286 
W. Irvine —The JBungasli Nawabs of Furrukhdbad. [No. 4, 
Daler Khan, chela, was by birth a Bundela Thakur.* He is famed 
for his bravery, but he seems to have been very lavish and extravagant in 
his management. He spent one year’s income in equipping a body of seven¬ 
teen hundred horse, magnificently clad and armed. When the Nawab sent 
urgent orders for remittance of revenue, Haler Khan marched with his 
regiment and halted where is now the Paen Bagh below the fort. At¬ 
tending darbar, he made each of his men present a gold coin as “ nazr.” 
Haler Khan then took up the Nawab’s shoes and stood behind his seat, say¬ 
ing, “ I am only fit to carry your shoes, you may give the Subah to whom 
“ you like, one who will bring you heaps of money ; these seventeen hun- 
“ dred men are all the revenue you will get from me.” This made the 
Nawab smile, he embraced Haler Khan and sent him back to his district. 
Haler Khan took part in nearly all the campaigns in which Muham¬ 
mad Khan was engaged. The Pathans and the Bundelas on account of his 
bravery, styled him “ Surman” (brave, bold), the mark of which is that a 
man’s arms are so long that his hands touch his knees when standing 
upright. Haler Khan had this peculiarity. 
The traditionary account of his death is as follows : One day Haler Khan 
had gone out to shoot followed by only three hundred horse, the rest being 
left in camp. A scout brought word to Rajah Chattarsal, who came out 
with a large force. Both sides began to fire. Nawab Haler Khan’s com¬ 
panions advised a retreat. He refused, with the remark, “ One must die 
sooner or later.” Then reciting the final prayer (Fdtiha) and taking up 
his horse’s rein to urge him on, he rode straight into the Rajah’s army and, 
cutting his way through, came clear out on the other side. Numbers of 
the Bundelas were killed. He then made for the Rajah’s howdah, and at 
this moment he received a ball in his chest, so that he fell dead. All the 
three hundred horsemen shared his fate. When his troops heard of his death 
they came out to attack Chattarsal, who then retreated. Haler Khan was 
buried in the village of Maudah,f and all the people of Bundelkhand mourn¬ 
ed his loss. On every Thursday sweetmeats are offered at his tomb. Every 
son of a Bundela, on reaching the age of twelve years, is taken by his father 
and mother to Maudah, where they place his sword and shield on Haler 
Khan’s tomb. They make an offering, and the boy then girds on the 
sword and takes up the shield, while the parents pray that he may be brave 
as Haler Khan. Kettle-drums are regularly beaten at the tomb.j; 
* The motto on his seal was “ Az lutf i Muhammad Daler amadam .” Hisam-ud-dm 
says he was uncle to the Rana of Gohad living* in 1753. If this be true, Daler Khan 
was a Jat, hut the accepted story is that in the text. 
f Gaz. I, 27. In the Hamirpur District, 20 miles from Hamirpur. The tomb is 
one mile outside the town (Gaz. I, 545) on the Hamirpur road. The date there given, 
1730, seems to be a mistake. 
% Note C. on Bundelkhand traditions of Daler (or Dalel) Khan. 
