62 W. Irvine — The Bangash Nawahs of Farruhhabdd. [No. 2, 



Debi Datt, Faujdar o£ Koil, and others. When Rajah Jaswant Singh of 

 Mainpuri* heard that this force had reached Sakitf he sent word of its 

 approach to Nawab Ahmad Khan, telling him that in one day it would 

 reach Mainpuri, and unless he finished with Naval Eae at once, he would be 

 attacked both in front and rear. On receiving this intelligence the Nawab 

 sent for Pustam Khan and Sardar Khan Pathans and told them the news. 

 They said they were ready. The Nawab replied " To-morrow, putting our 

 trust in the mercy of God, we must attack the enemy, and let events take 

 their course." 



Ghul Miyan, a clever spy, was sent disguised as a faqir to reconnoitre 

 the enemy's camp. He found no place unprotected with cannon, except one 

 entrenchment held by Sayyads of Barah, which lay quite at the back of 

 the camp, to the south, on the banks of the Kalinadi. Ghul Miyan return- 

 ed to the Nawab and reported that this place was guarded by five hundred 

 matchlockmen only, but to reach it would entail a detour of three hos. He 

 promised to conduct the Nawab to the spot. 



Accordingly, at three hours after sunset on Thursday the 9th Ramzan 

 1163 H. (1st August 1750), Ahmad Khan having ejaculated a " Bism-illah^ 

 got into his pal hi and set out, followed by twelve thousand Pathans on foot 

 and twelve hundred horsemen. Rustain Khan was posted on his left. 

 Heavy rain was falling at the time. Ghul Miyan took them up to the right 

 hand a distance of three hos, in order that the tramp of the horses' hoofs 

 might not reach the ears of the enemy. In this way the front of Naval 

 Rae's camp was avoided, and they got round in his rear near to the Kali where 

 was the position held by the five hundred Sayyads. This spot is said to 

 have been on the boundary of the two villages of Kaitha. and Gangni, about 

 a mile west of the town of Khudaganj. 



At an hour and a half before sunrise, Ghul Miyan pointed out to the 

 Nawab the Sayyads' battery in front. The Sayyads heard the talking and 

 said to each other, that it seemed as if the Pathans were coming to the 

 attack, and they redoubled their vigilance. Then the Pathans made a 

 rush, and from both sides matchlocks were discharged and swords used. 

 The rain increased the confusion, for it was difficult to hear what one man 

 said to another. An alarm passed through the camp that the Pathans had 

 effected an entry into one of the entrenchments. At the time it was so 

 dark that you could not tell friend from foe. Then the artillerymen began 

 to fire their guns altogether at random, those on the west fired to the west, 

 those on the north to the north, and those on the south to the south. 



* Gaz. N. W. P. IV, 550. Rajah from S. 1783 to S. 1814 (1726-1757 A. D.) 

 f In Parganah Eta-Sakit of the Eta district about twenty miles north-west of 

 Mainpuri. 



