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SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHERIN.
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in reality he had some title for vanity. Alia Verdi-khan, who had employed him on many trying occasions, was well satisfied with his services; but as he presumed upon them, he felt it requisite to reduce him to more subordination. Alia Verdi-khan, reflecting that to tolerate him any longer would only add to his presumption, and incite others to insolence, conceived it dangerous to defer the punishment of a headstrong man, who seemed ready to go into revolt. The day then being fixed for the purpose. Alia Verdi-khan ordered a number of trusty men to be in readiness in the hall of audience, and to fall upon Abd-ul-kerim-khan with their sabres, in case the Afghan should presume to be insolent, in answer to a reproof which he intended to give him. Accordingly on the next day, Abd-ul-kerim-khan presented himself at the durbar with ten of his followers, armed; but as he had always at the gate two hundred of his men ready to support him, and himself being a man of great personal strength, it was not an easy matter to find people to overpower him. Three men, however, having been selected, were ordered to attend, and to attack him, and he fell under their sabres the same morning. The other mutinous soldiery in his army now began to tremble; and many of the zemindars, who had hitherto proved refractory, owing

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