i879.] W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawdbs of Farrukhabad. 109 
camp in the plain behind. In this plain, which was about a square kos in 
extent, the shot fell like a heavy shower of hailstones. The firing lasted 
from morning till night. Night had hardly fallen, when, as a precaution, 
the cannon were dragged away and placed near the Wazir’s camp. These 
tactics were pursued for two months, without any effect having been pro- 
duced on the Pathdins. A stream of water which flowed from the hills 
hindered the Wazir’s operations. The Rohelas had dug a channel from 
this stream, and they led the water all round their entrenchments, Mul- 
har Rao and Straj Mall Jat tried in vain every expedient to discover a 
way of entrance. 
During this time, the Wazir’s agent at the Emperor’s Court had 
written, in one of his news-letters, that spies had reported to his Majesty the 
approach of Ahmad Shah Durrani, who was coming to the aid of his fellow- 
clansmen, the Afghans. The Durrani had issued orders to the Afghans of the 
hill-country to gather on the banks of the Indus and there await his arrival. 
The letter went on to say that, when his Majesty heard this report, he be- 
came very anxious and said to Nawab Firtiz Jang, “ What shall we do P Safdar 
Jang, with my troops and the landholders from all parts, is gone on a foolish 
campaign, nor does it yet appear that he has either overcome Ahmad 
Khan and the Rohelas, or that he is likely to overcome them.” Firtiz 
Jang, making a low obeisance, said his presentiments were coming to pass, 
and he had already warned the Emperor. As Nazir Jawed Khan’s advice 
had been followed, it would be best to ask him now what should be done. 
The Emperor admitted that this was true, yet since man was compounded 
of error, he thought that it was not fitting for Firiz Jang to refuse to 
give advice. Then Firtz Jang said he thought a note (shukka) should 
be sent to inform Safdar Jang that, owing to Ahmad Shah Durrani’s 
approach, it was desirable to make peace with Ahmad Khan. He proposed 
to confide the message to ’Ali Kuli Khan, the six-fingered.* Accordingly 
?Ali Kuli Khan had, the Wakil reported, been sent to Safdar Jang with a 
shukka from the Emperor. 
Attack by the Atiths of Rajah Indar Gir. 
The Wazir concealed this intelligence even from his greatest inti- 
mates. Next day, he sent for Mulhar Rao, Ap4 Sendhia, Tantia-Gangadhar 
and Siraj Mall Jat. He said to them that, though two months had elapsed 
they were no further advanced than on the first day, in fact, they had given 
no assistance. Apa Sendhia, anticipating the others, said in reply, that 
they were used to fight in the open, not against entrenchments or for- 
* Wali-ullah, p. 175, shows that this was an epithet applied to ’Ali Kuli Khan, 
Wialih, Dighisténi, for whose biography, see the “ Khizéna ’Amira,” p. 446. 
