1837.] History of the Gurha Mundala Rdjas. 641 



but overpowered at last by numbers, they all fell. Saudut Khan went 

 off immediately to the Dowager's palace within the fort ; and was 

 •directed to proceed immediately, surround the house of Rugbuns 

 Bajpae and his family, and put them into confinement. He sur- 

 i rounded their house with a body of his troops, and summoned the 

 jold man to surrender. He refused, and the troops began to fire in 

 at the windows, seeing no chance of escape without disgrace, the men 

 !put the women and children to death, set fire to the house, and then 

 rushed out upon the assassins, making great slaughter among them 

 till they all fell covered with wounds. 



It was thought that of about one hundred and twenty-two mem- 

 bers of which this family was composed, not one had escaped ; but 

 tl was afterwards found that Pursotum, the son of Mokund Bajpae, 

 i lad of about nine years of age, had been taken away by his nurse 

 n the midst of the confusion and carnage of the Johur ; as also that 

 ungapersaud, the son of Bikram Bajpae, had been discovered still 

 living among the wounded. These were concealed among the friends 

 Df the family for a month, when the ranee began to manifest feelings 

 of regret at the massacre of this family, and of anxiety to discover 

 some surviving member. The two survivors were brought to her, 

 ind she conferred upon Pursotum the purguna of Suroulee in jageer. 

 It is now very generally believed that Mihpaul Singh was not the son 

 )f Nizam Sa'; and that he was brought forward by Rughbuns 

 Bajpae, merely for the purpose of securing the continuance of his in- 

 luence in the administration of the government. 



Nurhur Sa having now been seated on the throne by the consent 

 >f both parties, another competitor made his appearance. Sombre Sa 

 vas the illegitimate son of Nizam Sa' ; and in ordinary times such 

 ons never pretended any claim to succeed to the throne while a legi- 

 imate son survived even in any collateral branch of the family. On 

 he present occasion of a disputed succession, Sombre Sa' set up his 

 iretensions, and invited the Murhutta chief of Nagpore, Mondajee, 

 o his assistance. He marched to invade Gurha Mundala, but was 

 aet by the ministers of the dowager, and induced to return to Nagpore 

 n a promise of three hundred and seventy- five thousand rupees. This 

 greement Nurhur Sa' refused to ratify ; but Sombre Sa' had by this 

 ime gone off to solicit aid from Saugor. 



Bbesa Jee demanded an explanation from Nurhur Sa', who sent 

 n accredited agent to him ; but refused to attend to the suggestions 

 f this agent, that he should purchase Bees a Jbe's recognition of his 

 itle, and advance Somere Sa a sum of money, which might have been 



