1896.] ‘W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803). 155 
ment of fresh troops, and a number of ‘Azimu-sh-shan’s fugitive troops 
returned from Lahor city and were admitted into Jahan Shah’s service. 
Some three thousand or four thousand experienced soldiers were thus 
recruited. Jahandar Shah adopted similar measures, taking on many 
of the fugitives at high rates of pay. Rafi‘u-sh-shan did the same. A 
few days only had passed since these men had been ranged in battle 
against their new employers; then for a time they had been unable to 
find bread to eat and were trembling for their very lives. By one of 
those transformations peculiar to such times, they were now restored to 
prosperity as suddenly as they had been plunged into poverty. In eigh 
days from the defeat and death of ‘Azimu-sh-shan all preparations had 
been completed. 
On the 18th Safar 1124 H. (26th March, 1712) Jahan Shah made 
the first movement. He marched from his old position near Shah Mir’s 
tomb and encamped near the village of Handi Gijar, where there was 
an imperial hunting preserve. At once Jahandar Shah sent out his 
advance guard under Kokaltash Khan and ‘Abdu-s-samad Khan, now his 
Mir-atash or general of artillery. The fighting was confined to the 
artillery. Rustam Dil Khan, who had charge of the artillery for Jahan 
Shah, placed two cannon ina commanding position and killed many 
men, the fight being continued until the setting of the sun. Both 
armies encamped on the ground they occupied, and under cover of 
night many of the mercenaries absconded. The numbers on both sides 
were thereby much diminished. During this night Jahan Shah’s powder 
magazines were exploded. Raji Muhammad Khan, afterwards Jahandar 
Shah’s Mir-atash, obtained the credit of this exploit. 3 
The next day (19th Safar 1124 H, 27th March, 1712) * the fight was 
renewed, and it continued till the sun had passed the meridian, when both 
combatants prepared to rest and refresh themselves where they stood. 
Owing to the hot wind and exhaustion, the fighting had been up to this 
time far from vigorous. Jahan Shah now ordered a charge to be made by 
Rustam Dil Khan, Jani Khan and Mukhlis Khan. They rushed for- 
ward ‘asa hungry tiger out of ambush flings itself on a buffalo’s head.’ 
Rustam Dil Khan reached without hindrance Jahandar Shah’s vanguard 
1 Kamwar Khan, 110; Nuru-d-din, 50. 
2 Query Mandu Gujran on Indian Atlas, sheet No. 30, just north of Mian Mir 
and the Railway line? 
3 Kamwar Khan, 110; Nuru-d-din, 51; Mhd. Qasim, 54; Valentyn, IV, 298. 
4 This is Kamwar Khan’s date, but the Dutch Envoy, then in Lahor, (Yalentyn, 
IV, 294) says the 27th March was spent by Jahan Shah in a heavy cannonade and 
the attack was delivered on the 28th. Mirza Muhammad, p. 131, who was also there, 
gives the 20th Safar (28th March) as the date of the prince’s defeat. 
