1879.] W. Irvine — The Bangash Nawabs of Farrukhdbdd. 117 



ought to come away at once. They all mounted and rode off together ; 

 and leaving the Mahratta camp on the left, they turned towards the foot 

 of the hills. When they were not far from Ahmad Khan's camp, Khande 

 Rao took his leave, and returning made a minute report to his father. 



Before Khande Rao got back, Mulhar Rao and Apa Sendhia had been 

 to visit the Wazir, and they told him how wrong it was to ask their interven- 

 tion when intending treachery. They used some very strong language. 

 The Wazir expostulated mildly, asking them what they were thinking of 

 to use such hard words without any enquiry. The truth was, he said, 

 easily found out by asking 'Ali Kuli Khan, a trusted friend of Ahmad 

 Khan. When 'Ali Kuli Khan came, the Wazir requested him to relate the 

 facts. He stated that, knowing the Wazir' s men to bear a deadly grudge 

 to the Afghans, he feared that they might attempt to use force, by which 

 the Wazir's good name would be destroyed, he had therefore asked the 

 Wazir to post a guard of a thousand Mughal horse round the tents of the 

 Pathan guests. This explanation was received as quite satisfactory. 



Intrigues in the Pathan Camp by JSIahbub ' 'Alain. 

 After the failure of the first negotiation, another plan was hit upon. 

 Mahbub 'Alam, a native of Shamsabad, was a man of learning and intelli- 

 gence, who, through Mir Kudrat 'Ali Khan, had obtained employment in 

 the Wazir's service. On account of his wisdom, the Wazir thought highly 

 of his advice. One day the Wazir said to him " I have tried every device 

 " to overcome these Pathans, but the words of the sacred writing have been 

 "fulfilled 'the few shall overcome the many.' As you are a clever man, tell 

 " me in what way I can best overcome my enemy." The Sayyad made a low 

 bow and said, " This man of mean understanding has a plan, but hitherto 

 " he was afraid to disclose it, for he is not one of the old servants, and, may 

 " be, this slave's remarks would not meet with approval." The Wazir re- 

 plied, that he thought more of him than he did even of his old servants, 

 and he begged him to express his ideas without ceremony, for there was 

 nothing to fear. Then the Sayyad went on, " Gracious master, peace be on 

 " you ! the first question is this, does my lord seek the death or capture of 

 "Ahmad Khan alone, or does he rather aim at extirpating the whole race ?" 

 The Wazir answered, that his enemy was Ahmad Khan ; with the others 

 he had nothing to do ; but as they had joined Ahmad Khan, he had been 

 led to attempt the destruction and extirpation of the whole Pathan race. 

 The Sayyad then asked, what would happen to the other Pathans if they 

 quitted Ahmad Khan and presented themselves to the Wazir ? The Wazir 

 declared that, according to their merits and station, he would treat them 

 with consideration ; to those who were men of rank he would give dignities 



