In the village of Dehpareh*, on the banks of the river Bhagrutty*, Nazir Ahmed had begun to build a mosque in the midst of a very extensive garden. After his execution, Shuja Khan finished the mosque, and laid out the garden with great beauty and elegance, and called it Ferehbaugh*. Here he used to retire in the spring, with his women, and pass his time amidst all the refinements of luxury. And once a year he used to give, at this place, a grand entertainment to all the officers of his court.

At last he abandoned himself to indolence and pleasure; whilst he intrusted the entire management of affairs to Hajee Ahmed, the Royroyan, and Juggut Seat; whose characters, with some others, shall now be described.

When Shuja Khan was naib soobahdar of Orissa, Royalumchund* was the mohurrir* of his household. This man was now promoted to the office of dewan of the nizamut of Bengal, and had the entire management of all affairs belonging to that department; in the expences of which he made considerable retrench­ments, and was rewarded with a munseb of a thousand zat, and the title of Royroyan*, an honour that had never before been conferred upon any officer of the nizamut, or of the dewanny of Bengal.

Hajee Ahmed*, and Mirza Mohammed Aly*, were the sons of Mirza Mohammed Clerk of the Kitchen to the Emperor Azem Shah. Hajee*, at the death of his father, succeeded to his place, and was afterwards made superintendent of the jewel-office;—and, upon the death of Azem Shah, during the contest for the empire, Hajee and his brother eloped with some valuable jewels, and passed through the Dekhan to Orissa, where they entered into the service of Shuja Khan. By vilely prostituting their own women to the desire of Shuja Khan, they insinuated themselves into his confidence and friendship, and acted their parts with such art and cunning, as far exceeded all that is related of Keleelah, and Dumnah*, in the fable. When Shuja Khan obtained the naib soobahdary of Bengal, Mirza Aly was appointed foujdar of Rajemahl, with a munseb, and the title of Alyverdy Khan*. Moham­med Reza*, the eldest son of the Hajee, was made Darogha of the Patchowtereh*, at Moor­shedabad; Aka Mohammed*, his second son, was appointed foujdar of Rungpoor; and his third son, Mirza Mohammed Hashem*, was honoured with the title of Hashem Aly Khan. The credit of Hajee and his brother increased daily, till at length Shuja Khan was entirely managed by their evil counsels.

Peer Khan Kelanwut*, who in his youth, when he was in indigent circumstances at Ber­hanpoor, had recommended himself to Shuja Khan by the prostitution of his own wives, and daughters; and from that time continued in his service; on the removal of Ahsenullah Khan, was appointed foujdar of Hooghly, and obtained the title of Shuja Kuly Khan*. By his extortions, the port of Hooghly was much deserted, and the duties consequently lessened. He was continually disputing with the Euro­peans; and, on the most trifling occasions, would apply to Shuja Khan for troops, on pretence of their being necessary to assist him in collecting the duties. He exacted a nuzziraneh and a duty, from the English, Dutch, and French. Once he took out of some boats a number of bales of raw silk, and cloths, which were English property; and detained them near the fort of Hooghly. A party of English soldiers came immediately from Calcutta, and upon their appearance, the foujdar took refuge in his womens’ apartments. The soldiers mounted the walls of the fort; and, after insulting the fouj­dar, brought away their goods. He wrote to Shuja Khan a gross misrepresentation of the cir­cumstances, and in consequence, the supplies of grain to Cossimbazar and Calcutta were cut off by the king’s officers. The English were con­strained to purchase a peace, by consenting to pay three lacks of rupees to Shuja Khan; which sum the chief of Calcutta actually raised by contributions from the merchants, and remitted the whole to Cossimbazar, where it was paid to the nazim.

As a further reward for the services of Shuja Khan, and through the interest of Khandow­ran, the naib soobahdary of Bahar was annexed to that of Bengal, by the removal of Fuckered dowlah*.

Shuja Khan appointed Alyvirdy Khan his naib in Bahar, and sent him to Azeemabad with five thousand cavalry and infantry. Alyvirdy Khan engaged in his service Abdulkurreem Khan*, a Rohillah*, and other Afghan chiefs of Derbungah*; and they having raised a large army, he sent them against the Bun­jareh*, a band of robbers, who under the pretence of carrying on trade, laid the whole country under contribution, and plundered the royal revenues. They were soon defeated, and Abdulkurreem and his troops were enriched by the spoil. Alyvirdy Khan then employed the Afghans in subduing the rebellious rajahs of Bet­teah*, and Phoolwareh*; after which they reduced to obedience Chuckwar*, with the zemindars of Bhoojpoor*, rajah Soonder Singh*, zemindar of Tikaree*, and Namdar Khan Mie*, who depending upon their jungles and mountains, had long defied the authority of the nazims of Bahar. They all agreed to pay a nuzzeraneh, and peishkush; and the reve­nues were also permanently settled. These conquests brought immense sums to Alyvirdy Khan; and Abdulkurreem and his troops were also made rich by the plunder.

When Alyvirdy Khan had thus got posses­sion of the whole country, had made a perma­nent settlement of the revenues, and found himself at the head of a large army, with a full treasury, he became jealous of the influence of Abdulkurreem, and had him basely murdered in his own house.