But whilst he was new-modelling his household in that man­ner, there arose under his very eyes, a man whose fortune became prodigious. This was Qhadum-hassen-qhan, the very man who had lately cut so conspicuous a figure, in driving away the dis­consolate mother of Seradj-ed-döula’s. He boasted assiduously of his being related to Mir-djaafer-qhan, although in reality he was no relation of his in any degree; for he was born, not of Mir-djaafer-qhan’s sister, as married to Séyd-qhadem-aaly-qhan, but only from a Cashmirian wife of his, whom the latter had likewise married; and this was all the foundation of a relationship, he now so loudly claimed, styling himself his nephew, and never men­tioning the new Prince, but by the appellation of his Mam8, or maternal uncle. But although his relation to the new Sovereign was so very slight and groundless, he was very much related to him in other weighty respects. He was nearly of the same age, extremely addicted to voluptuousness and profligacies, and above all, had an invincible inclination to some particular species of unnatural lusts, to which the two friends had taken an habit from their earliest youths, and which the two friends practised reciprocally; living mostly together, and frequently retiring together. However he was superior to his Mam8 in other repects. Quick-sighted in matters of account and book-keeping, thoroughly skilled in the arts of making money, ready-handed enough at quarrels and frays, and above all, deeply conversant in all the secret subtilities and contrivances of non-conformism, and unnatural practices, which last were his peculiar taste and particular turn of mind; and as on the other hand, he had been long enough in the service of the late Sáyd-ahmed-qhan, to have acquired thereby a competent acquaintance, not only with whatever concerned the finances of the country, but also with the inlets into the province of P8rania, and with its strong and weak sides; so he thought himself well-qualified for a Governor; and he accordingly requested the government of that country. “He reminded Mir-djaafer-qhan of the activity he had exhibited, in serving him with his person, in his disputes with Seradj-ed-döula (although in reality it was he that had escaped by taking shelter under Mir-djaafer-qhan’s protection, as Seradj-ed-döulah had got information of his cabals, and wanted to punish him according to his deserts), he represented, I say, to his friend, that now that fortune had bestowed upon him so much power, and such extensive dominions, he hoped he would allow him to better his fortune in that little corner of P8rania, favour which after all would not be bestowed on a stranger.” This representation being made at a time when Mir-djaafer-qhan had set out on purpose to chastise the revolted of P8rania, and to quiet the troubles of that province, could not fail of being listened to, especially as Qhadum-hassen-qhan, who was master of much ready money, and had furnished himself with a noble­man’s equipage, had offered to quell the troubles of that province, at his own charge and peril, provided he had the government of it, and was assisted with a small force. The old Navvab, who had been at all times indolent and averse to labour, but who now detested the very thoughts of it, on finding himself fated to taste of the sweets of sovereignty, no earlier than in the evening of life, was glad to rid himself of such an out-of-the-way expedition, the more so, as it interfered with his intended scheme against Azim-abad, which last he thought much more important. He therefore bestowed on Qhadum-hassen-qhan the investiture and qhylaat of P8raniah; and Mir-cazam-qhan, an ancient Com­mander of Aaly-verdy-qhan’s time, was ordered to attend him with his corps, and to obey his commands; this officer who was a man of character, and a little related to me, the poor man, had cut so great a figure at the battle in which Sháocat-djung lost his life, that the new Navvab desirous to win his heart, had augmented his brigade, and had bestowed upon him the Paymastership of several other corps.

