628 History of the Gurha Mundala Rdjas. [Aug. 



requested her mistress to allow the people employed on the large 

 tank, to take out of the small one, one load every evening before they 

 closed their day's labour ; and that the Cheree tal was entirely 

 formed in this manner. Her minister, Adhur, formed the great 

 tank about three miles from Jabulpore, on the Mirzapore road, which 

 is still called after him, Adhar tal ; and gives name to the village 

 in which it is situated. Many other highly useful works were formed 

 by her about Gurha ; and some at Mundala where she kept her stud 

 of elephants, which is said by Muhammedan historians to Imve 

 amounted to fourteen hundred, a number not altogether incredible 

 when we consider the taste of the people for establishments of this 

 sort; the fertility and extent of the country over which she ruled ; and 

 the magnitude of the works which were executed by her during the 

 fifteen years of her regency. 



Adhur was her chief financial minister, but was for some time 

 employed as her ambassador at Delhi ; but he was unable to prevent 

 the invasion and conquest of his mistress' dominions. Asuf Khan, 

 the imperial viceroy at Kurha Manickpore on the Ganges, invited by 

 the prospect of appropriating so fine a country and so much wealth as 

 she was reputed to possess, invaded her dominions in the year 1564, 

 at the head of six thousand cavalry, and twelve thousand well- dis- 

 ciplined infantry, with a train of artillery. 



He was met by the queen regent at the head of her troops near the 

 fort of Singolegurh, and an action took place in which she was defeated. 

 Unwilling to stand a seige she retired after the action upon Gurha ; 

 and finding herself closely pressed by the enemy she continued her 

 retreat among the hills towards Mundala ; and took up a very favor- 

 able position in a narrow defile about twelve miles east of Gurha. 

 Asuf's artillery could not keep pace with him in the pursuit, and 

 attempting the pass without it he was repulsed with great loss. The 

 attack was renewed the next day, when the artillery had come up. 

 The queen advanced herself on an elephant to the entrance of the 

 pass, and was bravely supported by her troops in her attempt to 

 defend it ; but the enemy had brought up his artillery which opening 

 upon her followers in the narrow defile made great havock among 

 them, and compelled them to give way. She received a wound from 

 an arrow in the eye ; and her only son, then about eighteen years 

 of age, was severely wounded and taken to the rear. Durghoutee in 

 attempting to wrench the arrow from her eye broke it, and left the 

 barb in the wound ; but notwithstanding the agony she suffered she 

 still refused to retire, knowing that all her hopes rested on her being 



