130 
The Mughul Invasions of Palamau. 
[No. 2, 
The following year the first invasion under Shaistah Khan 
actually took place. He approached the Parganah by the Monatu 
Ghat which he got through in safety, and marched direct on the 
Palamau Fort. The Mowar did not know the direction ; but as 
Ara is mentioned, it is very probable, he halted there, as it lies 
in the direct route, and would be a fair march from Monatu. From 
Ara they probably marched to the Baolicheroan, which is also 
mentioned, as this lies also in the direct road to the Fort, and is 
about four miles from there, a very convenient distance for the army 
to have halted. The Baoli, I may as well explain here, is a very 
old one indeed, lying about a quarter of a mile north of the 
Government village of Bukhorya. From the mango trees and 
other signs, there are evident traces of there having once been a 
considerable town there, tradition indeed speaks of the place as 
having once been a considerable market town, but I cannot find out 
whether it was then called Bukhorya, or had any other name. 
About two miles south of Bukhorya and close to the Chetma Ghat 
near Sutburwa and on the Binchi side lies the village (a Govern¬ 
ment farm) of Pipra, where there are the remains of an old Eaksel 
Fort, which, from the quantity of stone and brick lying about, bears 
signs of having been pucca. 
The Mowar, as I have told you, was not aware of the route 
Shaistah Khan took, but when I spoke to him of Ara and the Baoli 
he recollected that such was the case, in fact he it was that brought 
the Bukhorya Baoli to my recollection. I was at first inclined to 
think it was the Baoli on the Patun Ghat, but that he says was 
built by a Mahajan. 
There was not much of a fight, he says, when Shaistah Khan got 
the forts, as Pratab very soon gave in and promised to pay tribute. 
Shaistah at first insisted on immediate payment, but was put off 
with faithful promises to send the whole by the end of the year, 
and so the Musalman went away contented. 
Then comes the second invasion under Zabardast Khan, which 
the Mowar relates exactly as in the histories. Durga Bai and Tej 
Bai were Chero chiefs, who had come into the Parganah as 
chiefs in Bhagowant Bai’s army. Bhagowant you will recollect 
was Pratab’s father. Both Tej and Durga were connections of the 
