SECTION XV.
CONTENTS.

Several Viceroys of high character are sent for to Court, where Ab8l-mans8r-qhan, one of these, appears with a retinue equally pompous and formidable—Curious anecdote of Mahmed-yar, an officer of great resolution—Origin of Aaly-mahmed-rohilla, the founder of the Rohilla Colony—Origin of the Abdali-Monarch —Emir-qhan killed by Mahmed-shah’s order—Origin of Ahmed-shah-abdali, who founds a new monarchy—He marches into Hindostan, takes possession of two provinces, and is defeated in a bloody battle—Heroical character of C8t8b-eddin-qhan —Our Author’s father makes a friend of him—Death of Mah­med-shah, who is succeeded by his son, Ahmed-shah—Historical account of the private life of four illustrious personages, who died within a little distance from each other: Emir-qhan, Nizam-el-mulk, Camer-eddin-qhan and Mahmed-shah—Weak administration of his son, Ahmed-shah, who becomes crapulous, whilst his mother, Udem-bày, gives up both her heart and person to the Eunuch Djavid-qhan, whom the Vezir Ab8l-mans8r-qhan cannot bear—Dissensions, and a civil war in the Rohilcund, fomented by the Vezir, who, jealous of the nighbourhood of so warlike a tribe as the Rohillahs to his country of A8d, resolves to subdue such restless neighbours—Some of the Rohillahs submit; put under the administration of Nevol-ráy, a man whose excesses and violences cause a revolt—An Afghan, Heroine rouses the whole nation—Nevol-ráy defeated and slain—The Vezir, already much incensed, marches against the Afghans—By the way his unruly Moghultroops plunder and sack the town of Barr, wholly inhabited by Séyds—The Vezir, in despair at such calamity, marches against the Afghans, against whom, his troops impressed with superstitious notions at the sacrileges committed lately in the sack and plunder, misbehave and are totally defeated —The Vezir, grievously wounded, is obliged to follow the run­aways —The Afghans, after this unexpected victory, attempt Bel­gram and Lucknow, where they are roughly handled by the inhabitants, a race renowed for bravery; but they plunder and sack Ilah-abd, without however being able to take the Castle of that City—Singular appearance of a brave Fakyr, who daily exposee himself, daily attacks the enemy, and seems to be invulnerable —The Vezir undismayed by his defeat, makes a spirited and very sarcastical answer to those that thought him undone for ever—Even his Consort thinks of sustaining a siege in her Palace—The Vezir raises another army, plunders Feroh-abad, and beats the Afghans, who submit to their Conquerors.