1879.) - W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawibs of Farrukhabdd. 141 
Sarée. He came to demand a return of the territory recently absorbed by 
Ahmad Khan. The Nawab, having collected four or five thousand of his 
troops and all the Delhi refugees, such as Nasir Khan, Ex-Subahdar of K4bul 
and others, sent for the eunuch. The envoy delivered a farmdén from the 
Emperor, which was made over to Mihrban Khan, by whom it was read 
aloud. The Nawab sent back an angry message to Shuja’-ud-daula. The 
_ next envoy sent was Salar Jang, the Wazir’s brother-in-law. The Rohelas 
were supposed to be secretly favourable to Shuja’-ud-daula ; but instead of 
listening to SAl4r Jang’s message, they detained him as their prisoner. 
’ Im4d-ul-Mulk now urged an advance towards the enemy, but Ahmad 
Khan objected to make the first advance. The Emperor being with Shuja’- 
ud-daula, people would call him a rebel and untrue to his salt, if he attack- 
ed first. He therefore proposed to write a remonstrance to the Emperor ; 
they would see what answer they got, and they could act accordingly. The 
letter stated that the Nawab, a hereditary servant of the state, was pursued 
by the unjust enmity of Shuja’-ud-daula. He ought to be called on to 
prove his accusations of using a Guldlbdri, making elephants fight, and 
riding in a palki without leave. If mad elephants break their chains and 
rush off into the jungle to fight, no one is to blame. As to the royal 
pavilion, that is a mistake, only a few pieces of wood had been put up; 
for the Pathans having no manners, it was necessary to range them in 
rows along this barrier, and there force them to make their morning 
bow. The palki had been presented by his late Majesty, Alamgir IT, 
when he made Ahmad Khan Bakhshi of the realm. Shuja’ud-daula 
was also angry, because Ahmad Shdéh Durrani had deputed Ahmad 
_ Khan with Jahan Khan to bring that noble to his presence. Shuja’-ud- 
daula came with reluctance, and nourished an ill-feeling against the persons 
who forced him to attend. Najib Khan, too, who was once in Ahmad 
Khan’s employ, now had risen so high as to claim equality, which being 
denied him, caused hidden enmity in his mind. The letter then went on to 
recount at length the intrigues before the battle of Panipat, intended to 
exclude Ahmad Khan from the good favour of the Durrani ruler. It con- 
eluded by an appeal to His Majesty’s sense of justice and requested that 
His Majesty would withdraw to some height, while the rivals fought out 
the matter. The victor could then present himself to do homage to his 
sovereign. 
Maht&b Khan Bangash, who was very clever and had not his equal for 
a negociation, received charge of the above petition. One hundred men 
were told off as his escort. The Nawab’s last instructions were that, if 
waiting two or three days would produce an answer, he should wait ; if not, 
he was to come away without any formal dismissal. Maht&b Khan on reach- 
