5i W. Irvine — The Bangash Nawdbs of FurruJchdbdd. [No. 2, 



morning Shamsher Khan and the other chelas were sent for hy Naval Rae, 

 and a demand made for the balance due. Thej were kept waiting till the 

 evening with plausible words and the hope of a favourable decision. Mean- 

 while Naval Rae went to the Wazir, announcing himself by a Harkara, of 

 whom there were ten to twelve thousand employed as spies and messengers. 

 Admitted to the presence of the Wazir, he reported in detail what had 

 passed with Shamsher Khan and the others, and he also called attention to 

 the large assemblage of Pathans in the Bibi Sahiba's retinue. After this 

 a messenger was sent to the chelas directing them to remain where they 

 were that night, for their business had been put off till the next day. As 

 a precaution against any opposition by the Pathans, Naval Rae during the 

 night, which was very dark, caused several guns protected by chains to be 

 posted in front of the Bibi Sahiba's camp. Then he sent to ask the Bibi 

 Sahiba if she had come to treat or to fight ; if the former, he would advise 

 her to send off to their homes the large body of armed Pathans who had 

 accompanied her. The Bibi Sahiba sent for the commander of each regi- 

 ment (tuman) and ordered them to march back to Mau. They represented 

 that being hereditary servants of her house, it was not right that, with their 

 eyes open, they should leave her in the midst of the enemy's army, for their 

 desertion would doom her to certain destruction. The Bibi Sahiba's answer 

 was that a wise man, after consenting to pay a large sum, should not raise 

 further difficulties. The whole of the Pathans, unable to shake her resolu- 

 tion, marched away to Mau. There, to protect their families and property, 

 they posted themselves outside the town in the mango groves, and remained 

 on the alert day and night. 



The Wazir, after having ordered Naval Rae to keep Shamsher Khan 

 and the four other chelas under surveillance, directed his march eastwards. 

 When word was brought to Farrukhabad that the five chelas had been 

 arrested, and that the Wazir was advancing eastwards, the inhabitants 

 removed with their belongings to the town of Mau, and hardly a soul was 

 left in the city. When the Wazir with his army came near to Mau, Rajah 

 Naval Rae asked urgently for permission to burn it down and level it with 

 the ground, so that not a vestige might be left. Although in his heart the 

 Wazir approved of this suggestion, still j)rudence prevailed, and he replied 

 that the Pathans were too many and too powerful to be attacked, and as 

 they might gain the upper hand, the project had better be postponed till 

 some more fitting opportunity. It was enough to be thankful for that the 

 mother of Kaim Khan, her sons, and her principal chelas had fallen into 

 their hands. When the Wazir with his retinue drew near to Mau, he saw 

 enough to convince him that what he had foretold was true, for all the 

 Afghans, whether infantry or horsemen, were drawn up on foot, with 

 rockets, arrows, and matchlocks, ready to repel any attack. Without 



