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SIYAR-UL-MUTAKHERIN.
69

him. Unluckily, however, such differences prevailed between Zulficar-khan and Cocal-tash khan, as gave rise to a mutual and inveterate aversion, so that nothing went on well in the emperor's camp, for Cocaltash-khan, who enjoyed the emperor's confidence, was a man incapable either of giving or of receiving advice. In this state of affairs, orders were issued to cross the Jumna for attacking the enemy, and the two favourites agreeing in nothing but in their mutual jealousy and in giving opposite council, the emperor was actually incapable of deciding for himself. Desperately attached to his mistress Lal-koor, he had of late fallen into a delirious kind of melancholy that rendered him totally incapable of conducting all public business.

Such a state of things could not be concealed from the enemy, and in fact, Abdullah-khan having received information of a ford which was situated eight miles above the enemy's camp, crossed in the night, and marched on without stopping as far as Kuchbehary, a village beyond Acberabad on the high road to Dehli; where some time after he was joined by Ferokh-siar himself. In order to deceive the enemy and to perplex his movements, Hussein Ali-khan with a corps de reserve remained where he was over against the enemy's camp, and did not cross the river on that day, but waited till