English
That wretch of a villain (Snbha Singh) plotted to stain the hem of the maiden’s chastity with the filth of dofileraeut. As fate would have it, that dog of a night wanted to pounce on that maiden, 1 and through seduction of Satan, it stretched out its hand towards her. That lion-like maiden with the swiftness of the wink of blooa-shedding eyes, by means of a sharp knife which she secreted with herself for such an occasion, cut him up from below the navel to the belly, and with the same sharp knife cot asunder the thread of her own life. When this world-con¬ suming firo was extinguished, another arose in the person of that villain’s brother, by the name of Himat Singh. The latter also resolved to set the world on fire, and attempted to plunder and pillage the Imperial domains. And Rahim Khan, owing to the strength of his rabble and clan, styled himself Rahim Shall. Placing crookedly on the head of pride the cap of vanity, and collecting a large number of low .and ignorant badmashes, he redoubled the flamo of insurrection, 8 so that from Bardwan to Akbarnagar (Rajmah&l) on tho west of the Gauges, half the Province of Bengal was harried by him. And whoever amongst the Imperial adherents refused to submit to him was punished and tortured. Amongst them, in the environs of Mnrshidabad, there lived an Imperial officer, named Neamat Khan, with his family and dependants. When ho refnsed to join Rahim Shah the latter, thirsty for his blood, ordered his head to be brought. Seeing tho measnro of his life full to tho brim, Neamat Khan prepared to drink out of the enp of martyr¬ dom, and advanced to the field. Taubar Khan, his nephew, who was as brave as his name implied, spurring on his charger, made a brave onset. At length the forces of the enemy hemmed him in, and from every side attacked him, so that he drank the syrup of martyrdom, and his comrades, one aftor another, were levelled 1 Literally, “Cliiueso deer.” 8 This opportunity was utilised by the English for fortifying their new settlement in Calontta—See Wilsou’s AitnaU, Vol. II, p. 147. 30 234 round him on the bed of annihilation. Neamat Khan, on see¬ ing this, without cuirass and armour, tying a sword to his unlined garment, mounted a swift charger, cut through the right and left wings of the enemy’s force, and, dashing up to the centre, inflicted a cut on the head of Rahim Shah. As fate would have it, Neamat s sword striking against the latter’s helmet broke, from ferocity of disappointed rage, putting his grip on Rahim’s face and seizing his waist with the hand, by sheer strength, Neamat dismounted Rahim from his horse and threw him on the ground. With great agility then springing from his own horse, Neamat sat on the top of Rahim's chest, and drawing a dagger from his waist struck him on the throat. Accidentally, the dagger got entwined in the link of the cuirass of Rahim and dia not penetrate through to his throat. Meanwhile, the adherents of Rahim Shah coming up wounded Neamat Khan, by inflicting cuts on him with swords and spears, so that he was disabled, and dragging him down from his saddle, they threw him down on the ground. Rahim Shah, recovering life in a way a second time, .remained unhurt and unscathed. And they carried Neamat Khan to a tent, with his flickering life, in a state of fainting. From excessive thirst, he opened his eyes to signal for water. When the men of Rahim Shah brought a cup of water, his feel¬ ings revolted against his drinking it out of their hands, and thus with a parched lip he quaffed the goblet of martyrdom. The zamiudars of the environs and the news-messengers, in succession, carried this woful news to Nawab Ibrahim Khan, to Jahangir- nngar (Dacca). The Nawab, to whom the following couplet is applicable :— “Although possessed of the strength of a lion, In seeking vengeance, he was flabby like a soft sword owing to pusillanimity, said : “ War causes the spilling of blood of God’s creatures; what necessity is there that the blood of people on both sides should be shed ? ” ’ And when from messages and news-letters, the gist of this disaster reached the Emperor in the Dakhin, an Imperial order was despatched to 2/abardast IQian, son of Ibrahim Khau, conferring on him the office of Faujdar 1 1 Apparently, Znbardnst Khan wax appointed to the office of Faujdar 235 of the chaklakas of Bard wan, Mednipnr, etc., insisting on tlie chastisement of the miscreant enemy, and directing the Nazims and Faujdars of the Subahs of Oudh and Allahabad and Behar, that, wherever they might get trace of the enemy, they should capture him with his women and children. It was also proclaimed hat whoever would desert the enemy should be granted security of life, and whoever would join the enemy and thereby draw the paintof infamy on the face, should have his family extirpated. And so it came to pass. Shortly after, the Subahdari of Bengal and Behar was conferred on Prince ‘Azimu-sh-$hau, who was ordered to proceed to Bongal with a number of the Imperial officers. 