1894.] W. Irvine— Guru Gobind Siggh and Bandah, 137 
the Sikhs at the foot of the hills, and Prince RafPu-sh-Shan received 
orders to provide for His Majesty’s protection during the reconnaisance. 1 2 
Next morning, the 19th Shawwal 1122 (10th December, 1710), 
Prince Pafi‘u-sh-Shan led out the imperial troops towards the foot of 
the Dakar hills. A quarter of a hos in advance came the Prince, lead¬ 
ing the imperial vanguard. Raja Udait Siqgh, Bundela (of Orcha), 
was at the head of Zu,lfiqar Khan’s contingent; while Munlm Khan, 
the minister, accompanied by his two sons, Maliabbat Khan aud Khan 
Zaman, bore away to the right by a route pointed out to him by men 
with knowledge of the locality. The most forward part of Mun'im 
Khan’s force was led by Raja Cattarsal, Bundela, and Islam Khan, 
general of artillery. Mun‘lm Khan was also supported by the troops 
of Hamldu-d-din Khan and the contingents of the Princes ‘Azlmu-sh- 
Shan and Jahan Shah. 3 
Before a fourth of the day had passed, Mun'im Khan and his force 
came upon the Sikh entrenchments, strongly constructed on the tops of 
the hills. A heavy artillery and musketry fire was commenced, and 
in time the enemy were dislodged from the top of a small hill. The 
contending parties then came to closer quarters and many Sikhs lost 
their lives. About mid-day Mun‘im Khan’s troops made good their 
approach to the Lohgarh fort, the Guru’s home and head-quarters. 
A severe struggle ensued. By this time the imperial troops (under 
RafI‘u-sh-Shan) had quitted the open plain and were distant about 
a quarter of a Jcds from the walls of Lohgarh. Prom time to time 
shots from the walls fell in the prince’s ranks, but luckily none of them 
did any harm. Zu,lfiqar Khan halted and at intervals sent messages 
to the Prince that a slow advance was advisable. Although this advice 
was in appearance full of prudence, the clearer-sighted were aware 
that this desire to delay was wholly due to old quarrels and differences 
of opinion with Mun'im Khan. The Prince, to please Zu,lfiqar Khan, 
gave orders to halt, and alighting, he entered a light field-tent to eat 
some breakfast.^ 
A little after mid-day, at the time of the Zuhr prayer, a great 
smoke and much noise arose within the Sikh enclosure. Kamwar 
Khan with one or two companions, then left the Prince’s division and 
went towards the position of the Sikhs. When they arrived within an 
arrow’s flight of the earthen fortification, they drew rein, and at that 
moment a cannon ball from the top of the hill struck a tamarind tree, 
1 Kamwar Khan, 79. 
2 Kamwar Khan, 79, 80. He here notes that he now quits the reports of others 
and records what he saw with his own eyes. 
3 Kamwar Khan, 80. 
