We have left the Vezir at the ford of the Djumna. But some time before his arrival at this passage, the report of his defeat had spread everywhere, and had roused all those that were jealous of his power, and fearful of his growing influence. The imbecile Emperor was of this number, as well as his intriguing mother, and all the Grandees of the Court, and above all, the Eunuch, now styled the valiant Navvab*, who after taking possession of the Emperor’s mind, had now come forward with intention to govern the Empire, and acted already as a Prime Minister. All these had given tokens of their ill will, and they talked of seizing on the Vezir’s Palace, and of confis­cating the vast property supposed to be in it. Nevertheless, such was the idea they had conceived of his power and resolu­tion, that they durst not put their design in execution, but waited until they should receive certain intelligence about his person. Hearing now that he was alive, and at hand, they waited his coming into the city, anxious to see what figure he would cut after his defeat. That Minister came at last, and it was soon seen by every one of them, that he would still prove a tough piece of work, and much above their strength. For even his consort*, a daughter of Saadet-qhan, and a woman of uncommon genius and courage, far from being dismayed by the reports of the Vezir’s defeat and death, had exhorted her son, Shudja-ed-döwlah, and her dependants, and son-in-law, to act with firmness, and to repel force by force; and she had made a provision of troops, and of every thing necessary for a vigorous defence*. The Vezir being arrived, soon heard of the intrigues and designs of his enemies, and he sent word not only to the Eunuch, but also to the Empress-mother, that Ab8l-mans8r’s dead body was still better than another man’s living one; and believe me, added he, I am a more tough piece of work than you seem to apprehend. Both these two persons denied their harbouring any unfavourable designs against him, and both accompanied their answers with excuses and with complaints; on which he seemed satisfied, being then engrossed by the thoughts of retrieving his character, and of revenging himself of the Afghans, he was consulting all those whom he thought to have much experience. One of these happened to be my uncle, Séyd-abdool-aaly-qhan, an officer of great character, who having quitted Saadat-qhan’s service in Adjmir, was just come from that province. This officer pleased with that firmness conspicuous in the Vezir’s character, often frequented his house. The Vezir, who in perusing the dispatches from Adjmir, had heard of his merit, once turned towards him, and asked what he thought of his expedition. Abdol-aaly-qhan answered, “You had a good army, my Lord, in the last campaign, and can have as numerous one even now as you please; but victory does not always depend upon numbers and courage, and it would be proper that you should provide officers and Commanders that have seen wars and engagements.” Who are these, interrupted the Vezir, pray tell me? At present, replied Abdol-aaly-qhan, I recollect only Radja-baht-sing and some Marhatta Generals. This advice he seemed to relish, and sending for Radjah Djigul-kishvar, agent from Aaly-verdy-qhan, Viceroy of Bengal, and for his own agent, Radja Lachmi-naráin, he directed them to bring Holkar-malhar. Meanwhile, Djaba, with his son, Djingoo, two Marhatta Generals of great renown, having made their appearance, he desired them to enter into his service, and assigned to each a suitable pension. Sending likewise for Radja S8r8dj-mull, the Djatt, who was already in his service, he assigned him, for his person and troops, fifteen thousand rupees a day, after having allowed both the Marhatta Generals twenty-five or thirty-five thousand rupees for the same space of time. This done, he turned his attention towards providing a new stock of rockets and ammunition, as well as every requisite for war; insomuch that in a little time he found himself stronger than he had been before. And, in fact, he was so very extraordinary a man, that hardly any one would believe the many resources of his credit and his genius, unless he had been of his confidence; nor has such another man appeared to this day. Any other General, after such a total defeat, would have lost his mind, or fallen into a despondency without ever conceiving the thoughts of arising again, and presenting a threatening front.

