1S79.] W. Irvine — Tlie Bangasli Naiodbs of FamiMdbdd. 97 



Sa'dullah Khan pitched his tents on the opposite or left bank of the 

 river, and Nawab Ahmad Khan sent off for his use food of every description 

 by the hand of Mustajab Khan Warakzai. Nawab Ahmad Khan also sent 

 a request that next day Sa'dullah Khan would cross the Ganges, for it was 

 highly important to combine their forces into one. This message was deli- 

 vered, but Sa'dullah Khan said that, after consulting with his chief men, he 

 would send word of his intentions. Then he sent for Bahadur Khan and 

 Fath Khan, and told them of Nawab Ahmad Khan's request. Bahadur Khan, 

 who was very reckless, replied that it was not meet to present themselves 

 before the head of the Afghan clan without an offering (nazardna), and word 

 should be sent to Ahmad Khan, that if God willed, they, his well-wishers, 

 would the next morning lay before him as an offering the heads of tho 

 Wazir, of the Mahratta chiefs, and of the Jat leader. Sa'dullah Khan, 

 being youthful and inexperienced, sent off a message to that effect. Ahmad 

 Khan replied that whatever he thought best he should do, but to one thing 

 he should pay the strictest attention, namely, not on any account to quit 

 his hold of the river bank. When the fighting began, if the Mahrattas 

 turned, he should not let his men pursue, because it was the Mahratta prac- 

 tice to pretend they had been put to flight, and lead their enemy away 

 from his supports. Next day Sa'dullah Khan and Mahmud Khan and 

 Manavar Khan Sahibzadah prepared for battle and, ranging their troorjs in 

 order, led them against the enemy. 



On the other hand, the Wazir had been greatly frightened by the arrival 

 of Sa'dullah Khan. He sent for Mulhar Rao, Apa Sendhia and Suraj Mall 

 Jat in order to consult. The plan was adopted of sending troops across 

 the river to meet and fight Sa'dullah Khan, before he could unite with Ah- 

 mad Khan. The bridge at Singhi-rampur, which was in bad condition, was put 

 in order. Then Khande Rao, son of Mulhar Rao, and Tantia, Gangadhar with 

 fifty thousand men crossed the bridge. Jowahir Singh, son of Siiraj Mall Jat, 

 and Rana Bhim Singh, zamindar of Gwaliyar, followed with forty thousand 

 horse and foot. The attack upon the Rohelas then commenced. At first the 

 Rohelas under Bahadur Khan let fly rockets, which fell from the sky like rain ; 

 then they discharged their muskets. By degrees they gave over firing and 

 drawing their swords, rushed upon the Hindus, who soon beat a retreat. 

 Bahadur Khan, forgetting Nawab Ahmad Khan's counsel, quitted the river 

 bank to pursue the flying enemy. With Bahadur Khan may have been some 

 two or three thousand men. He went in pursuit far ahead of the main body 

 of his troops. The enemy, seeing that there was only a single elephant 

 followed by a few men, without any reserves at hand to reinforce them, 

 turned upon Bahadur Khan and surrounded him. Bahadur Khan got off his 

 elephant, mounted his horse, and followed by his men with their swords 



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