1 The noble Khiau, named Zabardast Khan, on the very receipt of the Imperial order, fitting out a. fleet of war-vessels armed with artillery, sailed up from Jahangirnngar (Dacca) with a numerous force, and spurred on the charger of war. Rahim Shah, on hear¬ ing news of the approach of the Imperial army of vengeance, swiftly marched to the banks of the Ganges, with a large army* consisting of infantry and cavalry. Zabardast Khan, mooring his war-vessels alongside the river-bank, quickly entrenched himself in front of the enemy’s force, arrayed his troops for battle, and placed in front of the entrenchment of those Gog-like people the projecting parts of waggons, in the shape of Alexander’s wall. Oq the next day, advancing from his entrenchment, he arrayed his troops, posting armed heroes and warriors in the right and left wings, in the centre, in the van, and in the rear. Placing the artillery in front, he advanced like the wave of the sea, and struck the kettledrum of war. When the din of call to battle resounded in the ear of Rahim Shah, the latter became perturbed, but moved with his intrepid Afghan soldiers to encounter the Imperialists. From the side of the Imperialists, Zabardast Kljan ordered the artillery to be brought into action, and directed the discharge of muskets and war-rockets. The gunners and musketeers and rocketeers did not slacken their fire, whilst gallant combatants charged with their swords, and worked havoc in the enemy’s ranks. J J “"' H ° gU ' B “ dw *" *“ d to tk. pl.ee of Nurullah Hum, who was apparently recalled for his pusillanimity. ‘If 7 t P r ar> ,ike NnrnUah ’ NaWab Ibrahim also recalled promptly for exhibition of pusillanimitr. The latter was a bookworm and a man of peace. 236 They charged with their spears and swords, And shed profuse blood on that battle-field. 1 [the infantry. From the smoko of gnn-waggons and from the dust raised by The eartn up to the sky became pitchy dark. From profuse spilling of blood on that battle-field, One roaring sea of crimson was spread. The heads of warriors looked like ripples therein, Their corpses swam like fish therein. After terrible carnage, the cowardly Af gh ans took to their heels and Rahim Shah retreated from the field. Zabardast Khan, who was strong and agile, became triumphant, and striking blows after blows, drove the Afghans like cattle to their tents. For three full hours the fire of warfare continued to blaze. Towards sun-down, owing to the excessive sultriness of the wind, and owing to terrible exertion and fatigue, the cavalry had to give up the chase. So the victors withdrew their hands from the work of blazing the fire of warfare and encamped on the battle-field, and set about washing, and burying the dead, and nursing and dressing the wounded. They passed the night in alertness and watchfulness, posting advance-guards and night-patrols. Next morning when the King of the East, 8 riding on a blue charger 8 and suspending the dagger of rays, advanced on the plain of the celestial sphere, the darkness of the hosts of night and the troops of stars became effaced, nay extinguished, by its one onset; and again triumphantly seeking vengeance, the victors set about setting their forces in battle-array. On the approach of the two armies, they charged with their spears, swords, and daggers. The Imperialists tying the girdle of devotion and self-sacrifice to the waist of their lives, engaged in killing the insurgents, and piled up a heap from the alain° And after two hours’ fighting the Afghan force was once again shattered. Rahim Shah, stooping to the disgrace of flight, fled and in a hapless state took the route to Murshidabad. Zabardast Khan to a distance of one /f irsakk rode forward, beat and chased the enemy, captured and slew a targe number of the rebels, and capturing their treasrres, effects, armaments and horses, l This battle was fought near Bhagwangaluh-See Stewart’s Bengal and Wilson's Annals, Vol. I, p. H9* * That is, the sun. 8 That is, the skj. 237 triumphantly retnrned to his own camp. He then made a gift of the booty to the soldiers, according to their rank, and did not spare himself in winning their hearts. For three days he halted there, and looked after the nursing of the wounded. For the pur¬ pose of effectually blockading the passages, and cuting off the enemy’s supplies he despatched stringent orders to the zamindars and watchmen of passages. He sent the wounded soldiers, together with the more precious goods and spoils, to Jahangirnngar (Dacca), and detailed scouts in all directions for ascertaining the where¬ abouts of those who had fled. Rahim Shah, in a hapless condition and in an anxious mood, reached Murghid&had, and there exerted himself diligently to mobilise troops.