In short, this Minister having in a little time pitched upon the beginning of the first Djemady for reviewing his stores, quitted the Capital in the year 1164, and marched to Acbar-abad, which is at seven journeys distant; from whence he detached the Marhatta Generals with their twenty thousand horse, across the Djumnah, against Shah-dil-qhan, who commanded for Ahmed-qhan-bangash in Kevol and Djalisser. The Marhattas having crossed the Djumna with their customary rapidity, fell upon the Afghans like a hurricane. The Governor surprised, fled with all his might, and made his escape; but an infinity of Afghans were put to the sabre, and the Marhattas made a great booty in horses, elephants, camels, tents, and other articles. Ahmed-qhan, who was these four months intent on taking the Castle of Ilah-abad, no sooner heard of Shah-dil-qhan’s defeat, than he raised the siege immediately; and putting himself at the head of his best troops, he with the wings of anxiety and perturbation, hastened to Feroh-abad, which was his Capital, and the residence of his family. He was hardly arrived, when the Marhattas, which composed the vanguard of the Vezir’s army, followed, and finding the gates shut up, they put every thing to fire and sword in the territory of that city. These ravages having given Ahmed-qhan time to breathe, he came out and encamped at Husseïn-poor, a town at three cosses from Feroh-abad, and upon the Ganga, where he entrenched himself, as in a post which had such a river under its command, with the whole Rohillah country beyond it, and put it in his power to receive victuals and every The Marhat­tas surprise and plunder Feroh-abad. kind of assistance from thence. The Marhattas meanwhile finding Feroh-abad empty of military force, rushed into it, and plundered it leisurely; and it was thus that Providence chas­tised the Afghans in retaliation for the sack of Ilah-abad. The plunder made in that rich mart is past all computation, and is more than I dare say. But it may be easily conjectured from this, that one single lump of precious stuffs was valued at sixteen lacs of rupees. The Marhattas had hardly finished their work, when the Vezir himself arrived with Radja S8r8dj-mull, the Djatt, and surrounded Ahmed-qhan on all sides, the Ganga-side excepted. A cannonade ensued, and an infinity of cannon-balls and musket-bullets were exchanged between the two parties: But as the intrenched Afghans received by boats every kind of provision and assistance, the Vezir directed N8r-el-hassen-qhan, the Belgramite, to assemble a number of boats, and to throw a bridge over the Ganga, intending to send over a body of troops. This work of the bridge was opposed by Mahmood-qhan, son to the Bangash, who was encamped on the other side of the river. Nevertheless it was soon finished; it was at Rampoor, which is at twelve cosses from Cannodje; and a quantity of large cannon and a body of troops crossed over and joined N8r-el-hassen-qhan. Mahmood-qhan, sensible of the con­sequence of such a communication, made several efforts to ruin the bridge, but to no purpose; his own camp being so much incommoded by continual showers of cannon-ball, that his post was hardly tenable. Two days after the bridge had been finished, a large body of troops had come to the assistance of the intrenched Afghans, under the command of Saad-ollah-qhan, eldest son to the late Rohillah; and this happened at the very time when the Vezir was sending some troops over the Ganga. Ahmed-qhan’s courage and hopes having been greatly raised at the sight of so powerful a succour, he quitted his entrenchment, as untenable, and joined Saad-ollah-qhan, after which he gave battle to the Vezir; and a bloody one it proved to be. The Marhattas attacked on one side, and on the other S8r8dj-mull, with his Djatts, poured such an incessant fire on the enemy, as drew smoke from their breasts. The Afghans unable to stand so furious an attack, were thrown into disorder; and both Ahmed-qhan and Saad-ollah-qhan, after losing vast numbers of their men, turned about and quitted the field of battle, not thinking themselves safe but at a distance; but it was not with­out leaving ten or twelve thousand of their best men slain, wounded, or prisoners. A vast booty of elephants, tents, horses, cannon, and furniture fell into the hands of the victors. The Vezir pursuing with ardour, and the Afghans continuing their flight, they both arrived at last at the foot of a chain of hills, separated by a narrow valley from the mountains of Camä8, a difficult country, covered with brushwood and brambles; where the Afghans being hemmed in by their pursuers, necessarily lost vast numbers of people from the badness of the water and the inclemence of the air, but chiefly from the want of victuals and the scarcity of every necessary for sustenance. Meanwhile the enemy overran the whole Rohillah country, and ruined it for years to come. This battle cost Mir-gh8lam-nebi, the famous Belgramite Poet, his life, and he went to join the choruses of the Angels in the boundless regions of eternity.