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60 give out that he has received orders to confirm the rebel in his post, and beg that I may be deputed to carry to him the robe of investiture. Let the prince therefore try my abilities in this undertaking, which I hope may recommend me to his notice; but in case I perish in the attempt, I hope it will entitle my family and children to a subsistence for their lives."

This project having been approved, the officers of the government published a false account of the imperial orders, and the prince having sent for the Calmuc, put into his hands the khilat, standard, and patent of investiture, and dispatched him with due honours. Dilachin-beg thus provided, put himself at the head of a numerous retinue, and arrived at the foot of the mountain on which Rhotas is situated, and from thence he sent notice of his purpose to Raiet-khan, who being upon his guard and extremely suspicious, would admit only the envoy and two more persons. The Calmuc went up with only one attendant, and whilst the governor, into whose hands the standard had been delivered, was intent on reading the patent, he stabbed him with his poignard, and repeated the strokes until the governor fell down dead. The Calmuc with his companion were both wounded in the scuffle. At sight of this, the officers of the garrison arose upon the impostor's followers, killed