29 
1885.] S'ri Narayan Singh —The battle of Kanarpi Ghat. 
shook. The sword-bearers as they stood before their masters were joyful, 
as their vigour for battle came to a head. With great pleasure the gate 
opened, and there issued forth Shekhs and Saiyads who took horse-armour 
and rode. In front gleamed the wand-bearers, feeling happy under the 
shadow of their spears. ‘ Speed on, we have far to go, and vast treasure 
is loaded in the carts.’ , They marched with great valour from one halt 
to another, Indra himself could not match their magnificence. They 
had all waist-bands set with jewels, and on the way inquired the road to 
Bhawara.* 
3. Doha. 
The news-bearers informed and told the king (of Tirhut) that 
Mahtha had arrived with five thousand cavalry. The king sent for his 
astrologers, and asked them to calculate, and (after hearing their deci¬ 
sion) determined not to engage in battle there (at Bhawara), but on the 
other side of the great Balan.f When he had settled all this, he came 
out and sat down, sent for the heralds and told them to have all the 
army in readiness. 
4. Chhand Narach. 
The heralds went into the midst of the army and running hither 
and thither proclaimed, ‘ be ready, brave men, and take up your arms.’ 
They commenced making themselves ready, as the captains thundered 
out their joy. On all sides was heard a continuous noise, and a terrible 
uproar uprose. Everywhere were displayed bows, arrows and javelins 
of various kinds. In one’s judgment it appeared as if each soldier in 
the midst of the field was superior to Bhima. The mighty warriors 
got ready and issued from their houses, and their horses excelled the 
wind itself in speed. 
5. Doha. 
The mighty warriors distributed alms to all, and after enjoying 
various pleasures proceeded to the (palace of the) king of Mithila. The 
warder at the gate approached and told him saying c the belted soldiers 
are all ready and present.’ One by one they paid their respects to him, 
which he accepted. Lai, the great poet, says that they sat round the 
* A village close to Madhubani in the Darbhanga district, a former seat of the 
Darbhanga Raj. 
f There are in Darbhanga two rivers called Balan, viz. the Bari- or great-Balan 
and the Bhutiya- or ghost-Balan. The former enters British territory from the 
Himalaya at Laukaha and runs north and south about thirty miles east of Madhubani. 
The latter lies more to the east, and never has the same bed two years running, 
continually disappearing from one place and reappearing elsewhere,—hence its name. 
