54 W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawibs of Furrukhabdd. [No. 2, 
morning Shamsher Khan and the other chelas were sent for by Naval Rae, 
and a demand made for the balance due. They were kept waiting till the 
evening with plausible words and the hope of a favourable decision. Mean- 
while Naval Rae went to the Wazir, announcing himself by a Harkara, of 
whom there were ten to twelve thousand employed as spies and messengers. 
Admitted to the presence of the Wazir, he reported in detail what had 
passed with Shamsher Khan and the others, and he also called attention to 
the large assemblage of Pathans in the Bibi Sahiba’s retinue, After this 
a messenger was sent to the chelas directing them to remain where they 
were that night, for their business had been put off till the next day. As 
a precaution against any opposition by the Pathans, Naval Rade during the 
night, which was very dark, caused several guns protected by chains to be 
posted in front of the Bibi Sahiba’s camp. ‘Then he sent to ask the Bibi 
Sahiba if she had come to treat or to fight ; if the former, he would advise 
her to send off to their homes the large body of armed Pathins who had 
accompanied her. The Bibi Sahiba sent for the commander of each regi- 
ment (¢uman) and ordered them to march back to Mau. They represented 
that being hereditary servants of her house, it was not right that, with their 
eyes open, they should leave her in the midst of the enemy’s army, for their 
desertion would doom her to certain destruction. The Bibi Sahiba’s answer 
was that a wise man, after consenting to pay a large sum, should not raise 
further difficulties. The whole of the Pathans, unable to shake her resolu- 
tion, marched away to Mau. ‘There, to protect their families and property, 
they posted themselves outside the town in the mango groves, and remained 
on the alert day and night. 
The Wazir, after having ordered Naval Rae to keep Shamsher Khan 
and the four other chelas under surveillance, directed his march eastwards. 
When word was brought to Farrukhabiad that the five chelas had been 
arrested, and that the Wazir was advancing eastwards, the inhabitants 
removed with their belongings to the town of Mau, and hardly a soul was 
left in the city. When the Wazir with his army came near to Mau, Rajah 
Naval Rade asked urgently for permission to burn it down and level it with 
the ground, so that not a vestige might be left. Although in his heart the 
Wazir approved of this suggestion, still prudence prevailed, and he replied 
that the Pathins were too many and too powerful to be attacked, and as 
they might gain the upper hand, the project had better be postponed till 
some more fitting opportunity. It was enough to be thankful for that the 
mother of K4im Khan, her sons, and her principal chelas had fallen into 
their hands. When the Wazir with his retinue drew near to Mau, he saw 
enough to convince him that what he had foretold was true, for all the 
Afghans, whether infantry or horsemen, were drawn up on foot, with 
rockets, arrows, and matchlocks, ready to repel any attack. Without 
