ser-efraj-qhan’s
mother and family. the principal nobles and the chief men of the country, as well as their principal relations and friends. As to the family of Ser-efraz-qhan, it was recommended to his elder son-in-law, who having obtained Nefissa-begum’s consent, carried her to his palace, where he adopted her for his mother, as she did him for her son. He gave her the whole management of his seraglio, with the absolute command of his inner household. But what is extraordinary, this adoption did not extend to her ever appearing in his presence, or to her ever been so much as seen by him. There always intervened a veil or a curtain between them, even whilst she was rendering him an account of his family, and whilst the expressions of mother and son were continually interchanging. The Princess had even an inspection over his consort, who was daughter to Aaly-verdy-qhan, and her orders were executed without reference to him. She likewise conserved the Qhas-taaloock, or personal demesnes of Djaafer-qhan, her father, (a tract of ground that yielded a large revenue) with every land or house that had been bought by that Prince in his private capacity. To these Nevazish-mahmed-qhan never offered to touch, and she continued to enjoy them totally, being to the very last used with the utmost respect and deference both by him and by Aaly-verdy-qhan himself, neither of whom ever approached her without a profound bow, or ever offered to sit in her presence, without being bid. It happened that one of Ser-efraz-qhan’s concubines was delivered of a son, the very day on which he was slain; and he was adopted by Nefissa-begum for her son, soon became an object of much regard for even Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, and care was taken to have him bred with as much attention as if he had been his own son. But as Ser-efraz-qhan had no married consort of his own rank, but only concubines, some of whom had been occa­sionally admitted to his bed, those that had any children by him were honourably dismissed to Djehanghir-nagar-Dacca, where he settled upon them such noble pensions, as put it in their power not only to live up to their rank, but also to assist others. In short, he declared himself the protector of all that had belonged to that unfortunate Prince, to every one of whom he allowed honourable salaries, whether they lived by themselves, or chose to take service with him, making it a point to render every one of them easy in his circumstances, and satisfied with his lot. And really Nevazish-mahmed-qhan’s liberality was boundless. For I have heard it from people well informed and worthy of credit, that he spent Thirty Thousand Rupees per month in supporting secretly poor widows, and old decrepit people, exclusively of those that had their names borne on the Divani-registers, and received pensions publicly. The bounties to all these people were every month put in bags in his presence, and respectively for­warded by trusty eunuchs and old women of his household. He was, as we have said, Governor of the province of Dacca, with its annexes, to wit, the Fodjdaries of Silhut and Islam-abad, but he lived at Court, as well as his Nàib or Lieutenant, Hussëin-c8ly-qhan. So that the immediate management of those countries devolved on a Divan of Hussëin-c8ly-qhan’s, who was called Räy-gocul-chund, a man of merit, who discharged that trust much to his credit and honour. At this same time Cassem-aaly-qhan, brother to Aaly-verdy-qhan’s consort, was appointed to the Fodj­dary of Rungp8r, where he acquired both credit and riches.*

Whilst such an important revolution was taking place in Bengal, Sëif-eddin-aali-qhan was Fodjdar or rather hereditary Governor of Paraniah, to which charge he had been appointed from the presence, so early as the times of Djaafer-qhan. This Lord, misled by appearances, had for some time taken Aaly-verdy-qhan for a rebel, and in expectation of being supported by armies and Generals from the capital, he had given out that he was going to march against him, and to punish his rebellion; but finding that he had greatly mistaken the case, and that no notice was taken of his intention, he concluded that such a rumour and such an intention had done him no good. To give, therefore, the best colouring to his behaviour, he counterfeited the mad man, and it was lucky for him that Aaly-verdy-qhan, who paid a great regard to his connections at Court, and to Emir-qhan, his brother, in particular, did not think it expedient to resent his conduct.