1879.] W. Irvine — The Bangasli Nawabs of FarruTcMbdd. 107 



train. Then leaving the town in company with their wives and children, 

 they set their houses in flames and marched off. At three hours after night- 

 fall they reached Rampiir, where they pitched their tents. Next day they 

 marched again and got to the neighbourhood of Muradabad. After a halt 

 of some six hours, they resumed their route for Kashipur, thirty miles north 

 of Muradabad. At that place a spy from Apa Jiu Sendhia arrived with a 

 letter for Nawab Ahmad Khan. It stated that when the Wazir heard that 

 his enemy was retreating towards the hills, he at once gave orders to his 

 army to cross the river and pursue by forced marches, without halting any- 

 where. Mulhar Rao and Tantia, with thirty thousand men and the Mughal 

 " Kizilbash," had been detached on this duty. The letter said that they 

 would soon come up, and Ahmad Khan had better enter the hills at once 

 and prepare for defence. Ahmad Khan sent for Hafiz Rahmat Khan and 

 the other Rohela leaders and informed them of the intelligence he had 

 just received. To the messenger he gave seven gold coins and sent him 

 back. 



Without further delay the Pathans started for the hills. The follow- 

 ing day they entered the low jungle, and there they found a place sur- 

 rounded on three sides with impenetrable growth of thorns and bushes. 

 On the fourth side, which afforded a passage, they dug an extremely deep 

 ditch, and along it built towers, which made it look like the fort of Daula- 

 tabad in the Dakhin. In the centre of this plain they pitched their en- 

 campment.* The Anwalah leaders also put up their tents and, ranging 

 their cannon, connected them with iron chains. Notwithstanding all these 

 preparations, they were much dejected, for they saw no prospect of sup- 

 plies, and without food the place was untenable. For a time, in default of 

 any thing else, they subsisted upon sugarcane. After two or three days 

 had passed without any change, Nawab Ahmad Khan sent for all the Rohe- 

 la leaders and told them, that although the Omnipotent had favoured them 

 with a refuge, whence they could defy the kings of all the seven climes, 

 yet it was absolutely necessary to secure food. The Rohelas replied that 

 the Rajah of Almorah had great affection for Sayyad Ahmad, the Nazim 

 for his territory at the foot of the hills. This Sayyad was, they said, hos- 

 pitable and kind-hearted and well-affected towards them. They advised 

 that application should be made for assistance in grain, accompanying the 

 letter, which should be in affectionate terms, with rare and costly presents 

 of every kind. The Nawab having approved of this suggestion, Hafiz 

 'Rahmat Khan, leaving his presence, went straight to the Sayyad, who held 

 a battery with Najib Khan, and reported to him what had been decided 



* The Life of H. R. K., p. 42, says the encampment was at Chilkya, which is 22 

 miles N. E. of Kashipur, and some 48 miles N. E, of Muradabad 



