1879.] W. Irvine — The JBangash Nawabs of JFarruJclidbdd. 87 



when the Wazir was already so near, for, however fast the Nawab might 

 march, it would be nearly impossible to arrive in time ; and supposing that 

 Farrukhabad were reached in time, the troops being scattered would still 

 have to be collected ; it would therefore be better to cross the Ganges into 

 the Subah of Oudh and then proceed westwards, by which several advan- 

 tages would be gained. A hurried march need not be made, the army would 

 not be scattered, the zamindars of Subah Audh, who had been turned out 

 of their homes in the time of Naval " bad-ami" would unsought bring aid, 

 in money and in men. Another reason was that the immense number of 

 mercenaries, who had collected under the Nawab's standard, would disperse 

 in the course of a rapid retreat on Farrukhabad. The Nawab determined 

 to consult his chief men, and the Rajah took his leave. Then Nawab 

 Ahmad Khan sent for Rustam Khan Bangash, Mangal Khan Ghilzai, 

 Muhammad Khan Afridi, Sa'dat Khan Afridi, Mustajab Khan Warakzai, 

 Haji Sarfaraz Khan and others. "When they had been informed of the 

 Rajah's proposals, they asked for time to consult with each other. They 

 then went apart and discussed the question. The majority of votes was 

 against crossing the Ganges, Haji Sarfaraz Khan alone dissented. They 

 returned to the Nawab' s presence, and stated that, in their opinion, by cross- 

 ing the Ganges, the enemy would be deceived into believing that they had 

 crossed from fear. " Let us fear nothing," they added, " this is the same 

 " Wazir whom we have already defeated, and, by God's help, we will so 

 " wield our good swords, that our enemy shall not escape alive again ; the 

 " enemy and his army are to us like the well-known proverb ' You may beat 

 " the beaten.' " The Nawab turning to Haji Sarfaraz Khan said, " You 

 say nothing." The Haji replied, that his opinion would not please any of 

 the others, hut he thought that Rajah Pirthipat's advice was the best. 



According to the decision of the commanders, a march direct for Far- 

 rukhabad was ordered. The Rajah being sent for and informed of the 

 decision,~he asked what orders there were for him. The Nawab said, he left 

 the Rajah in that country for the present as his representative ; he should, 

 therefore, return to his own zamindari and recall the Audh zamindars to 

 their homes. The Rajah then received a Tehila't and, having been dismissed, 

 he crossed the Ganges and hastened to his own country.* 



* Under the year 1165 H. the Baltvant-namah relates how the Nawab "Wazir 

 started for Banaras intending to take his revenge on Rajah Pirthipat. At Sultanpur, 

 about 36 miles S. of Faizabad - and 85 miles N. of Allahabad, Rajah Pirthipat 

 presented himself. When thrown off his guard by friendly words, he was stabbed 

 by 'Ali Beg Khan, on a sign from the Wazir. Pirthipat, who was unarmed, sprang 

 upon his murderer, and biting a piece out of his cheek fell dead with it in his 

 mouth, The date of 1163 H. given in the Miftdh, p. 498, must be wrong, and the 



