172 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
heard that Mortaza Kahn had secretly penetrated 
into the western quarter of his dominions, as far as 
the celebrated city of Koorpa, and had sacked its 
sacred temples and destroyed the idols, Y enkutputti 
marched with ten thousand cavalry, and gave him 
battle, but was defeated. Meanwhile Mohummed 
KooliKootab Shah, having heard of the overwhelm- 
ing force collected by the Hindoo chief, sent off a 
reinforcement to Mortaza Kahn, consisting of five 
thousand cavalry, under the notorious Roostum Kahn, 
who had orders to assume the general command of 
the army. The strength of the Hindoo army was, 
however, so great, that it was found impossible for 
the Mohummedans to give them battle ; and Mor- 
taza Kahn advised that their operations should be 
confined to plundering, and the most irritating 
system of predatory warfare. The vain Roostum 
affected to despise the council of his junior, and 
ridiculed his caution; nevertheless, he refrained 
altogether from engaging in any more decided mode 
of attack, and his folly and indecision speedily termi- 
nated in the total defeat of his army, and his own 
exposure and disgrace. 
At the full moon of Bhadrapada (September), 
which has been appointed a holiday for all oxen 
employed for draught or burden, the Hindoos, in 
these parts, have a custom of painting and decorating 
with clothes and jewels all the largest and most lively 
of those animals, and leading them in procession in 
