112 W. Irvine — Tlie BangasJi Nawabs of Farrulchdldd. [No. 2, 



ing his destination was admitted to an audience. The secretaries read out 

 the petition in a loud voice word by word. After hearing it the Emperor 

 dismissed Mahtab Khan and sent for Shuja'-ud-daula. In the Wazir's 

 opinion no answer should he sent ; no answer was the best answer. Mahtab 

 Khan waited two days, and when he found out that no answer would he 

 given, he left without permission and returned to Farrukhabad, where he 

 made a report to the Nawab. 



Next day Ahmad Khan and 'Imad-ul-Mulk had a consultation. 

 'Imad-ul-Mulk urged the Nawab to march without any further delay. 

 Just at this time, word came that Najib Khan had arrived at Nabiganj, a 

 small town between Bewar and Chibramau, some eighteen miles south of 

 Farrukhabad. Najib Khan Yusufzai, who had from various causes heen 

 detained at Delhi, had come by forced marches down the Duab via Sakit, 

 destroying crops and burning villages as he advanced. He was a turban- 

 hrother (paggri-badal-blidi) of Shuja'-ud-daula' s. Ahmad Khan sent two 

 hundred and fifty trays of food by one hundred and twenty- five Tcaliars, in 

 charge of Shah Muhammad Khan Jamadar, and Gulsher Khan " sontlii- 

 wdld." These men had orders to deliver an ironical message that the food 

 was for Najib Khan's own use, while the territory was there for his army's 

 consumption ; what he had done was quite right and lawful, for between 

 brothers there need be no ceremony. Najib Khan in anger ordered them 

 to remove the trays, they might read the Fdtiha of his father over them. 

 It is said that six thousand Pathan horsemen left Najib Khan's service at 

 Nabiganj. They were received with open arms by Ahmad Khan, dresses 

 of honour were distributed and daily rations were served out to them. 



Next day Najib Khan marched, and encamped near the Kali-nadi at 

 Khudaganj, about half a kos from the camp of Shekh Kabir, Rajah Umrao 

 Gir Atit, and Roshan Khan. Najib Khan sent word to Shekh Kabir that 

 he wished to pay him a visit. Shekh Kabir replied that they could only 

 meet sword in hand ; having come to aid Shuja'-ud-daula, how could he 

 think of asking for an interview with them. The next day, without paying 

 his visit, Najib Khan marched off and entered Kanauj. 



Najib Khan was conducted by Shuja'-ud-daula to the Emperor's pre- 

 sence. They then began to discuss their plans. Najib Khan assured the 

 Wazir of his regret for the delay, which had allowed Ahmad Khan time to 

 assemble troops. If war were decided on, he would be the first in the field, 

 yet he doubted if his Afghans would fight heartily against the Rohelas. 

 He proposed to negociate. After two or three days Najib Khan put his 

 troops in motion towards Farrukhabad. Hearing this, Shekh Kabir sent 

 him a message not to come further, as next day it was his intention to pro- 

 vide him with some entertainment. Najib Khan sent back word that he had 



