THE WELLS FILLED WITH SAND. 81 
The heads of the two chiefs were cut from their bodies, 
as trophies of this easy but signal defeat. 
The Emperor continued his march, Ali Beg with 
his sixteen troopers protecting the rear. It fortu- 
nately happened, that he was now joined by a num- 
ber of followers, who having lost their way in the 
desert, had been separated from the main body; 
and the royal party being thus reinforced, moved 
on with better hopes and with renewed confidence. 
Having halted at a large tank, two messengers ar- 
rived from the Rajah, to complain of certain acts of 
aggression, for which immediate compensation was 
demanded. An answer of defiance was instantly 
returned, and the Moghuls continued their march ; 
but, on passing a fort, they were assaulted by the 
garrison, whom, after a skirmish of several hours, 
they repulsed with great loss to the assailing party ; 
and renewing their march, they stopped for the night 
at a village about five coss* in advance, without 
further molestation. 
Meanwhile the Rajah had given orders that a body 
of his troops should precede the Emperor, and fill the 
wells with sand ; consequently, the next day, when 
they halted at the usual stage, no water was to be 
procured. On this occasion,” says the author of 
the Tezkereh al Vakiat,” j* “ the King ordered the 
camels to be placed in a circle round the horses and 
tents, directed that the people should be on the alert, 
and said, he would himself keep watch, by walking 
round the circle all night. Sheikh Ali would not 
* Ten miles. 
t Pages 41-2. 