As soon as the appointment took place, the new Governor crossed the Ganga with a small train of artillery, and his own body of troops; and from thence he wrote circular letters to every principal man, and to every civil and military officer in the province: all men whom he knew personally. These letters with now and then a menace, contained a variety of promises, and were calculated to gain the heart of every one. This passage of Qhadum-hassen-qhan,
a very strange character, Governor to P8rania. the Ganga roused the attention of Hazyr-aaly-qhan, who had forgot himself totally on seeing six or seven thousand foot, and two or three thousand horse under his command; he armed himself and resolved to repel the enemy, and he made choice of a post which he fortified with intrenchments. But all this while he was unaware that his troops, being no better than so many farmers of P8rania, were faint-hearted, and unfit for a day of battle; those people making nothing of throwing away their arms, and abandoning their officers, without any sense of shame. Instead of that knowledge so necessary in a man of his station, he had provided himself with certain astrological predictions, which a certain Gentoo, called Ratan-pat, had been brewing for him, and he had strengthened his post on his own notions of success and victory. However, he took care to gain the hearts of his troops, by bestowing much money amongst them from the large sums that had been brought together with so much trouble by Seradj-ed-döulah’s Deputy. By this time Qhadum-hassen-qhan had approached the enemy, but as fear and despondency seemed to have seized him, as well as his antagonist, he thought proper to stop short, and to write pressing letters to the Navvab for his hastening his promised assistance. Luckily for him that the P8raniah troops no sooner heard of the enemy’s approach, than they were seized with a panic, and they disappeared by small parties; each man, as his fear prompted him, quitting the camp in the night, and making the best of his way to his home. The desertion became so general, that the numbers in camp became thinner and thinner, to the great disappointment of Hazyr-aaly-qhan, who was still more intimidated by hearing that the Navvab had sent repeated orders to Mir-cazem-qhan to hasten his march. These orders, however, did not please Qhadum-hassen-qhan; but as he was a shrewd man, and fully informed how matters went in the enemy’s camp, he thought it expedient to hasten to an engagement, for fear of being obliged to share the honour of the success with another in a victroy which he thought could not escape him. Full of these ideas, he assembled the few troops he had with him and before Mir-cazem-qhan could come up, he He expels Hazyr-aaly. marched directly against the enemy’s camp. Hazyr-aaly-qhan, on the other hand, ranged his troops upon the intrenchment, and with his Minister, Atchul-sing, he made his appearance at their head. But these troops who had already been impressed by Qhadum-hassen-qhan’s letters, forgot everything but their own safety; on descrying the enemy’s march they wavered, and with­out being pushed to it by actually feeling the impression of either sabre or spear, they quitted their posts all at once, and fled every one the nearest way to his home. Hazyr-aaly-qhan, without being desmayed by this general desertion, found means to secure his flight. He fled and disappeared, without it being possible to know where, and how. To all appearance, he went towards the mountainous tracts in the north of P8rania, which although con­tiguous to Bengal, are independent from it; and he remained concealed there until he might hear of an opportunity of emerg­ing from thence; and this happened when another revolution was effected in favour of Mir-cassem-aaly-djah. Then he shewed himself again, but was seized and confined for a length of time, without being ever heard of afterwards.

After so easy and so complete a victory, Qhadum-hassen-qhan made his entry in P8rania, where he took up his abode in the palace built by Sáyd-ahmed-qhan; and from thence he pro­claimed that whoever had concealed Atchul-sing, should produce him immediately. But there was little need of any vigorous search; for the man himself having concluded that as a pen-man and one that had acted only on a second-hand, there was little danger for him in being apprehended, quietly suffered himself to be taken; on which the Governor required him to produce a general account of the employ he had made of the public money; after which he resumed every thing that had been bestowed under the former administration. Numbers that had absconded, were seized, and by dint of severities, were made to pay much money, after having refunded all that which they had really received. Such violences made his administration odious, and rendered his person an object of taunt and reproach; but he seemed to pay little attention to it; and, indeed, he had not delicacy enough to feel the detestable part he had chosen to act; and, provided he made much money, he little minded the detestation of an incensed public. Mir-cazem-qhan arrived at this time with his force; but he found the country reduced; and he contented himself with paying a visit to the new Governor; after which he took his leave, and returned to the camp at Radj-mahl. The Governor being now firmly settled, applied himself to the duties of his office, and some months had elapsed in this manner; but Ratun­pal, the astrologer, who had absconded with many others, having thought proper to make again his appearance upon the stage of the world, gave birth to a strange scene. This man claimed the possession of some villages that had been bestowed upon him successively by Séif-qhan, and afterwards by Sáyd-ahmed-qhan. He thought that as the whole business of an astrologer consisted in keeping great men in good humour with their ownselves, by a variety of predictions suited to their inclinations, the new Governor would not find fault with him for having flattered Hazyr-aaly-qhan a little, nor would object to his being left in the possession of an estate so fairly acquired. “Astrologer,” said the Governor, with an air of derision, “have you examined the stars to-day, before you ventured out of your house? Doubt­less you have.” “Illustrious Navvab,” answered the other, “as the business of such men as we, is to draw horoscopes for His conduct, his behaviour to an innocent astrologer. others, and to examine the Heavens for a favourable hour, you may rest assured that we do not neglect such a precaution for ourselves.” “Very well,” replied the Governor; “and it is you undoubtedly, that have pointed out to Hazyr-aaly-qhan, a favourable hour for his fine expedition. Have you not?” The man did not deny it; and on that concession, the Governor ordered him to be carried to the public market, there to have his nose cut off, to terrify all the Grandees and principal men of the province; and likewise to teach him to look out with more care about a favourable hour, on his coming out of his lodgings. The order was punctually executed, and the poor man remained mutilated for life.