Siyar al-mutaʾakhkhirin 12.19.1

12.19.1

This last expedition had rid Aaly-verdy-qhan of a foreign enemy, but it raised a domestic one; for by this time Mustapha-qhan's power and influence had risen to such a heighth, that they exceeded those of a subject, or even those of an equal. He pretended to no less than to a superiority; and his nation having poured in vast numbers into Bengal, and filled every part of Aaly-verdy-qhan's armies and household, he was always surrounded by such a number of them, that no one dared to dispute his will, or even to offend any one that bore the name of Afghan; so great were their numbers, and so close their union. It is observable, that these people in consequence of their numbers and their little sense and understanding, as well as their way of life in the caverns of their mountainous country, very much resembled, the savage beasts. They are like them swift-footed, exceedingly courageous and attracted by little, and highly covetous. Unmoved by the rights of gratitude, and unaffected by benefits received, they pay little attention to their benefactors, and even to the rights of friendship, and full as little to the duties of a community of bread and salt. They turn about at once for a small subject, and from cold lifeless friends, they become at once rancorous foes and obstinate enemies.