1879.] or a History of Hamir, prince of Ranthambor. 221 
daggers. From the wounds caused by them the blood flowed in torrents as 
from roofs the rain water flows in the month of August. Numberless heads 
dropped on the field and rolled like so many water-melons. The Muhamma- 
dan forces shrank back. At the brave feat of arms of Randhir, even the 
Emperor, although an enemy, could not forbear to exclaim, “ Praise to 
you, praise to your valour, mighty warrior,” and at the same time, looking 
at his dispersed troops, he frowned and then rebuked them, saying, ‘“‘ Why 
fly, ye cowards, from the field, while I am still alive ?” 
Then bowed down the Bakhshi of the imperial legion. ‘‘ Make me the 
commander of the battle,” said he exulting, “and I will with 100,000 
Rumanians fight the Hindus and scatter them as flakes of cotton before 
the wind.” With a drawn sword in his hand he rushed out at the 
command of Ala-uddin. Randhir, holding a lance, rode forward. The 
warriors came face to face. The Muhammadan aimed a guraz (an iron 
club) at the head of the Chohan. The latter warded off the blow 
with his massive shield. Then a lance was darted at the former. It pierced 
his body and that of his horse too, and the next moment he fell senseless 
on the field. Fifty Mirs rushed forward, but all of them met the same 
fate. Then came out a fierce Mir of Ram. A fearful engagement raged. 
A dagger was run through his breast down to the hilt ; he dropped down, 
and in a few minutes all his struggles subsided in the stillness of death. 
The sword of a Balkhan fell on the shoulder of the Rao. The throat was 
eut through, but behold the body rose with vehemence. It made a rush at 
the murderer. It got him within its grasp and pressed him heavily. Down 
they dropped and instantly the dagger of the Moslim went right through 
his breast. 100,000 Rumanians fell. The body of the brave Chohan lay 
on the field like a tall palm, with blood gushing out of the neck. The 
_ Joginis (she-devils) regaled themselves with his blood, filled their cups, 
drained them, and danced.* 
On Saturday the 9th before the full-moon in the month of Chait, 
30,000 Rajpits fell for the defence of the fort, and 10,000 women burned 
themselves on pyres with their husbands. The loss on the Muhammadan 
side was thousands of Muhammadan soldiers, including the mighty Bakhshi, 
who held a jagir of 5 laces, and other officers, holding from 10 to 20,000 
Rupees’ worth of land. : 
When the intelligence of the capture of the fort of Chohan by Ala- 
uddin reached Hamir, he became the more resolved to fight the Musalmaén 
forces. He exclaimed, “Glory to you, uncle, glory to your uncommon 
bravery. The death of a Kshatriya is both a glory and a blessing. You 
have done, mighty hero, what uncle Kan did for Prithviraj at the battles 
* Tt was a belief among the Rajptits that Joginis like the blood of mighty heroes, 
EE 
