1879.] W. Irvine — The Bangash Nawabs of FarrulcMMd. 73 



" he will win the palm for bravery from us, let us advance and make a like 

 " brave fight ; we have the Wazir to meet, and if we prevail our name will 

 " be great, if we fail, not one of us will be able to look a stranger in the 

 " face." The leaders replied that, by the favour of God Most High and the 

 Nawab's good fortune, they would soon show what they could do. Hearing 

 these words repeated by the whole army, the Nawab directed them to offer 

 up a prayer. Raising up the right hand, they all called upon God for his 

 blessing and made over their lives to his care. Then rank by rank they 

 turned upon the foe. 



When the two armies met in line, Nasir-ud-din Haidar, who was post- 

 ed in advance on the enemy's side with several thousand men, attempted to 

 open an artillery fire. The advance of the Pathans was, however, so rapid 

 that little or no execution was done. When they came close, Mustaffa 

 Khan Mataniya, who was famous among all the Pathans for his prowess in 

 single combat, challenged the leaders on the other side. Nasir-ud-din 

 Haidar came forth to meet him. Drawing their swords, they began to 

 fight ; both fell from their horses, owing to the number of their wounds, 

 and both expired upon the spot. The enemy, seeing that Nasir-ud-din 

 Haidar was dead, gave up hope, turned, and fled. At this moment Nawab 

 Ahmad Khan came up to where Nasir-ud-din Haidar and Mustaffa Khan's 

 dead bodies were lying. 



The want of success in the Wazir's vanguard is attributed to the de- 

 fection of Kamgar Khan Biloch, faujdar of the environs of Delhi. Acting, 

 as it is asserted, in collusion with Ahmad Khan, he made no resistance but 

 turned and fled. When the Wazir perceived that his men were giving way, 

 he hurried off Muhammad 'Ali Khan Kisaldar and Nur-ul-Hasan Khan 

 Jama'dar, Bilgrami,* with his brothers, and 'Abd-un-nabi Khan, chela of 

 Muhammad Ali Khan, with orders to re-inforce the front. Since, however, 

 the panic of the Mughuls had become general, the efforts of the newly arrived 

 troops were fruitless. Muhammad 'Ali Khan then turned away to their 

 left wing, where three thousand foot were drawn up, with some horsemen 

 behind them. When the Pathans came to close quarters, Nur-ul-Hasan 

 and his brothers began using their bows, and the matchlockmen under 

 'Abd-un-nabi Khan fired off their pieces. They picked off many of the 

 Pathans, who were thrown into slight confusion, but soon recovered them- 

 selves. Their advance continued, Muhammad 'Ali Khan was wounded by 

 a bullet on the right hand, and Nur-ul-Hasan Khan's elephant received five 



* Nur-ul-Hasan Khan was still alive in 1181 H. (May, 1767-1768), and serving 

 near Arrah in Bengal, see Tabsirat-un-Ndzirin under that year. 

 K 



