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248 APPENDIX II him the gratification, on the 4th of Zi-al-hijja, 1173 A. H. (July 18, 1760 A. D.), of paying his respects to the Shah, and of folding the son of the latter, Timur Shah, in his embrace. Bhao remained some time in the fort of Shahjahan- abad, in consequence of the rainy season, which pre- vented the horses from stirring a foot, and deprived the cavalry of the power of fighting; he sent a person named Bhawani Shankar Pandit to Nawab Shuja-ad- daulah with the following message: " If it is inconve- nient for you to contract an alliance with your friends, you should at^ least keep aloof from the enemy, and remain perfectly neutral to both parties. " The Pandit, having crossed the river Jumna, went to Nawab Shuja- ad-daulah Bahadur, and delivered this message. The latter, after ascertaining its drift, despatched his eunuch Yakut Khan, who was one of the oldest and most con- fidential servants of his government, in company with Bhawani Shankar Pandit, and returned an answer of this description: " As the Rajas of this empire and the Rohilla chiefs were reduced to the last extremity by the violent aggressions of Raghunath Rao, Datta, Holkar, and their subordinates, they solicited the Abdali Shah to come to Hindustan, with the view of saving themselves from ruin. l The seed that they sowed has now begun to bear fruit/ Nevertheless, if peace be agreeable to you, from true regard for our ancient friendship, my best endeavours shall be used towards ronohuling one." Eventually Bhao proposed that as far as Sirhind should be under the Shah's dominion,