116 W: Irvine—The Bangash Nawédbs of Furrukhabdd. [N6.* 2, 
his breast and gave him a kiss on the forehead. This mode of salutation 
is, among the Mughals, a proof of the greatest affection and condescension. 
Then the Wazir invited him to take a seat at his right hand, on a masnad 
placed on a line with his own. The Saéhibzdda, taking some gold coins in 
his hand, presented them as an offering. The Wazir graciously remitted 
the “ nazar,” but the Sahibzada insisted, when the Wazir smiled and ac- 
cepted the gift. After this the young Nawab sat down, and the Wazir 
took his hand and, holding it to his breast, began a friendly conversation. 
In the course of it, the Wazir said “ Pathdns do not flee, how is it your 
“father has run away so far?” Mahmud Khan replied, “‘ My father is only 
“a half-breed.’’ The Wazir asked what that meant. The Nawab explain- 
ed, thus, “ My father’s mother was a Mughal and his father a Pathan, when 
“he follows his father he fights boldly, and when he takes after his mother’s 
“ qualities, he runs away.” By this answer the Wazir was silenced, for he 
was himself a Mughal. In a short time, the Wazir turning to Mulhdr Rao 
and Apa Sendhia, said he had not eaten any food, would they kindly take 
their leave of Bab&é Mahmiid Khan. The two leaders rose, mounted and 
went away to their own camp. The Wazir took Mahmtd Khan and Hafiz 
Rahmat Khan to his private tents and called for food. It was sent to the 
guests through Baké-ullah Khén. When the meal was finished, the Wazir 
directed Isma’il Khan to pitch tents for their reception on the right side 
of his own private enclosure. As soon as the tents were ready Mahmid Khan 
and Hafiz Rahmat Khan took their leave. 
When one watch of the night had passed, several thousand armed 
Mughals, by order of the Wazir, took up their position round the tents of 
the visitors. When the Nawab’s people became aware of this, each man 
went separately and told his own master. The Mahrattas’ spies were of 
opinion that some treachery was on foot, and in great agitation they start- 
ed to report to their chiefs. Khande Rado, as soon as he heard the report, 
without referring to his father, mounted and rode in hot haste to the 
Wazir’s camp. There he saw that one thousand Mughal troopers were 
drawn up round the young Naw4b’s tents. Immediately he gave orders to 
his troops to attack those despicable fellows and disperse them. Hear- 
ing these orders, the Mughals made off. Entering the enclosure, Khande 
Rao found Mahmtid Khan and Hafiz Rahmat Kha4n with all their men 
drawn up, sword and shield in hand, ready for the fray. Seeing Khande 
Rao, the young Nawab laughed and said, “ I prayed God that I might get 
“near the Wazir, and the Omnipotent has heard me. Now my wish is, if 
‘¢you will join me with your brave followers, to give the Wazir a taste of 
“my quality.” Khdnde Rao replied, that the Wazir should be left to him- 
self to bear the disgrace of what he had done, and that Mahmid Khan 
