As they were approaching, every one who had a beast to spare or a bag to muster, made haste to repair thither in expecta­tion of finding, as usual, that town full of grain and all kinds of provisions, but the enemy had been beforehand with them, and had a little before fallen upon that town, and sacked and plundered it, setting fire to such grain and provisions as could not be carried away. This was the resource found in that populous town, and the half-burnt and half-parched grain feasted the eyes of those famished wretches, like a table spread with a quantity of unexpected victuals. Aaly-verdy-qhan having taken up his quarters at Catwa, wrote to Hadji Ahmed and to Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, Governors of the city, to inform them of his situation, and to request their taking care of the city and country, but above all, their sending his second nephew, Sëyd-ahmed-qhan, to join the army immediately with a supply of provisions and everything necessary. The news of this arrival filled that family with joy. At first they had entirely lost every track of Aaly-verdy-qhan, as they had received no intelligence at all from him this longwhile; so that they had given him up for lost. When therefore letters came from him, and they heard of his being so near the city, they prostrated themselves before that Supreme one who finds means to bring together the parted and distant, and to save those that seem without resource; and they returned thanks to that Provi­dence, that had brought him back safe and in health, after so long a campaign. After which they dispatched Sëyd-ahmed-qhan with a train of artillery, and a convoy of provisions, followed by all kinds of tents and every other necessary; and he in a few days joined his uncle with a reinforcement of old troops and his convoy of provisions. This sight overjoyed every one, and these famished men on beholding plenty succeed to hunger and distress, returned thanks to the Almighty disposer of events, and reposed themselves after so many toils and dangers. And now sutlers and merchants with provisions of all kinds flocked to camp from all parts, to the great amusement of the soldiers, who after having suffered so much from famine and hunger, now crowded to see the cart-loads of grain and victuals pass by, as if it had been some unusual sight, and some uncommon spectacle capable to excite curiosity.

So glorious a retreat could not fail to raise Aaly-verdy-qhan’s character; it overjoyed the hearts of his subjects, and intimidated his enemies. The Marhatta General was alarmed. Matters were now greatly altered. The Viceroy had before him a country abound ing with everything that could be wished; and it became problematical even with the enemy, whether an army that had with­stood him when struggling through so many difficulties, would not prove now an overmatch for his men? Concluding therefore, that it would be highly difficult now for him to keep his footing in Bengal, especially as the rainy season was set in, he had thoughts of returning home through the country of Birbohom. But this was opposed by Mir-habib, who by rendering continual services, and exposing continually his person, had found means to render it respectable, and to speak with authority. That man who had come a simple pedlar from Iran, his country, and was so low bred, as to be unable either to write or read, had now by dint of merit and services rendered himself considerabe; he had found means to figure as a man fertile in expedients, and a General of much resolution. His animosity against Aaly-verdy-qhan would not allow of his parting with Bengal on so easy terms; and he went so far as to tell the Marhatta General, that if money was his object, he (Mir-habib) would undertake to find a great deal of it for him, and that he requested only the disposal of some thousand Cavalry, with which force he would so far avail him­self of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s lying at Catwa, as to advance suddenly to M8rsh8d-abad, which is a city without walls, and without any defence, where by plundering only Djaget-seat’s house,* he would bring him money enough to satisfy all his wishes. This advice having been supported by a strong reasoning, Mir-habib was furnished with some thousand picked horse, and he departed immediately on his expedition. But this could not be done so secretly, as that the Viceroy should not have intelligence of it; and as he knew the circumstances of his Capital, and did not trust to the talents of either his brother or nephew for the defence of it, he determined to advance himself to its relief; and he set out directly with much expedition. But Mir-habib having already performed the journey in a single day,* was beforehand with The Mar­hattas com­manded by Mir-habib plunders one part of M8r­sh8d-abad. him, and he had already plundered Djagat-seat’s house, from whence he carried full two Corors away, and also a quantity of other goods. Some other parts of the city were also plundered; and Mir-habib having advanced as far as his own lodgings, took away his own brother, Mir-sherif, but did not venture farther. For the Viceroy’s palace, and also the quarter where lived his nephew, who was Deputy Governor, and likewise the quarter of Ata-ollah-qhan, a general officer, were filled with too many troops to be liable to insult; and meanwhile the enemy hearing that the Viceroy was at hand, instantly departed the city. It was about the middle of the day, and in the evening, the Viceroy arrived himself, to the universal joy of his friends, of his whole Court and of all his subjects. All these events happened in the month of Sefer of the year 1155 of the Hedjra.

