The Mughul Invasions of Palawan. 
131 
1871.] 
Rajahs, but not relatives.*' They insist upon the old Kumaon story, 
and say that Durga and Tej Rai had recently joined Bliagowant 
in Bhojpur, before he set out for Palamau. 
These two chiefs were discontented at the share of spoil that 
had fallen into their hands, and were at open rebellion with Pratab, 
who was seeking to get rid of them as importunate customers. 
Zabardast Khan came at their invitation. The fort made over to 
him by them was the Deogan fort, the ruins of which are now to 
be seen on the Deogan Ghat. The fort is said to have been built 
by Bharat Rai, a renowned border chieftain, more probably a bold 
and successful cattle-lifter. Zabardast Khan remained for some 
time at Deogan making his arrangements, and during that time the 
Chero rebels fell out among themselves, and to avenge himself Tej 
♦ 
Rai determined to return to his allegiance to Pratab Rai. Under 
the pretence of acting as scout and advance guard, he went for¬ 
ward and arranged ambuscades along the line of march, and the 
Muhammadan army was dreadfully cut up on the dangerous and 
long line of Ghats, which had to be traversed before the army could 
reach Mangarhf {i. e., Tarliasi), which fort the Chero chiefs were 
under promise to deliver over to them. Tej Rai had, however, pre¬ 
pared the chief in the Port, and there was a very tough fight before 
the fort was taken. 
Prom there, Shaistah Khan marched to Bari, where he occupied 
the small fort there. Pratab Rai then offered terms which were not 
accepted, so he was carried off a prisoner to Dihli, where he even¬ 
tually died. 
Up to this time, notwithstanding two invasions, the Muham¬ 
madans had exacted nothing but promises from the Rajahs, and so 
it went on for twenty years longer. Each year the demand was 
made by the Muhammadan Sirdar and yearly the Palamauites 
laughed in their faces, and the border chiefs went on depredating 
the royal territories in Bihar and carrying off cattle as before. 
. * This differs from the account in Pddislidhndmah, which calls Pratab the 
son of Balbhadra, and Tej Rai and Durga, Rai uncles of Pratab ; vide above pp. 
118, 122. The Editor. 
f Mangarh Tarhasi. The Fort was built by Man Singh, a Raksel, and taken 
possession of by the Cheros under Bharat Rai. 
The ’Alamgarnamah (Edit. Bibl. Indica, p. 653) has evidently a 
blunder for Tarhasi, which Mr. Forbes gives. For A'rd , the Padishalma- 
mah has Aru, and Bdoli-chewan for BdoHcheroun, — The Editor. 
