120 W. Irvine — The Bangasli Nawabs of FarruJcMbdd. [No. 2, 



would return to their hiding-places. By chance, the carrier of the two 

 letters passed close by where these robbers were concealed. The thieves 

 seized him, and carrying him off to Nawab Ahmad Khan's quarters, report- 

 ed the matter. The Nawab called in the arrested messenger and asked on 

 what business he had come to the camp. Tbe man, in a great fright of 

 losing his life, told the whole story, as already related in detail. He ended 

 by delivering up the two letters he was carrying back. When the Nawab 

 had looked at these two letters, he sent for Hisam-ud-din. Hisam-ud-din 

 had already heard that the Afghans had arrested the messenger and had 

 carried him before the Nawab. 



On his reaching the presence, the Nawab said to him, " O Hisam-ud- 

 " din ! who is this Muazz-ud-din with whom you correspond ?" Hisam-ud- 

 din replied, " Gracious Master ! he is my brother." The Nawab asked what 

 he had written, and he answered that what he had written was lying before 

 the Nawab, there was no need to repeat it. Rustam Khan Bangash, Haji 

 Sarfaraz Khan and Mustajab Khan were present. Addressing them, the 

 Nawab said — " This Hisam-ud-din is a man of noble race, who respects the 

 " salt he has eaten, see what a good answer he has written to his own 

 " brother." He then began to read the letter aloud to them. They were 

 all loud in their expressions of praise. Then turning to Hisam-ud-din, he 

 said, " You have fully acted up to what I expected from you ; please God, 

 " I will in time repay you for being thus true to your salt." Sending for 

 Hafiz Rahmat Khan, Donde Khan, Mulla Sardar Khan, Fath Khan and 

 Sayyad Ahmad, the Nawab told them everything that had occurred. Their 

 opinion was demanded. Sayyad Ahmad stated that his subordinates were 

 posted everywhere from the foot of the hills down to Filibhit, he would 

 write telling them, that if any one from the camp passed, in an attempt to 

 desert, they should without fail slay him and appropriate his goods. Then 

 the five Bohelas left. The Nawab directed Haji Sarfaraz Khan to turn the 

 captured messenger out of the camp, which was done accordingly. 



Renewal of Negotiations, followed by peace. 



Affairs on the enemy's side were meanwhile as follows. Some Rajah 

 of the west country had written to Mulhar Rao and A'pa, Sendhia that 

 Ahmad Shah Durrani was on his march to help the Afghans and had al- 

 ready crossed the Indus. He was reported to be advancing by rapid 

 marches. This information caused great anxiety to the Mahratta leaders, 

 and they assembled for consultation. They came to an unanimous deter- 

 mination and then proceeded to the Wazir. They reproached him for 

 having concealed from them the report of Ahmad Shah Durrani's approach. 



