200 W. Irvine— Later Mughals (1707-1803. ) [No. 2, 
and the booming of Jahandar Shah’s big guns could now be heard. 
Farrukhsiyar’s men seemed to lose heart ; many left the field and took 
shelter in neighbouring villages. ! 
When Zi-l-fiqar Khan noticed that Kokaltash Khan had begun to 
gain the upper hand, he directed Mukhtar Khan to lead a strong 
reinforcement to their right, to the aid of Jani Khan, and gave orders 
im person to the artillery to direct their fire against ‘Abdu-llah Khan. 
The latter held his ground boldly against this artillery fire, his position 
being on a mound slightly raised above the plain. But some of his 
supporters, particularly the new levies, showed signs of giving way. 
In spite of this ‘Abdu-llah Khan, surrounded by his Barhah Sayyads, 
then not numbering more than two or three hundred, remained on the 
mound where he had taken up his place. Availing himself of his 
opportunity, Curaman, Jat,a practised plunderer, fell on the rear of 
Jahandar Shah and captured many elephants and camels together with 
the baggage loaded upon them; and one of his officers, Girdhar Singh, 
tried to drive off the oxen, which were used to drag the heavy guns, 
but was slain by Raji Muhammad Khan in the attempt. 2 
Mukhtar Khan reached Jani Khan’s side at a critical moment. By 
his aid, the ranks of Chabélah Ram were thrown into confusion and his 
men were almost on the point of flight. Then Chabélah Ram and 
Muhammad Khan, taking their lives in their hands, drove their ele- 
phants alongside that ridden by Jani Khan, and succeeded in killing 
him. On the death of their leader Jani Khan’s men fled, but Mukhtar 
Khan with 4000 men continued the fight until he was severely wounded 
and forced to withdraw. ® 
At this stage of the battle Farrukhsiyar’s defeat seemed assured. 
Reports had spread that Husain ‘Ali Khan was dead; while separated 
from his standard elephant and from mostof his captains, ‘Abdu-llah 
Khan had only a few men left around him; and in the centre, with 
Farrukhsiyar himself, there were no more than six thousand men. 
Even these men had no heart left in them and were only waiting for a 
way of escape. On the other side was Zu-l-fiqar Khan with 25,000 fresh 
troops, many noted leaders, and powerful artillery. But for some 
reason, either that he despised the enemy or that he wished Kokaltash 
Khan to be thoroughly defeated, he refrained from intervening in the 
1 Nuru-d-din, 106. 
2 Nuru-d-din, 106. 
3 Nuru-d-din, 108. Khafi Khan, II, 702, says Mukhtar Khan was killed on the 
spot, Kamwar Khan, 126, however, explains that he was killed by plunderers during 
the retreat on Dihl. He was the son of Mukhtar Khan, Khan ‘Alam, Bahadur Shahi, 
(d. Safar 1121 H. April 1709), Mu-l-u, III, 655, Kamwar Khan spells it Mukhtyar 
Khan. 
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