1879.] W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawdbs of Farrukhabdd. 139 
to deliver it to the Nawab, in whatever place or in whatever condition he 
might find him. The messenger started off secretly, and it was past mid- 
night when, reaching the gateway of Ahmad Khan’s house, he reported 
himself to Musharraf Khan, darogha of the gateway. At the time the 
Nawab, having eaten his dinner, had gone to bed. No one dared to wake 
him. At length Miyan Sahib Jan ’Ali Khan went in, and pressing the 
Nawab’s feet, delivered the note to him. One hundred rupees were given 
to the messenger. 
The Bakhshis were sent for in hot haste. They reported that very 
few troops were at hand. The Nawab told them to send for all the clerks, 
and ordered parwanahs to be written to all the ’Amils and Faujdars, calling 
on them to start at once for Farrukhdébdid. At that time Bakhshi Fakhr- 
ud-daula with a large force was fighting Datta, zamind4r of Aksauli, west 
of Marahra. The village lies in Parganah Sikandrah Rao of the Aligarh 
district, and in those days the jungle was so dense that falcons (bashd) 
are said to have been caught there, and for years together no human being 
passed through it. In a few days after receiving the parwinah, the Bakh- 
shi reached Farrukhabad with this army. Help was also called for from Mau, 
Shamsabad, Ata’ipur, Tilhar, Shahjahdinpur, Bareli, Budéun, Anwalah, 
Bisoli and Aujhani.* 
At this time H4fiz Rahmat Khan was encamped near his own frontier 
in Parganah Mihrébdd, now in the Shahjébd4npur district. The Nawab 
sent to him Bakhshi Fakhr-ud-daula to ask his aid to save the Afghans 
from disgrace. Hafiz Rahmat Khan, being no doubt afraid that, if Ahmad 
Khan were crushed, his own interests in the Dudab, where he then held 
Etawah, Shikohabid and Phaphond, would be seriously endangered, seems 
to have shown great readiness to espouse the Nawab’s cause. He said he 
had already heard of the affair, and on that account had encamped near his 
frontier; he was quite ready to join, but his troops were in want of pay. 
If money were advanced, he would send for Sa’dullah Khan, Donde Khan, 
Mull4 Sardir Khan, Fath Khan and others. Even if money were not 
forthcoming, he would not fail to attend with his own men. After he had 
made a report of this interview, the Bakhshi was sent back with two lakhs 
of rupees to be made over to Hafiz Rahmat Khan for expenses, and a 
promise of further advances when Nawab Sa’dullah Khan joined. On 
receipt of this money Hafiz Rahmat Khén wrote to Sa’dullah Khan and 
the other chiefs, calling on them to march without a moment’s delay. He 
also wrote to Shekh Kabir, his deputy at Etawah, instructing him to march 
with his whole force direct to the Kali-naddi and encamp below Khuda- 
ganj. The Bakhshi returned and reported what had been done. 
* Bisoli lies 24 miles N, W. of Budaon and Aujhani 8 miles S, W. of the same 
place. 
