1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Ranthaml or. 207 



tip to their ears. Engaged in battle, they seemed as if the great Arjun 

 was again fighting in the field of Kurukshetra. There was a play of 

 swords for hours. The blood of the slain rained as showers of the rainy 

 season. The armours were cut, and bodies divided into two parts. Many 

 spearmen danced with fury, stabbing all that fell in their way. The sharp 

 points of lances, seen on the backs of the dead, were as horns of the moon 

 peeping through dark clouds. Many heads were cut off ; but lo ! the bodies 

 rose with swords in their hands and made havoc among the hostile ranks. 

 Daggers went right through the bellies, the wide battle-axes opened large 

 wounds in the chests, whence flowed jets of blood in torrents as pour 

 down streams of water besoiled with red clay from the tops of mountains. 

 Many a wounded man flew with wild fury at his nearest adversary, killed 

 him and then felJ down doad on his body. At last the Muhammadans, 

 panic-struck, ran away in confusion. Many bewailed their lot, and there 

 rose a cry of despair. 



The victorious Rajputs carried off immense booty, consisting mostly of 

 treasure. The loss on the Muhammadan side was 30,000 foot, 20 elephants, 

 and 2000 horse. The number of the wounded could not be counted. On 

 the Rajput side, there fell 16 warriors only, and 30 were wounded, among 

 whom was Puaiir Abhay Singh who had received a slight injury on his 

 head. 



Having defeated the Muhammadans, the Rajput warriors went to 

 Ranthambor and bowed their heads before Hamir. Then they informed 

 him of all the events as they had happened. He ordered them in a firm tone 

 not to fight any more battles with the emperor while he was on the way. 



The Vazir Mihram Khan said to Ala-uddin : " Imperial Master, the 

 territories of Hamir are very mountainous, and therefore difficult of subjuga- 

 tion. See a body of plunderers and thieves descended on us from hill-tops 

 and declivities and went away, having pillaged our goods. So it behoves 

 our troops to be very cautious, and always on their guard." 



Ala-uddin's tents were pitched outside the hills of Ranthambor. 

 Mirs, Amirs, Khans and others arrived there, not without scruples and were 

 encamped by the side of wells and tanks all round the town. 



Chapter VI. 

 Seated on his hill-fort, which commanded the view of many a mile, 

 Hamir saw the grandeur of the imperial camp. He remarked, laughing, 

 " Lo ! Ala-uddin has come, a gipsy at the head of numerous flocks. He, 

 with all his pride and parade, shall never be able to stand the first shock 

 which my chiefs and I will give him and his troops. The Mlechchas 

 (infidels) of all the ten quarters of the world have accompanied him ; but 



