98 W. Irvine — The Bangash Naioihs of Furruhhdbdd. [No. 2, 



drawn, tried to repel the enemy. But the Hindus encircled them, as if 

 they were shooting game, and kept up at them a galling discharge of mus- 

 ketry and arrows. They also wounded many and killed many with sword 

 and dhop (a kind of sworcl) and lance and spear. Bahadur Khan, so long 

 as he was alive, kept hold of his sword, nor did he belie his name of Baha- 

 dur (the brave). Not a soul coming up to aid him, at last he fell off his 

 horse, and gave up the ghost. The enemy then cut off his head ; and those 

 of his men who remained sought safety in flight. This disastrous defeat, 

 which suddenly changed the whole complexion of the campaign, occurred 

 early in Jamadi II. 1164 H. (16th April— 15th May, 1751). 



When Sa'dullah Khan heard that Bahadur Khan was killed, he asked 

 Fath Khan Khansaman what should be done. Now, all the other leaders 

 had entertained a deep-felt enmity to Bahadur Khan. At the time of de- 

 parture from Anwalah, Hafiz Rahmat Khan had said privately to Fath 

 Khan that in battle Bahadur Khan was sure to be the foremost, it would 

 be well to arrange judiciously that no one went to his support, so that he 

 might be overcome and slain, thus getting rid of a great thorn in their side, 

 for it was he who had incited Nawab Sa'dullah Khan into taking the part 

 of Nawab Ahmad Khan. And if Ahmad Khan should overcome the Wazir, 

 he would aim at the throne itself, none being left to contend with him ; 

 then, taking satisfaction for the blood of Kaim Khan, he would expel all 

 the Rohelas from their country. 



On Sa'dullah Khan's putting the question to him, Fath Khan found 

 his opportunity, and he at once said that the best thing was to turn their 

 faces towards Anwalah. The Nawab replied tha*". honour would not permit 

 him to depart, leaving Ahmad Khan in the mouth of the enemy. Fath 

 Khan answered that Ahmad Khan had now no chance of success, he too 

 would soon follow to Anwalah, where they could consult together on the 

 best course to be pursued. Sa'dullah Khan gave in to these arguments as 

 conclusive and turned his face towards Anwalah* 



Nawab Mahmud Khan and Manavvar Khan, finding that Sa'dullah 

 Khan was moving off towards Anwalah, returned to Nawab Ahmad Khan's 

 head quarters, liana Bhim Singh and Jowahir Singh, son of Siiraj Mall 

 Jat, who were in command of the enemy on that side of the river, were 

 now in a position to oppose the return of the two Sahibzadahs. Jowahir 

 Singh wished to cut off their retreat, but the Rana objected. He was a 

 well-wisher to the family of Ghazanfar Jang, Daler Khan, the well known 



* The life of Hafiz Eahmat Khan, p. 40, says Sa'dullah Khan reached Anwalah 

 without an attendant on the third day after his departure. On both points this state- 

 ment must be somewhat exaggerated. 



