104 W. Irvine — The Bcmgasli Nawabs of FarrvJcMbM. [No. 2 



Rao saw that they bad fallen into the trap laid by the Pathans and that 

 their retreat was cut off, he sent a man to Nawab Ahmad Khan to make 

 terms. The messenger said, that though by the Emperor's order they had 

 served the Wazir in this campaign, they were not in heart fighting for him, 

 they only fought to save appearances ; what should be now agreed on pri- 

 vately with them, they swore solemnly to carry out in writing, when the 

 campaign under the Kumaon hills had once commenced. Ahmad Khan, on 

 this message being received, sent for Hafiz Eahmat Khan, told him what 

 was proposed, and referred to the old friendship between his father, Muham- 

 mad Khan, and the Mahrattas. He then requested Hafiz Eahmat Khan 

 to send orders to Donde Khan to withdraw from his position closing up 

 the Mahrattaline of retreat. Hafiz Eahmat Khan in reply said that in time 

 of war Donde Khan took orders from no one, perhaps if Nawab Ahmad 

 Khan went in person he might agree, and he, Hafiz Eahmat Khan, was 

 willing to accompany him to the spot. 



The order of battle was as follows ; To the rear and in support of 

 Donde Khan were Bahadur Khan and Mulla Sardar Khan ; after them came 

 Fath Khan Khansaman ; and then Nawab Sa'dullah Khan with Hafiz 

 Eahmat Khan, who, mounted on one elephant, formed as it were the advance- 

 o-uard of Nawab Ahmad Khan. Ahmad Khan and Hafiz Eahmat Khan 

 proceeded to Donde Khan's head-quarters, where they informed him of 

 what the Mahrattas had promised and had sworn an oath to do. He said 

 in answer that the Mahrattas must have sent overtures only because they 

 were in extremity. For was not the river on three sides of them, and had 

 he not cut off the fourth ? "Without any labour or trouble a speedy victory 

 would be obtained. Oaths taken at such a juncture were worthless. The 

 Nawab admitted that what Donde Khan said was quite true, but it was 

 against the creed of a good Musulman to refuse peace to those who asked 

 it If their oaths were false, God would mete out the punishment. Donde 

 Khan was forced at length to accede, and he sent word to his regiments to 

 withdraw and allow a free passage. The soldiers were then moved off, and 

 the road cleared for the enemy. Then Nawab Ahmad Khan and Nawab 

 Sa'dullah Khan pitched their tents on that spot. Next day they marched 

 onwards, and reached the head of the boat-bridge, thrown across by the 

 Wazir under Singhi-rampur. 



Before the arrival of the Mussulman forces, the Mahrattas had broken 

 tip the bridge, and when Nawab Ahmad Khan reached the p]ace he found 

 the river separating him from the enemy. Artillery fire began on both 

 sides. The troops who had been allowed to withdraw from their critical 

 position in the bend of the river, gathered round the Nawab's army but did 

 pot come to close quarters. After things had been in this situation for a 



