Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/38

32 moderation than is usually practised by eastern conquerors; and even spared the two sons of Suffraze Khan, whom, with their mother and other relations, he sent to take up their residence at Dacca, at the extremity of the province, where his officers were instructed to treat them with respect, whilst their conduct should give no umbrage. The whole province submitted as peaceably to his government, as if no revolution had happened, but Mussut Koali, who governed Orixa under SufFraze Khan, flying from the battle of Gheria, retreated to Catteck, and when summoned by Allaverdy refused to acknowledge his sovereignty. He therefore called his brother Hodgee from Patna to administer the government of Bengal during his absence, and then marched into Orixa, and in less than a month expelled Mussat Kouli, and reduced the province.

The excess and rapidity of his fortunes, together with the reputation of his military abilities, alarmed the throne; and Nizam-al-muluck, the Soubah of the southern provinces, in order to stop the farther progress of his arms, incited the Morattoes to invade his dominions almost as soon as he had taken possession of them. In consequence of which, an army of 80,000 Morattoes arrived within a few days journey of the mountains, which bound Bengal to the westward, before Allaverdy had quitted Catteck; who, not having given credit to the reports of their approach, had taken no precautions to prevent their irruption; and had even permitted the greatest part of the army he led into Bengal, to return to their homes; so that his whole force did not exceed 10,000 men, 5000 of whom were cavalry, and amongst them were the 3000 Pitans; his soul, however, nothing dismayed, reassumed its wonted activity, as soon as he found the danger to be really formidable; and he advanced by excessive marches towards his capital. But the Morattoes had already passed the defiles of the mountains, when he arrived near Burdawan, 100 miles from Muxadavad; where, finding himself surrounded, he encamped in a strong situation. Baschir Pondit, the general of the Morattoes, immediately sent deputies to his camp, who shewed the Emperor's mandates, authorizing them to demand