116 W. Irvine — The Bangasli JVawdbs of FarrulcTidbdd. [No. 2, 



his breast and gave him a kiss on the forehead. This mode of salutation 

 is, among the Mughals, a proof of the greatest affection and condescension. 

 Then the Wazir invited him to take a seat at his right hand, on a masnacl 

 placed on a line with his own. The Sahibzada, taking some gold coins in 

 his hand, presented them as an offering. The Wazir graciously remitted 

 the " nazar," but the Sahibzada insisted, when the Wazir smiled and ac- 

 cepted the gift. After this the young Nawab sat down, and the Wazir 

 took his hand and, holding it to his breast, began a friendly conversation. 

 In the course of it, the Wazir said " Pathans do not flee, how is it your 

 " father has run away so far ?" Mahmud Khan replied, " My father is only 

 " a half-breed." The Wazir asked what that meant. The Nawab explain- 

 ed, thus, " My father's mother was a Mughal and his father a Pathan, when 

 " he follows his father he fights boldly, and when he takes after his mother's 

 " qualities, he runs away." By this answer the Wazir was silenced, for he 

 was himself a Mughal. In a short time, the Wazir turning to Mulhar Bao 

 and A'pa Sendhia, said he had not eaten any food, would they kindly take 

 their leave of Baba Mahmud Khan. The two leaders rose, mounted and 

 went away to their own camp. The Wazir took Mahmiid Khan and Hafiz 

 Bahmat Khan to his private tents and called for food. It was sent to the 

 guests through Baka-ullah Khan. When the meal was finished, the Wazir 

 directed Isma'il Khan to pitch tents for their reception on the right side 

 of his own private enclosure. As soon as the tents were ready Mahmud Khan 

 and Hafiz Bahmat Khan took their leave. 



When one watch of the night had passed, several thousand armed 

 Mughals, by order of the Wazir, took up their position round the tents of 

 the visitors. When the Nawab' s people became aware of this, each man 

 went separately and told his own master. The Mahrattas' spies were of 

 opinion that some treachery was on foot, and in great agitation they start- 

 ed to report to their chiefs. Khande Bao, as soon as he heard the report, 

 without referring to his father, mounted and rode in hot haste to the 

 Wazir's camp. There he saw that one thousand Mughal troopers were 

 drawn up round the young Nawab's tents. Immediately he gave orders to 

 his troops to attack those despicable fellows and disperse them. Hear- 

 ing these orders, the Mughals made off. Entering the enclosure, Khande 

 Bao found Mahmud Khan and Hafiz Bahmat Khan with all their men 

 drawn up, sword and shield in hand, ready for the fray. Seeing Khande 

 Bao, the young Nawab laughed and said, " I prayed God that I might get 

 "near the Wazir, and the Omnipotent has heard me. Now my wish is, if 

 "you will join me with your brave followers, to give the Wazir a taste of 

 "my quality." Khande Bao replied, that the Wazir should be left to him- 

 self to bear the disgrace of what he had done, and that Mahmud Khan 



