Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/45

Book VI. and attention. He therefore, in October, detached a large body of troops to Patna, under the command of his nephew Zaindee Hamed, and now began to have some prospect of tranquillity; which 'nevertheless, still fled before him.

The reputation of Mustapha Khan, and his influence amongst the soldiery, had for some time rendered him obnoxious to the suspicions of Hodgee, who concluded, that if he did not already entertain dangerous views, he might aspire at the sovereignty after the death of Allaverdy, to the prejudice of his own son Zaindee Hamed: but mere arguments could not induce Allaverdy, who feared nothing, to entertain this opinion, of a fellow soldier, by whom he had always been served with fidelity, and on all occasions generously rewarded. He demanded prooffs, which were supplied by letters that seemed to be written by Meer-abib to Mustapha Khan, implying a previous correspondence, exhorting the Pitan to assassinate Allaverdy, and promising him the assistance of the Morattoes to seize and maintain the government. Allaverdy, not suspecting that Hodgee would dare to use such an artifice in an affair of so great importance; believed the imposition, and determined to put Mustapha Khan to death at the next visit; whose friends advised him of the danger; on which he instantly marched away with the body of 3000 Pitans under his immediate command, and was the next day followed and joined by the same number, with their officer Sumsheer Khan; all took their way towards Behar.

Their departure confirming Allaverdy in his belief of Hodgee's representations, he ordered Zaindee Hamed to advance from Patna, in order to stop the retreat of the Pitans, whilst he himself followed them with his own army, which overtook them half way between Tacriagully and Patna, before Zaindee Hamed appeared in sight. Mustapha Khan therefore gave battle without delay; the conflict was sharp and obstinate, notwithstanding the disparity of numbers: and the success remained doubtful, until the two chiefs came within reach of one another, when a party of men, armed with matchlocks, who had been taught to shoot at a mark, and were appointed