1837.] History of the Gurha Mundala Rajas. 631 



He became afflicted with chronic pains in his head and limbs, which 

 he was persuaded were inflicted on him by Providence for his crime. 

 The disease was pronounced incurable ; and, as the only means of ap- 

 peasing a justly incensed deity, he was recommended to offer himself 

 up as a voluntary sacrifice, by burning himself in the trunk of a dry 

 peepul tree. An old one sufficiently dry for his purpose being found 

 in the village of Deogaw, about twelve miles from Mundala, he caused 

 himself to be shut up and burnt in it ; and tbe merit of the sacrifice is 

 considered to have been enhanced by the sacred character of the tree, 

 sacred to Siva, in which it was made. His eldest son, Prem Narain 

 had been in attendance upon the emperor at Delhi, but he re- 

 turned to the Nerbudda on receiving intelligence of his father's death, 

 leaving his son Hirdee Sa' to represent him at the imperial court. 

 Unfortunately, in his haste, he omitted, it is said to return the visit of 

 Beer Singh Deo, raja of Archa, before he left court ; and that proud 

 prince on his death-bed shortly after is said to have made his son, 

 Jhoojhar Singh, swear to revenge the insult by the invasion and con- 

 quest of Gurha, or perish. 



He soon after marched at the head of all the troops he could muster, 

 and Prem Narain finding himself unable to oppose him in the field, 

 threw himself into the fort of Chouragurh, where he was for some 

 months closely besieged. Jhoojhar pretended at last to raise the 

 siege. He drew off his troops, and descended into the plains, where 

 he invited Prem Narain to come and adjust with him in person the 

 terms of peace. He was prevailed upon to do so on the faith of a 

 solemn oath ; and accompanied by his minister, Jeydeo Bajpae, pro- 

 ceeded to the tent of his enemy, where they were treacherously mur- 

 dered by assassins hired for the purpose. He again invested the fort, 

 which having no head soon surrendered; and all the other garrisons 

 in the Gurha dominions followed the example. 



News of this invasion and of the death of his father was soon 

 conveyed to Hirdee Sa', then in attendance upon the emperor at Delhi. 

 He left court, and unable to procure any assistance in troops, returned 

 in disguise to the Nerbudda. Near the fortress of Chouragurh he is said 

 to have met his old nurse ; and, on being recognised by her, was told 

 where his father had deposited a large sum of money, which, with her 

 assistance, he got into his possession. He then made himself known 

 to many of the most powerful and influential landholders of the 

 country, who brought all their followers to his support; and with 

 their aid, added to that of the Muhammadan chief of the ten ceded 

 districts of Bhopal, he soon made head against the enemy ; possess- 

 4m 2 



