84 W. Irvine — The Bang ash Nawdbs of Farrulchdbdd. [No. 2, 



less footmen had gathered under the Nawab's standard ; and it remained to be 

 seen what would be disclosed from behind the curtain of the unknown after 

 the fort of Allahabad had fallen. The Nawab Nazir seized the moment 

 and began to repeat, as had been agreed upon, the speeches made to him by 

 the far-sighted Wazir. The Nazir described in touching language his great 

 perplexity at the aspect of affairs, which had quite deprived him of sleep. 

 Before Safdar Jang came back to Delhi after his defeat, Firuz Jang had 

 caused a congratulatory far man to be addressed to Ahmad Khan confirming 

 to him his ancestral dominions. Not content with this gracious act, he 

 had without orders occupied estates directly under the crown (Jchdlsa'), he 

 had sent his son to take the Siibah of Audh, and now himself was besieging 

 Allahabad. The next attempt would be upon Bengal. The letter writers 

 had already informed his Majesty in detail of the immense army which 

 had been collected. Now the learned declare that the ATchun Damoeza, 

 written by the spiritual head and high priest of the Afghan race, prescribes 

 that any Afghan at the head of more than twelve thousand men is required 

 and bound to claim complete sovereignty. In that case, Ahmad Khan, who 

 had one hundred thousand men and a territory equal to nearly four or five 

 Subahs, could not possibly refrain from proclaiming himself king. 



When Nazir Jawed Khan had got this length in his artful representa- 

 tion, his Majesty became perplexed and asked him the best way out of 

 the difficulty. The Nazir at once proposed a pardon of Safdar Jang's mis- 

 deeds, the task of reducing Ahmad Khan to subjection being then committed 

 to him. The Emperor objected that nothing could be hoped from 

 Safdar Jang, for, although he bad gone with a large army provided with 

 cannon and rockets, he had been overthrown by Ahmad Khan with a very 

 small force. Now that Ahmad Khan's strength had much increased, how 

 could Safdar Jang with the same dispirited troops attempt to oppose Ahmad 

 Khan. There is a proverb Zadah rd bay ad zad, i. e., Beaten once will 

 be beaten again.* The Emperor continued that to his mind the Nazir's device 

 was the poorest of the poor (Jchdm dar Tchdni), and he declined to accept it, for 

 a good scheme should have no such obvious drawback. In reply to his 

 Majesty, Nazir Jawed Khan said that he had a plan within his plan, for 

 Mulhar Rao and Apa Sendhia, who were at that time encamped in the Rajput 

 country, though they were his enemies, would, if sent for, enter his Majes- 

 ty's service ; and hoping for benefit to themselves, they would be certain to 

 carry out faithfully any orders given them. Suraj Mall Jat's forces also, 

 though they were present with Safdar Jang, had not been scattered or defeat- 

 ed. There was also Hafiz Rahmat Khan, head of the Rohelas, who was a 

 great friend of Safdar Jang. At length the Emperor gave way to Jawed 



* Koebuck, 1214. 



