Gul-i Rahmat 1.2.4

1.2.4

Sháh Madan three or four times affirmed the truth of his statement, and then held his peace. Khán Muhammad, seeing no hope of obtaining the bond, uttered some sharp words, at which Shujá'u-d daula also waxed warm, and went into his private apartments in a rage. * * Háfiz Rahmat did not deem it advisable to press further for the restoration of the bond at that time, and, concealing his annoyance, he said no more about it. Shuja'u-d daula was very much vexed with Háfiz Rahmat. He remained several days at the same place, and busied himself in winning over Háfiz Rahmat's officers and soldiers. * * At the end of the year 1187 A.H. (1773 A.D.), Shujau-d daula busied himself in winning over to his side, by various inducements, the people of Katehr, both small and great. * * Having gained several chiefs and officers of that country, he felt full confidence, and marched to effect first the conquest of Etawa. The Mahratta detachments, which had been left there when their armies returned to the Dakhin, were too small in numbers to offer any resistance, and retreated before him. He soon made himself master of Etawa, and prepared to settle its administration. But Hafiz Rahmat wrote to him, protesting against this, and saying that the country of Etawa had been conferred upon him, after the battle of Panipat, by Ahmad Shah Durrani, as the Nawab knew full well.