62 W. Irvine—TZhe Bangash Nawébs of Farrwkhabad. [No. 2, 
Debi Datt, Faujdar of Koil, and others. When Rajah Jaswant Singh of 
Mainpuri* heard that this force had reached Sakitt he sent word of its 
approach to Nawab Ahmad Khan, telling him that in one day it would 
reach Mainpuri, and unless he finished with Naval Rae at once, he would be 
attacked both in front and rear. On receiving this intelligence the Nawab 
sent for Rustam Khan and Sardar Khan Pathans and told them the news. 
They said they were ready. The Nawab replied “To-morrow, putting our 
trust in the mercy of God, we must attack the enemy, and let events take 
their course.” 
Ghul Miyan, a clever spy, was sent disguised as a faqir to reconnoitre 
the enemy’s camp. He found no place unprotected with cannon, except one 
entrenchment held by Sayyads of ‘Barah, which lay quite at the back of 
the camp, to the south, on the banks of the Kalinadi. Ghul Miyan return- 
ed to the Nawab and reported that this place was guarded by five hundred 
anatchlockmen only, but to reach it would entail a détour of three kos. He 
promised to conduct the Nawab to the spot. 
Accordingly, at three hours after sunset on Thursday the 9th Ramzan 
1163 H. (1st August 1750), Abmad Khan having ejaculated a “‘ Bism-cllah’» 
got into his palki and set out, followed by twelve thousand Pathans on foot 
and twelve hundred horsemen. Rustam Khan was posted on his left. 
Heavy rain was falling at the time. Ghul Miyan took them up to the right 
hand a distance of three os, in order that the tramp of the horses’ hoofs 
might not reach the ears of the enemy. In this way the front of Naval 
Rae’s camp was avoided, and they got round in his rear near to the Kali where 
was the position held by the five hundred Sayyads. This spot is said to 
have been on the boundary of the two villages of Kaitha and Gangni, about 
a mile west of the town of Khudaganj. 
At an hour and a half before sunrise, Ghul Miyan pointed out to the 
Nawab the Sayyads’ battery infront. The Sayyads heard the talking and 
said to each other, that it seemed as if the Pathans were coming to the 
attack, and they redoubled their vigilance. Then the Pathans made a 
rush, and from both sides matchlocks were discharged and swords used. 
The rain increased the confusion, for it was difficult to hear what one man 
said to another. An alarm passed through the camp that the Pathans had 
effected an entry into one of the entrenchments. At the time it was so 
dark that you could not tell friend from foe. Then the artillerymen began 
to fire their guns altogether at random, those on the west fired to the west, 
those on the north to the north, and those on the south to the south. 
* Gaz. N. W. P. IV, 650. Rajah from 8. 1783 to S. 1814 (1726-1757 A. D.) 
+ In Parganah Hta-Sakit of the Eta district about twenty miles north-west of 
Mainpuri. 
