One great reason of the armies from the south invading Bengal is the fighting of Nawáb 'Aliwardí Khán with Nawáb Sarfaráz Khán, son of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula. Sarfaráz Khán, after the death of his father, was induced by the temp­tation held out by his companions to lay violent hands upon and injure Hájí Ahmad, brother of this 'Aliwardí Khán, who had been a confidential friend of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula. 'Aliwardí Khán, too, had been on terms of friendship with Shujá'u-d daula, and was appointed by him to manage the affairs of 'Azímábád, in the office of deputy governor, and was so employed when he marched towards Murshidábád, for the purpose of reasoning with the son of his patron on the impropriety of being induced to oppress and tyrannize over his dependents by the silly speeches of designing men, and with the hope of being able to deliver Hájí Ahmad from his difficulties. Sarfaráz Khán was completely possessed with the idea that he was coming with deceitful and dis­honest intentions, and marched out of Murshidábád to meet him. An action took place between the two armies, in which Sarfaráz Khán was accidentally killed by a musket-ball fired by one of his own men. His army was scattered. Of his friends and officers, some were killed, others were taken prisoners, and part fled.

Now the followers and friends of Sarfaráz Khán say, that 'Ali-wardí Khán made use of the false imputation as a means of ad­vancing his own views, and that, though apparently he came for the purpose merely of having an interview and giving advice, in reality his intention was to seize upon the property and take the life of Sarfaráz Khán. At any rate 'Aliwardí Khán became master of the country and treasure, with all the wealth of Ja'far Khán, who had formerly been Súbadár of Bengal, and was the grandfather of Sarfaráz Khán by his mother's side. The accumulated treasure of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula, and all the valuables and property of Sarfaráz Khán and his servants, fell into the hands of 'Aliwardí Khán, and God alone knows how much it was. By distributing money and behaving with kindness, by keeping on good terms with all, and behaving discreetly, he completely gained over to his cause the hearts of all men far and near.

After these events, some of the relatives and dependents of Sarfaráz Khán, who had fled and concealed themselves from fear of being punished and injured, went and took refuge with Nawáb Ásaf Jáh Bahádur Nizámu-l Mulk, ruler of the provinces in the south; and having led the plundering troops of the Mahrattas by the road of Orissa, they caused great injury and misery to be inflicted on the inhabitants, and distressed the rulers of the time. The fire of slaughter was kindled between the two parties, and the lives of many of 'Aliwardí Khán's army and a few of the soldiers of the Dakhin were sacrificed; but, considering the strength and firmness of the Governor of Bengal, neither party can be said to have got the victory.

As the rainy season was approaching, the Dakhiní troops were in anxiety about returning; and so, having abandoned the contest, they turned their faces southward, laden with spoil, the amount of which is beyond my power of description. 'Aliwardí Khán, from fear of war, pacifying the nobles and the Emperor by means of presents of cash and valuables, requested that the súbadárship should be given to him; and he exerted himself with great activity in reducing the provinces to obedience. Never­theless, the Mahratta troops, who were fond of good living, and well experienced in everything good or bad, established them­selves on the frontier, and came yearly committing their ravages. At last, after fighting and quarrelling, and after much deceit had been practised, they came to an agreement on this point, viz. that the province of Orissa should be made over to the Mah-rattas in exchange for the fourth share of the revenues of Bengal, which in the language of their country is called chauth. 'Aliwardí was to keep the rest.

Bengal is an extensive country and fertile, and produces a large revenue. The climate, however, is very damp, on account of the quantity of rain that falls and its proximity to the salt sea. The inhabitants of that district, like those of Kashmír and Mázandarán, live chiefly on rice. On the 1st of the month Muharram, in the year 1156 A.H., I left Murshidábád, after a sojourn there of seven months, and as I was afraid of the Mah­ratta troops, which were scattered over that part of the country, I crossed the river, and set out in the direction of 'Azímábád (Patna), by way of Púraniya and Tirhút. Although the in­habitants of Púraniya suffer under chronic disease from the unhealthiness of their climate, yet, as the Nawáb Saif Khán, brother of Mír Khán, keeps his district in complete order and discipline, they are free and untouched by other calamities.

The city of 'Azímábád (Patna) is a well-populated and clean place, and the waters of the Ganges and Jumna, and all the canals of the district round, collected together, flow by the city, and then take their course through Bengal to the great ocean. The Europeans here have built good houses, and are engaged in commerce. The leaves of the betel-tree are very good here, and they carry them hand by hand to distant places. The rice, too, of 'Azímábád is more tasty than that of Bengal, and the rich men buy it and eat it.

For some time the health of the Emperor had taken a turn for the worse, and pressing letters were frequently written to the physician, Nawáb Hakím 'Alawí Khán, to come with all haste. We set out from 'Azímábád together, and passing by Benares, Alláhábád and Farrukhábád, we arrived at the royal city of Sháh-Jahánábád on the 10th of the month Jumáda-s sání, in the year 1156 A.H., and rested from the troubles of wandering in the jungles and measuring the desert. The governors of provinces and the officers of police in Hindústán were not in any way wanting in the hospitality and politeness, kindness and attention, that they showed to the Nawáb Hakím 'Alawí Khán, on account of his great natural talents, learning, and great fame, in which they followed the example of the magistrates and rulers of the Kings of Írán, Rúm, Arabia, and Yaman, and they exerted them­selves to the utmost to please him.

At this time the súbadár or governor of Alláhábád was the Nawáb Amír Khán 'Umdatu-l Mulk, pillar of the State, and this appointment of governor was not pleasing to him, nor was it according to the Emperor's commands; but to please Nawáb Kamru-d dín Khán Wazír-i'azam or prime minister, and Nawáb Ásaf Jáh Bahádur, he had on this pretence sent him a long way from the Court. For Amír Khán was a wise and intelligent man, and was every day setting the Emperor against the Nawáb Kamru-d dín Khán and the Mughal and Túrán nobles. By the force of his observations, and excellent judgment of character, he was gaining his object; so they banished him from Court on pretence of giving him the súbadárship of Alláhábád, which had been settled upon him for some time.

After the lapse of a certain time, this Khán adopted a wonderful expedient. He sent to Court Nawáb Abú-l Mansúr Khán (Safdar Janj), who was commander-in-chief (Sáhib Jang) of the Írání troops, and able to oppose the Túránís, from his province of Oudh. He himself repaired thither (to Court) also, and having given the appointment of commander of artillery (Mír-átish), from which Nawáb Saiyidu-d dín Khán had been ejected, to Safdar Jang Bahádur, he managed, according to his former custom, to succeed in all his objects by means of his eloquence and subtlety of address. But one day, Thursday, the 23rd of Zí-l hijja, in the year 1159 A.H., one of his own servants, with whom he had a dispute of long standing, as they were in the public hall of audience near the Jáli Gate, wounded him in the side, and sent him to eternity.