1879.] or a History of ' Hamir, prince of Ranthamlor. 215 



and Karim Khan were made commanders of the battle. Both the parties 

 met. Showers of arrows fell, swords clashed, and rings were flung. Very 

 great was the bravery displayed by the 10,000 heroes of the Chohan chief. 

 The heads of 10,000 Habshis rolled on the ground. 500 Bajput warriors 

 were slain, on whose bodies sat vultures and jackals and feasted on their 

 flesh and blood. Then, swift like a flash of lightning, Bandhir, like a 

 hungry lion, fell upon both the commanders and cut off their heads with 

 great dexterity. A massacre ensued. The imperial troops were driven 

 four miles behind. " Behold, emperor," exclaimed the Bao, " see how your 

 brave soldiers fly away. Bity their poor souls ! Why do you number their 

 days by pushing them on to the great furnace of Bajput might ?" 



Bandhir' s letter to Ald-uddin. — " Why delay, emperor, in taking my 

 fort ? The few days, in which you said you would capture it, have passed 

 away. Why do you not rase my fort ? Shall you ever be able to do so ? 

 No, never. Why then sacrifice the lives of your poor soldiers ? Though 

 you should besiege my fort for five years, you would not succeed in pulling 

 a stone out of it, nor out of Hamir's, if the siege were to last for twelve 

 years." 



Although an enemy, Ala-uddin could not forbear commending the 

 military talents and prowess of Bandhir. He said " Glory to Bandhir, glory 

 to his bravery. See, amidst a forest of our men, he, at the head of a few 

 troops, rushed in and darted like lightning, carrying the palm. Let us no 

 more fight with swords except in special cases, for in the use of swords the 

 Bajpiits have, I am inclined to believe, no equal. Let us try to blow up 

 the fort by planting batteries all around." 



The Bajput officers and soldiers, with one voice, said to Bandhir, 

 " Continue fighting, invincible master, we will never show the enemy our 

 backs. Fight without fear, trusting in our faithfulness. We shall die 

 glorying in our death, thereby glorifying the name of the Chohans, and 

 thus ascend that world of felicity which is far above the earth and the 

 sun." 



At the instance of Bao Bandhir, Bao Hamir called together the Ksha- 

 triyas of thirty-six different clans. The troops assembled and seemed as 

 numerous as clouds which overcast the sky. They stood in front, with their 

 hands joined, and were thus addressed " Listen, ye friends, listen with atten- 

 tion ; since we have drawn our swords against the emperor of India, we 

 shall fight to the last drop of our blood. Come and side with us, ye who are 

 brave, who dare sacrifice their lives for our sake. Let him who fears to die 

 go away from our ranks." 



The vassals replied — " Boyal Master, we have eaten your salt, and shall 

 eat it as long as we live. How can we in this extremity leave your cause ? 