It is remarkable that whilst the Viceroy was advancing to the relief of his Capital, the Marhatta General, intimidated by the violence of the rainy season in Bengal, was retreating towards his own country; and he was already arrived in the Birbohom, when Mir-habib overtook him, bringing with him his two Corors, his booty, and much good advice. He reproached the General for his quitting Bengal on so earsy terms; and he even threatened to informe the Court of Nagp8r of his precipitation and back­wardness should he persist in a retreat. Mir-habib spoke with a deal of warmth, but yet with so much reason, that the General convinced by his reasons, and overcome by his reproaches, retro­graded at once, and in a few days encamped at Catwa, where Mir-habib who had pledged himself for the success of his expedi­tion, undertook to procure provisions for the army. He had even the art to open a correspondence both with the Zemindars of the country, and with the inhabitants of H8gly, who after many letters and messages had passed between them and the Marhatta General, at laft made use of Mir-habib’s mediation to come to terms. The principal of those were Mir-abol-hassen and Mir-abol-cassem, two eminent merchants, who were intimates with Mahmed-yar-qhan, He gets possession of H8gly. half-brother to the Viceroy, and Governor of H8gly. These having taken care, by Mir-habib’s advice, to arrive at H8gly in the night time, when the gates of the castle were shut up, sent in a forged story as if they had some matter of importance to impart to the Governor; and the credulous man having ordered the gate to be opened, about fifteen men got in with Mir-habib at their head, and as the Governor was alone, they seized his person, and put it under confinement. The conspirators had already applied to the Marhatta General, and had obtained from him an officer of consequence, named Siss-räo, with a body of troops, that had concealed themselves close to H8gly to him they immediately sent notice of their having seized the Governor and the Marhatta officer making haste, arrived early in that city, and sat on the Mesned of command, where he received the com­pliments of the citizens, after having contracted a close connection with the conjured. Their example was proposed by Mir-habib to many other Moghul merchants, who all followed it; so that the city was tranquillised. But this expedition having produced much money, which arose from contributions or from the revenues of the country, or from the port duties of so celebrated a mart, the Marhatta General commenced perpending all the consequences and all the value of his sojourning in Bengal, and he resolved to make Catwa his head-quarters, from that time Mir-habib became his Prime Minister; and that transfuge who was a very active man, used to transact business sometimes at Catwa, and some­times H8gly.

Whilst all this was passing in the southern parts of Bengal, the Viceroy, whose forces had been greatly reduced both by a campaign of twelve months and by labour, sickness and famine, concluded that as the rainy season was at hand, it would be too late to think of driving the Marhattas out of his country; and that the only party left for him was to content himself with con­serving the city and its territory. He therefore came out and posted himself at some distance from it, in a suburb called Amany-gundj and Tarracp8r. But by this time the rainy weather had set in; and the river of Bhagraty ceasing to be fordable, Catwa remained on the other side, and the country on the M8rsh8d-abad side was become safe from the enemy’s incursions. But then, the same circumstance afforded them a full opportunity of extend­ing their ravages all over the Bardevan, and the Midnip8r, pushing their contributions as far as Balisser-bender, and even this port fell in their hands. However, all this did not intimidate hither Mir-calender, the Fodjdar of Midnip8r, who founnd means The Mar­hattas ravage all Bengal, south of the Ganga. to secure his fort, or Mir-maasom, the Deputy-governor of the Oressa. The latter seeing the province attacked by numbers that were four times superior to his own, retired in the mountains, where he provided for hin safety, but left his country defenceless. In this manner the Oressa, the Midnip8r, the Bardevan, and part of the Radj-shahy, and even the town and district of Acbar-nagur-radj-mahal, became possessed by the enemy; and nothing remained to Aaly-verdy-qhan, but the city of M8rsh8d-abad, and the countries on the other side of the Ganga. The peaceful inhabitants of this great capital, who far from having ever seen such devastations, had uot so much as heard of any such things, and whose city had not so much as the cover of a wall, became exceedingly fearful for their properties and families; and they availed themselves of the rainy season to cross over to the countries on the other side of the Ganga, such as Djehan-ghir-nugur, Malda, and Ramp8r-bó8lia, where most of them built themselves houses, and where they passed their lives. Even the Deputy-Governor himself, Nevazish-mahmed-qhan, crossed over with his family, furniture and wealth, and lived at Godagary, which is at one day’s distance from the city, and where he laid the founda­tion of an habitation for himself and family. Aaly-verdy-qhan’s furniture and effects were likewise sent over; from w?? ever, the Deputy-Governor returned to the city, where ?? to live with his uncle, Aaly-verdy-qhan. This Prince ?? now to gain the heart of his troops, and to reward the ?? fidelity, made them a present of the ten lacs of r?? had promised, and by such a well timed liberality, he sowed in their hearts the seeds of love and gratitude.