1878.] 
W. Irvine —The Bangash JSfawabs of Farruhhdbdd. 
291 
tortuous course, full of whirlpools and having many ravines. Driven out 
of this position, they took shelter in the ravines about half a 7cos behind 
their camp. Finding here no place of security, Chattarsal with his sons, 
their relations and dependents, having mounted on horseback in order to 
escape notice, made off twelve Jcos into the jungle. All the camp equipage, 
tents and cannon fell into the hands of the victors. Pursuit was made for 
a distance of two Jcos ; the Muhammadans then halted and encamped. It 
was soon learnt that the Bundelas had gone off to the vicinity of Salhat, 
Damdast, and Thana Paswarah. # These places are described as full of 
high hills, deep lakes, torrent beds, ravines, and thorny jungle of great 
extent. The Bundela leaders had thrown up entrenchments, intending to 
dispute the passage. Chattarsal himself took up a position at Surajmau 
some Jcos south of Jaitpur. 
Muhammad Khan estimated his own loss in the above battle at four 
thousand to five thousand killed and wounded ; and that of the enemy at 
twelve to thirteen thousand. The Muhammadan army was reduced to some 
fourteen or fifteen thousand horse, and there was a great scarcity of water 
and fodder. Not a single one of the Bajahs or faujdars had joined him. 
The auxiliary forces of the Bundelas, numbering some forty thousand 
horse and one hundred thousand foot, were made up by the troops of the 
Bajah of Mando,f of the Gahilwars of Bijipur, J of Khande Bae Narwari,§ 
of the zamindars of zila’ Malwa, of all Gondwana and Malak Gadh,|| with 
the Gaurs and the Parihars of the country round. 
The oral tradition of this battle gives a more romantic version of it. 
It is as follows: One day before the battle,^]" Muhammad Khan distributed 
ninety thousand rupees among the troops ; and the heralds (nakib) announced 
that, the morrow being fixed for the decisive struggle, every man must be ready 
armed by midnight. On the other side Chattarsal made his preparations. 
His army consisted of one hundred thousand foot and seventy thousand 
horse. Several other Bajahs followed his standard. 
From the hour of morning prayer the battle began. The contending 
leaders advanced slowly towards each other on elephants. Skirmishing 
parties were thrown out from both sides. The Khalifa used to say that he 
had at one time expended all the arrows from his quiver. So many were 
* About 6 miles north-east of Mahoba. 
f Mandogarh, 22 miles west of Riwah. 
X Possibly the Bijipur in Scindiah’s territory, 52 miles south-west of Gwaliar. 
Thornton, 120. 
§ Narwar, a town about 40 miles south of Gwaliar. 
|| Query. The Garh Kotah 25 miles east of Sagar. Thornton, 324. 
U The authority for these details is Khalifa Naim, son of Kali Miyan Ji, the teach¬ 
er of the Nawab’s chelas, who told the author of the “ Lauh-i-Tarikh.” 
P P 
