1879.] W. Irvine — The Bang ash Naioals of FarruJchdbdd. 143 



not come to fight, he had come to seek an interview with Hafiz Eahmat 

 Khan. Shekh Kabir told him in that case he might pass, but without his 

 troops. 



Najib Khan, leaving his army, advanced with a few men, and crossing 

 the Kali-nadi pitched his tents. Next morning he continued his march. 

 As he got near the camp of Fakhf-ud-daula, he found the Bakhshi on his 

 elephant, at the head of his whole army drawn up in battle array. Najib 

 Khan passed them in review and saw that they were very numerous. There 

 were more leaders on elephants with Fakhr-ud-daula than there were with 

 Najib Khan. Najib Khan proffered a salam, but no one returned it. 



Passing on, Najib Khan crossed the Ganges by the bridge of boats 

 and waited upon Sa'dullah Khan, Hafiz Eahmat Khan, Donde Khan, Mulla 

 Sardar Khan, and Fath Khan. Donde Khan, his father-in-law, taunted 

 him for siding with Shuja'-ud-daula against a Pathan, but he defended him- 

 self by pleading gratitude for the timely aid afforded him, when invested 

 by the Mahrattas in Sukartal. The night was passed in consultation. It 

 appears that the Kohelas were offered one-third of the Bangash territory 

 if they would withdraw, but Hafiz Eahmat Khan refused to forsake his 

 friend Ahmad Khan.* The final decision was that peace should be made 

 between Shuja'-ud-daula and Ahmad Khan. Hafiz Eahmat Khan engaged 

 to go in the morning to see Ahmad Khan. When he was introduced to 

 the Nawab's presence, he congratulated him on the good news. The Nawab 

 asked what he meant. Hafiz Eahmat Khan replied, that by God's favour, 

 they had gained a victory without fighting ; Shuja'-ud-daula, becoming 

 frightened by the preparations, had sent Najib Khan to make overtures to 

 Sa'dullah Khan. Ahmad Khan said he himself would accept what they 

 agreed to, but Ghazi-ud-din Khan 'Imad-ul-Mulk must be consulted. They 

 went together to that noble's quarters. He was of opinion that Shuja'-ud- 

 daula and Najib Khan, in despair of success, had made these proposals ; 

 although thus forced to make peace, they would not fail, when opportunity 

 offered, to break their word. Hafiz Eahmat Kb an admitted this was c|uite 

 true, still when affairs took that turn, punishment would await them then 

 as now. In the traditions of the Prophet was it not written that Peace is 

 blessed. 'Imad-ul-Mulk answered, that if they were of that opinion, his 

 decision must follow theirs. Peace was thus decided on. 



Hafiz Eahmat Khan reported to Najib Khan what had been said and 

 clone. The Emperor's presence was their only reason for accepting peace, 

 and he requested that Najib Khan would urge the Wazir to quit the Pathan 

 territory at once. Najib Khan proposed that they should go together and 

 persuade Shuja'-ud-daula to retire. Hafiz Eahmat Khan objected that he 

 * Life of Hafiz Rahinat Khan, p. 78. 



