1879.] W. Irvine — The Bangasli Nawabs of FarruMdMtl 101 



to each other something in Mahratti, which he did not understand. Then 

 one of them lifted his right hand and hurled his spear at Hisam-ud-din. 

 It struck him between the side and the left arm. Another spear was 

 thrown by the same man from his left hand. This second spear entered at 

 the right side, and the two spears crossing each other stuck out like the 

 handles of a pair of scissors. The wounds caused Hisam-ud-din to feel giddy 

 and left him no strength to wield his sword. Just then the shaft of one of 

 those spears fell down, and struck the horse on the crupper. From the 

 blow the horse gave a bound, and Hisam-ud-din, losing control of him, was 

 thrown, with the two spears still sticking into him like a pair of shears. 

 At once several of the scoundrels got off their horses and making him a 

 prisoner, wrenched the bare sword out of his right hand. Hisam-ud- din 

 now thought it was all over, and turning his thoughts to Heaven, he hum- 

 bly prayed to God that, whether his life were taken or not, he might be 

 sprared further dishonour. As he lay, he turned his face towards the Gan- 

 ges, and being on the high bank at the edge of the river, he could see below 

 him a number of Afghans, who for fear of their lives had stripped them- 

 selves naked and were crouching in the water. At this moment a fresh 

 party of Mahrattas came up. On seeing them, many of these seated at the 

 water's edge threw themselves into the river ; the rest, seeking quarter by 

 putting their fingers between their teeth, were captured and driven off 

 towards the camp. 



In a short time some other horsemen rode up and asked Hisam-ud-din 

 why he was seated there alone. He replied " What else can I do ?" They 

 said " Come with us." He said " I am not able to walk." They had with 

 them a wounded horse, which they ordered him to mount. He obeyed and 

 mounting rode with them. The sowars took him straight to Mulhar Bio, 

 who was standing with his retinue near the Kasim Bagh. Mulhar Bao 

 said to him, " Did Ahmad Khan cross the Ganges early or late in the 

 night ?" 



Hisam-ud-din. — " I do not know." 



M. B. — " How can I believe that you could have been in Ahmad 

 Khan's camp without knowing?" 



Hisam-ud-din. — " If I had known I should have gone with the Nawab." 



M. B.— " That is true." 



He then ordered one of the horsemen to take Hisam-ud-din to the 

 tents of Khande Bao,* where he was to receive every indulgence consis- 

 tent with his detention as a prisoner. "When brought before Khande Bao, 

 he assigned comfortable quarters to Hisam-ud-din. 



* Khande Rao was killed at the siege of the Jat fort of Komber in 1755-6. Grant 

 Duff, 284. 



