1 r
2 ALI GOHAR SHAH ALAM Il. 237
3 consumed everything in the shape of provisions in it. Surrounded by
4 carcasses of animals, dying cattle, hungry followers, and hemmed in in their
5 camp, their embarrassments were becoming unendurable. A foraging party,
6 sent by them under a strong guard into the country, was discovered by
7 the Afghans and put tothe sword. At length the great Mahratta chiefs,
8 wearied by extreme distress, surrounded the Bhau’s tent and entreated him
9 to put an end to their miseries by a sortie. In this last extremity the
10 . Bhau wrote a short note with his own hand to Kanshi Rao, and sent it to
11 the Durréni camp by his confidential servant. The words of this note
12 were these :—
13 “The cup is now full to the brim, and cannot hold another drop. If
14 anything can be done, do it, or else answer me plainly at once: hereafter
15 there will be no time for writing or speaking.” :
16 Kanshi Rao communicated this note to Nawdb Shujd-ud-doula at three
17 o’clock in the morning (7th January 1761). Information soon reached the
18 nawéb that the whole body of the Mahrattas had marched out of their lines
19 to attack the Durrdnis. The nawdb immediately went to the Shah’s
20 tent and asked the eunuchs to awake his majesty. The Shah at once
21 appeared, and, without changing his dress, mounted his horse which
22 always stood ready at the door of the tent. ‘The troops were ordered out as
23 he went along. It was a little before daybreak. They had advanced a kos
24 and a half when the booming of artillery was heard from the advancing
25 lines of the Mahrattas. The Shah immediately called his grand wazir,
26 Shah Wali Khan, and his ministers, Shah Pasand Khan and others, and
27 making over the Persian kallian, which he smoked sitting on his horse, to
28 his eunuch, went in full gallop in the direction of the enemy. The two
29 armies met. The Shah’s centre was composed of the Rohillas and the
30 Durrdnis, commanded by the grand wazir. He kept the reserve for himself,
31 with the flower of the Afghan army. The Mahrattas had their artillery in
32 front, and their infantry followed close behind. The artillery suddenly
33 opened fire, and Ibrahim Khan,* Gardi,a Mussalman deserter from the
34 French service, with his brother, Fateh Khan, desperately and successfully
35 charged the flank of the Shah’s army. This laid open the right of Shah
36 Wal Khan, The charge here was the fiercest and closest. Attai Khan,
37 the grand wazir’s nephew, fell by the side of his uncle. The Dundnis,
38 hard pressed, were compelled to give way. The Bhau and Wiswas Rao,
39 both mounted, were encouraging their people and stimulating them to
40 action.” The war cries of the Mahratta warriors—Har Har Jae Mahadeo—
41 were borne on the breeze, and the greatest fervour prevailed throughout
42 their ranks. Everything was apparently favourable to the Mahrattas.
43 Nawéb Shujd-ud-doula, whose division was near, was unable to see, on
44 account of the clouds of dust with which he was enveloped. The grand
45 wazir then, in full armour, galloped into the midst of his flying forces, and,
46 in extreme rage and despair, reproached them for deserting him, saying,
47 “ Our country is afar off, my friends, whither do you fly?” Shujd kept his
48 ground well, but desisted from advancing to help the wazir.
49 ; The Shah was not unaware of these transactions, and, finding that the
50 time had come for an advance in person with the reserve of his army, he
51 gave signal for a general charge. The attack was a furious one. The
52 Mahrattas were taken in flank, and fought desperately hand to hand, but the
53 bold and resolute stand made by the Durrdnis, so daunted them, that they
54 al once turned tail, leaving the field covered. with innumerable dead and
55 * He had obtained great fame for his bravery in the Dekkan, and his troops were drilled
56 after Buropean fashion of warfare.
57 Distress in the
58 Mahratta camp.
59 The patience of the
60 My ahrattus is eahaust-
61 ed,
62 They march out of
63 their camp.
64 The battle of Pani-
65 pat, 1761,
66 Sri Satguru J agjit Singh Ji eLibrary NamdhariElibrary@ gmail.com