270 Capt. Franklin's Memoir on Bundelkhund. 



an ascendancy, that was paramount in Bundelkhund, until the invasion of 

 the Mahrattas under Ali Behauuh. 



Three intriguing ministers, named Rao Sabdal Sinh, Khem-ray {Cshema- 

 rdyci) DicsHiT, and NtJNi Arjun Sinh, were the confidants and managers of 

 Rdjd GuMAN Sinh ; and at his death he bequeathed his possessions to an 

 adopted son, named Madhucar Sah, under their guardianship. Madhucar 

 Sah died shortly afterwards, and Bhacti Balli, the son of Dharkii Sinh, 

 the son of Klnxi Sinh, the son of Jagat Raj, was installed in succession to 

 him. 



The guardians, however, became jealous of each other after this transac- 

 tion ; and NtJNi Arjun Sinh caused Sabdal Sinh to be assassinated, and 

 imprisoned Khem-ray. The latter, however, effecting his escape, fled to 

 Chircuri; and incited Rdjd Kuman Sinh to espouse his cause, and march 

 against Bdndd, in wliich expedition Kuman Sinh was slain in battle near 

 Mdhdd,* and Khem-ray was again taken prisoner. 



' NtJNi Arjun Sinh, after this success, invested Cliircdri; and cverytiiing 

 but the fort surrendered to him. He ne.xt marched towards Chhatrapur, 

 which then belonged to the Rdjd of Panna; and here he artfully espoused 

 the cause of Sernaid Sinh, in support of his claim to the succession of 

 Panna. A desperate battle was fought in consequence by the rival Dewans 

 Beni Huzuri and Nuni Aiuun Sinh, in which the former was slain, and 

 the states of Panna and Bdndd fell into tlie hands of the latter, over which 

 he reigned as guardian to Rcijd Bhacti Balli. 



Tlie cause of Sernaid Sinh having served the purpose for which it had 

 been espoused, was now abandoned altogether, and he retired to Rdjnagar ; 

 whilst Dhocal Sinh, the deposed RCijd of Pannd, became a dependant upon 

 the bounty of the Kiladar 'of Callinjer, who assigned him some lands, which 

 he enjoyed during his life, and bequeathed them and his state of dependence 

 on the Kiladar to his illegitimate son Kishor Sinh, who, in aftertimes, by 

 British benevolence, was reinstated as the representative of the Panna 

 branch oi the family, and became the Rcyd of Panna. 



Such was the distracted state of the country, when Ali Behadur formed 

 the design of conquering it ; to which he was incited by an arttul chief 

 named Himmat Behadur, whose life he had saved from the vengeance of 

 Madh^ji Sindia. Himmat Behadur, in consideration of a Juiddd, or 



.* -^ — 



* Mohda. — Maps. 



