1879.]  W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawabs of Farrukhabad. 103 
Hamilton* comments unfavourably on the imprudence of the Rohela 
policy in allowing a part of their forces to jom Ahmad Khan. The answer 
seems to be ready in the facts of the case, which in Hamilton are substantially 
as we have given them. Action was taken by the hot-headed youth, Sa’dullah 
Khan, against the wishes of the more experienced leaders. But having once 
gained the advantage, it was not likely that the Wazir, still less the Mahrattas, 
would make any fine distinctions between Sa’dullah Khan’s enmity and the 
friendly feelings of the rest. The whole Rohela confederacy was to be 
attacked and swept away. 
Consultations were now held between Ahmad Khan and the Rohelas ; 
and the plan at length decided on, was to take shelter at the foot of the 
Kumaon hills. Next day Nawib Ahmad Khan with the Rohela leaders, 
setting out towards the hills, reached Muradabad. It so chanced that there 
was a halt there of several days’ duratiou. ‘In this interval messengers 
brought word that the Wazir, leaving Mulhar Rao and Apa Sendhia at 
Singhi-rampur, had proceeded to Lakhnau. On hearing this, the Rohelas 
told Nawab Ahmad Khan that they considered it advisable to return to 
Anwalah, the rainy season being close at hand, during which they could 
rest undisturbed at home, employing the time on. summoning their clans- 
men from all sides, and making ready to renew hostilities with the Mah- 
rattas. This place was accepted by all, and they returned to Anwalah. 
The Rohelas went to their houses, and Ahmad Khan encamped outside the 
town. 
When the rains of 1751 were over, preparations were made for a cam- 
paign, boats were collected, and a bridge was thrown across the ‘river called 
the Rim Ganga. This river flows through Rohilkhand and falls into the 
Ganges on the left side nearly opposite Kannauj, more than forty miles 
below Farrukhébad. Ona report being brought to the enemy of the 
advance of Ahmad Khan with the Rohelas and other Pathans, they des- 
patched Khande Rao, son of Mulhar Kado, with other leaders and a numer- 
ous army, across the Ganges, to meet and repel them. Then Ahmad Khén 
and the Anwalah Sarddars crossed their bridge, and gave strict orders to 
their men to keep close to the river bank, following its course. The river 
at one place described a semicircle. Here the Mahrattas had taken up 
_ their position, intending to bar the Afghan advance. Donde Khan, who 
commanded the vanguard, seeing the position occupied by the enemy, came 
to the conclusion that he could not effect a passage along the river bank. 
He therefore refrained from continuing his march, and posted his artillery 
between the two points to east and west formed by the bend in the river, 
By this maneeuvre he cut off the enemy’s line of retreat. When Khande 
* History of the Rohela Afghans, pp. 106 and 108. 
