Whilst the Marhatta Prince was encamped in the Birbohum, there came letters and petitions from M8rteza-qhan and B8lend-qhan, and the other Afghan officers who had taken shelter in the mountains of Macri-cogh after the loss of the battle. The Zemin­dars of those parts had suffered them to build themselves huts in those mountains, but cast a wishful eye upon some of those things which those refugees had been able to bring with them. On the other hand, the Zemindars of Sarseram, named Pahluvan-sing, and Sot-hur-sing, had received letters from the Governor of Bahar, which recommended their taking care, that those refugees should not find means to escape. But by this time, the Afghans tired with living in a country infested with myriads of snakes and ants, and to exist like men buried alive, had of themselves repeatedly written in the humblest terms to Rhago-dji, to supplicate “his taking the trouble of coming to their assistance; and they promised, in case of their being delivered from their loathsome habitations, to addict their whole lives to his service, without quitting his standards, unless dismissed.” They added, “that they would ever keep that favour of his as a ring hanging at their ears, and would carry all their lives on their shoulders the trappings of attachment and sincerity.” Rhago-dji finding his The refuged Afghans joined by the Mar­hattas. advantage in attaching to his person and cause some thousand Afghans, all old soldiers, equipped at all points, set out for Birbo­hum a little before the end of the rains, and taking his route over the mountains of that country, and through the hills and valleys of Carrick-p8r, he in his way across the province of Azim-abad, sacked and plundered the town of Ticcary and Sheh-p8ra, with their whole territory. After which he forded the Sohon, went into the hills of Sarseram, and delivered the Afghans from their misery; he then descended into the plain, and encamped at Arvel. His army, by the junction of the Afghans, amounted now to full twenty thousand horse. Immediately after him, Aaly-verdy-qhan arrived at Azim-abad at the head of twelve thousand horse, all old soldiers, determined to put an end to his quarrel with the Marhattas. His nephew, the Governor of the Province, went out to a great distance to meet him; and had the honour of kissing his uncle’s footsteps; after which he remained sometime in camp, Aaly-verdy-qhan having been pleased to spend some days in enjoying his relations, kinsmen, and friends.

And here it must be mentiond that some months before his arrival, a coolness and indifference had taken place between the Governor of Azim-abad and Abdol-aaly-qhan; and the coolness increasing, their faces had been obscured with the dust of so much discontent and disgust, that the former love and union had been succeeded by separation and distance. The subject was a certain note which the Governor had written to Abdol-aaly-qhan, in which were some sharp expressions, the purport and sense of which was this: “My brother, Radja Kyret-chund, has received wounds in the battle against Mustapha-qhan, and has rendered many services; and what has done your Lordship, that you should require so much gratitude at my hands, and require it as your due?” Abdol-aaly-qhan shocked at the drift of the note, abstained from going to Court; but on the Viceroy’s arrival, who was his maternal uncle, he resolved to attach himself to him, after having quitted the Governor’s service. He intended henceforward to spend the remainder of his life in that Prince’s Court, and to follow him to M8rsh8d-abad. With this view, he once after dinner, remained on purpose in the Prince’s tent where there were then only a few persons, such as Hadji-ahmed, his son the Governor, and myself; and finding the moment favourable, he brought the discourse upon himself and mentioned his intention, observing that he had now given up all his connections at Azim-abad, and wished to spend the remainder of his days in his uncle’s service, as he could no more bear to live in the Governor’s Court. The Viceory, who wanted to soothe his mind, answered with mildness, “that such was the complexion of the present times, that dissensions were arising between a son and his father, and enmities had been conceived by a brother against a brother; he added, that he had lived to see such things (he alluded in this to a very indecent dispute that had happened two or three days ago, between Sáid-ahmed-qhan and Hadji-ahmed, his father, upon a small object, in which himself (Aaly-verdy-qhan) had mediated a reconcilia­tion). If such disagreeable quarrels and enmities can find their way amongst fathers and sons, continued he, and between brothers and brothers, where is the wonder that there should arise a dissatisfaction between you and Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan, who are sons only of two uncles?” Abdol-aaly-qhan answered coldly, that if quarrels should happen between brothers and children, he did not wonder at it, as they were co-heirs; but that he did not comprehend, why he, who was no more than a servant, should become the object of a quarrel? If I am fit for anything, added he, let me be kept on an honorable footing; and if I am not so, dismiss me at once, without wounding my delicacy with disagreeable expressions and odious reflections, which I cannot bear with any regard to my honour. What means such a letter as this, for instance? And who is that Kyret-chund, that such a pimp should be compared with, and even preferred, to me. At this expression, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan took fire; his colour changed, and he said “that he would risk his life to defend the honour and character of a Kyret-chund.” He added, “that Kyret-chund was he, whose father’s slippers had been car­ried by the ancestors of every one; by all” (in this he alluded to this particular, that Kyret-chund’s father was Prime Minister or Divan to Shujah-qhan, and the fountain head of all preferment, at a time when Hadji-ahmed, and his younger brother, Aaly-verdy-qhan, made their appearance at that Court). Abdol-aaly-qhan answered coldly, “that as his father had never carried the slippers of any one’s father, he did not see why Kyret-chund should be a man of so much importance for him.” The conversation growing warm, the Viceroy interposed; by desiring Abdol-aaly-qhan to contain himself; and he added these words: Pray, friend, why do you become angry? Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan’s allusion refers to me. At these words of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s, the nephew held his tongue, and did not offer another syllable; and the dis­pute A sharp dif­ference in the Viceroy’s family made up. subsided. A few days after, the Viceroy sent for his nephew in a private closet, and after having spoke to him, he desired his living upon good terms with Abdol-aaly-qhan; at the same time, he sent for the latter, and obtained of him as well as of the other, that they should embrace each other, and that their dissatisfac­tion should be brought to an end.

After this transaction, Aaly-verdy-qhan accompanied by his two nephews, and by Ata-ollah-qhan and Seradj-ed-döulah, decamped from Bankyp8r, and went to encamp at Nobut-p8r, without being able to find one single Marhatta by the way. In advancing farther, many screams were heard, and a moment after, it was found that the noise arose from some Marhatta troopers, who having fallen upon the baggage, had disappeared immediately with some plunder. The next day, having ranged his army in battle, and supported his flanks by artillery, he moved forwards; and it was remarked that there were not less than six persons in that army that enjoyed the honour of a kettle-drum, and no less than five, that were honoured with the insignia of the mahy or fish. The Commanders of the vanguard or the first line were Mir-djaafer-qhan, and Shimshir-qhan the Afghan; at his right was Ata-ollah-qhan and Serdar-qhan; at his left, Zin-eddin-ahmed-qhan. The flank was put under the care of Sàyd-ahmed-qhan who was supported by Sheh-djehan-yar, and by Omer-qhan. Rahem-qhan was seated on the elephant that carried the Viceroy’s main stan­dard; and that Prince was in the centre with a choice body of troops, commanded by Fakyr-ollah-beg-qhan, and N8r-ollah-beg-qhan, and some other officers of character. The army marched the whole night in that order of battle, eager to meet the enemies, and desirous of an engagement; but no enemy appeared. Only at day-break some of their horse were seen at a great distance from the reach of cannon, plundering some defenceless villages; and the victorious army continuing its march, arrived at the Ranie’s reservoir near Muhely-p8r, where it encamped. Rhago-dji hap­pened to be encamped thereabout also, without ever suspecting that the enemy by a forced march would overtake him there. Mir-djaafer-qhan and Shimshir-qhan, who commanded the vanguard, and were the foremost, fell at once upon the enemy; and Rhago-dji surprised, but not dismayed, mounted immediately, without having time to range his army in battle; but he was directly surrounded by his guards; and the different corps of the Marhattas mount­ing successively, attacked the enemy in order to disengage their General. A furious engagement took place between Mir-Djaafer-qhan and them; and the combat became so serious, that a report ran unanimously, that Rhago-dji had never escaped, but for a neglect of Shimshir-qhan’s, or possibly by his treachery. In a little time the Viceroy himself came to the support of his troops, and the enemy was giving way. But whilst those two Command­ers were engaged with a body of Marhattas, we who were with Abdol-aaly-qhan, were all engaged with another. That officer had only his brigade against some thousands of them; yet he stood his ground, until Medy-nessar-qhan mounted upon Sàyd-ahmed-qhan’s Engagement between the Bengal army, and the Mar­hattas. standard elephant, joined us with a body of troops. Here a deal of mutual slaughter ensued, and great things were intended, when night came on, and parted the combatants. The enemy giving way retired farther, and halted; and the Viceroy not choosing to advance in the dark, stayed where he was, and passed the night in a small tent provided for him, and for him only; for all the principal Commanders of the army, that is, his two nephews, and a very few others, took shelter under some trees; the rest of the army stood where it was; nor did any one know what had become of the baggage; nor did any one in so dark a night, choose to venture afar in quest of it. Some, more impatient than others, passed the whole night in inquiries, and filled the whole army with cries and tumult. Abdol-aaly-qhan, with the poor man and Allah-yar-qhan, half-brother to the Viceroy, and some other per­sons of distinction, passed the whole night watching in the Vice­roy’s tent. At day-break the baggage was found in a neighbour­ing plain, abandoned by all, but untouched. The poor man’s baggage, as well as that of Abdol-aaly-qhan’s, was found also without a man to watch over it; but yet untouched. Every one having refreshed himself, the army marched again. The Vice­roy offering battle every day to the enemy, and every day in vain, became tired of their backwardness, and he left the business to his officers, who would every day beat some party of the Mar­hattas, and always with loss to those ravagers. It was in those days that it appeared that the two Afghan Commanders were traitors in their heart, at least; it was then that Aaly-verdy-qhan conceived suspicions against them.