1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Banthambor. 213 



" Did I not tell you, that Hamir will never come to you and return you 

 the exile, Muhammad Shah. "When he has drawn his sword against you, 

 he will stand by his resolution ; you can never get the body of the refugee. 

 The promise of that greatest of all heroes is true, and true to the letter." 



Ala-uddin became greatly displeased with the Vazir. He said " Cursed 

 coward, do you not know my might ? Do you not know that in the 

 twinkling of an eye, I can destroy the fort of your valiant Rao, burn him, 

 his sons and wives, and bring the exile Muhammad Shah trembling to my 

 feet ?" Taking a copy of the Koran in his hand, he bowed down to the 

 great Alia.. He cast his eyes from one flank to the other of the numerous 

 host arranged on his side. Then with a secret pride he gave vent to his 

 thoughts — " The lines of my forces are as thick and dense as dark clouds on 

 the autumnal sky. Hamir, foolish Hamir, can expect to live only a day or 

 two more." 



The Yazir's reply. — " O Emperor, who on earth can have even a slight 

 glimpse of futurity ? A stubborn insect persistently flitters about the 

 strongest fire, although it falls singed on the flame." 



In the camp of Hamir, Randhir said, — " The emperor has come to 

 Ranthambor, having conquered the four sides of the earth. It behoves us, 

 therefore, to fight both day and night." 



Hamir. — " Mighty uncle, at night how shall I be able to distinguish 

 heroes from cowards ? Besides, the principal virtue of the Kshatriyas lies 

 in fighting in the presence of Siirya (the sun), Bhairav, Mahadeva, and 

 Kalika ; and the vultures do not come to the field but in day-light. I will 

 never fight the Muhammadan forces at night, because I consider it a decep- 

 tion." 



Two thousand large cannons were kept steadily engaged in pour- 

 ing out volleys of fire towards the "fort. The fearless Hamir sallied forth 

 from his hills and committed dreadful massacre by day, while by night 

 descended the troops of Randhir all of a sudden from the defiles and 

 declivities of the mountains of Chhan, and brought certain destruction 

 on the Muhammadan ranks. Thus did the two heroes cut off the heads of 

 many Mirs and Amirs and those of many horses and elephants. The blood 

 of the slain flowed as rivers. Ah ! what a terrible sight it was to look 

 upon. 



Ala-uddin, seeing the hopeless state of things, is said to have invoked 

 the saint Khwaja, of Ajmir and the saint Miran of Taragarh in the following 

 words : " I will go barefooted to your shrines, mighty Pirs, if you deliver 

 the fort of Ranthambor into my hands." The latter sent nine Sayyads to his 

 assistance. They cut off their own heads and holding them by their hands 

 made a desperate rush at Hamir, when lo ! four gods descended from 

 D 1) 



