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62 gained his heart; when news came of Azim-ush-shan's death, and of the accession of Jehandar-shah to the throne. By this time, Hussein Ali-khan had engaged himself so deeply with Ferokh-siar, that he could not withdraw with any safety; and he thought it better boldly to push on. He therefore ordered public prayers to be read in the mosques for Ferokh-siar, coined money in his name, and displayed the standard of open war against Jehandar-shah. Ferokh-siar, in return, made it a point to cement his union with Hussein Ali-khan, and to add every day to his influence and authority.

The latter now assembled the bankers and principal men of the city of Patna, and having borrowed from them large sums of money, according to their circumstances, gave them bonds signed by the prince, made payable on his having subdued his enemies. By this means he was enabled to assemble a considerable army; and on an auspicious day he set out on his expedition, carrying the prince at the head of his troops. At the same time, he appointed Seid Gheiret-khan, his sister's son, lieutenant-general in the province of Behar; and knowing that the tribute of Bengal was on its way to Ilahabad, he wrote to his brother Abdullah-khan, to seize and reserve it entirely for the prince's use, unless he wanted some small part of it for his