120 Notes on Chutict Nagpur, Packet, and Palamau. [No. 2, 
Prat&b, whose family, generation after generation, had ruled 
over the country, an infidel like all his ancestors, had neglected 
to send the customary peshhash to ’Abdullah Khan Bahadur 
Firuz-jang, the former governor of Bihar j and the Ciibahdar, 
engaged as he was in operations against the rebellious Partab 
Ujjainiah [Bajah of Bhojpur] had hitherto had no opportunity 
of bringing him to his senses. This made the Chero so haughty, 
that he also disobeyed Shaistah Klian, the new governor.. Shaistah 
at last reported matters to court, and his Majesty [Shahjalian] 
ordered the Qiibahdar to call in the contingents of the Jagirdars 
of the piibah (the Kumald troops), and drive away the zamin- 
dar and “ clear the country of the filth of his unprofitable 
existence.” 
Leaving his son Muhammad Talib wfith 500 horse and 1000 foot, 
as garrison in Patna, Shaistah marched on the 17th Bajab, 1051 [12th 
October, 1641, A. D.] with about 5000 horse, taken partly from 
imperial regiments and partly from his own contingent, and 15000 
foot consisting of his men and zamindari troops, against that vain 
and misguided ruler. The march order was as follows—Shaistah 
commanded the centre (qol ), which was made up of imperial 
troops ; Zabardast Khan formed the vanguard ( hardwal ) ; Atash 
Khan Dak’hini and several other officers commanded the left 
wing ( luranghar ) ; and others, the right wing fjuranghar). Sayyid 
Mfrza, brother of Mukhtar Khan, with a few other officers, com¬ 
manded the rear ( chanddwid ). Having made these arrangements, 
he set out for Gaya, which forms the boundary of the province of 
Patna and borders on Palamau, and entered the hostile 
territory. Wherever he pitched his camp, he had trenches dug, 
the earth of which was formed into a wall surrounding the whole 
of the encampment, and matchlock-men were placed as guards in 
the trenches, to frustrate night attacks. A large party was 
employed to cut down the jungle and make a road wide enough 
for the army to advance. All settlements on both sides of the 
road were plundered and destroyed. The wretched enemies with¬ 
drew on every occasion to the jungles and the hills, and trembled 
like victims in the hands of the butcher. The swords of the soldiers, 
swords of ‘ pure water,’ delivered many * unto the fire of hell;’ others 
