English
And towards the day-break, whilst yet the darkness of the night continued, and friends could not be distinguished from foes, they suddenly, like death, attacked Sarfaraz Khan’s troops who were inebriated with the wine of sleep, (which is akin to death), and fired their guns. The old proteges awoke Sarfaraz Khan from his slumber of neg¬ lect, and apprised him of the aspect of affairs. As fortune, how¬ ever, had averted its face from him, even now Sarfaraz Khan refus¬ ed to listen to them with the ear of credence, snubbed them, and again insisted on the quick preparation of viands for a banquet. Sarfaraz Khan 1 added, “ A‘li VardI Khan is coming to visit me.” At this moment, another cannou-shell fell; and by the time of the sunrise, the troops of Mahabat Jang exhibited themselves in battle-array. Guns and lorkets, arrows and muskets flashing lightning, and showering destruction poured in. The troops of Sarfaraz Khan who were intoxicated by the wine of the morning sleep, harum-scarum sprang up from their beds of slumber, and girding up their loins fled; whilst others, not commanding the nerve to gird up their loins or to arm themselves, were butchered. Sarfaraz Khan’s army was panic-stricken. You might say, from dread of that warfare, Earth itself had fled. Only one solitary column consisting mostly of Sarfaraz Khan’s old officers, impelled by sentiments of honour, and animated by a sense of loyalty, arrayed themselves on the battle-field, gallantly re- 1 Sarfaraz £hn possessed a. most guileless soul, and his gnilelessness and Ins confidence in A'li VardI cost him his throne. 8arfaraz Khiin Isoked insight n.to human oharacter, which is one oT the essential attributes of a wise ruler. Whilst noting this failing in Sarfaraz Khan, it must be added there is nothing to condone or extenuate the black ingratitude and treachery of A‘II Vardi and the Triumvirate Councillors, Dewan Alamohand, Haj! A^innd and Jagat- set, who were all proteges of Sorfoiiz ghnn’s father. 316 solved to sacrifice their lives, and firmly stood their ground. Nawab Sarfaraz Khan, after finishing his morning-prayer, also armed himself, seized the Holy Qoran with one hand, and mounted a swift elephant. Then letting loose the royal elephant in front of himself, he flung himself into the thick of the fight, and com¬ menced shooting arrows. The Afghan generals of Mahabat Jang’s army, covered by a squadron of Bhaliah infantry, charged Sarfaraz Khan’s army. When on both sides, the troops stood in battle-array, Ton might say, the Day of Judgment had arrived. Owiqg to the thundering of guns, muskets and rockets, Aye, the Universe itself quaked. The twang of bow-strings and the cracking of arrows Resounded aloft their echo to the lofty sky. The spear, like Death with out-stretched hands, In the taking of life, chopped the breast into slips. In the bauds of heroes, sharp steel-made swords, In shedding blood of the enemy, leapt warmly: The heroes became warm in taking and in giving life; Aye, the world became emptied of heroes. In this sword-charge, wherein the boisterous wind of Death threw down on the plain of annihilation corpses like leaves of trees, and the flood of blood raged tumultuously on every side, Mardau A‘li Khan, the Bakh§hi of Shuj‘a toau’s regime , who was now the generalissimo of Sarfaraz Khan’s army, and commanded the van, feeling himself incapable of continuing the contest any loDger, fled. At the sight of this flight, Sarfaraz Khan’s army was demoralised, and a general stampede ensued in its ranks. Bach one felt contented with saving himself, No one cared for another. Save and except his Georgian and Abyssinian slaves and a few of his old comrades, not one out of the numerous mock-heroes re¬ mained to cover Sarfaraz Hjan's elephant. The elephant-driver perceiving that victory had declared itself for the enemy, said to Sarfaraz Khan :—“ If it be your Highness’s pleasure, 1i shall carry you to Birbhnm to the Zamindar, Badi'u-z-zamao-” Sa.W O)o. striking the elepl...nt-dricer a blow on .the neck, retorted lie the chain round the feet of the elephant, as I will not retreat before 317 these dogs.” 1 The elephant-driver was obliged to drive on his elephant. The BarqBndfizes and the Bhallahs of the enemy's Army, who had from before ranged themselves like a ring round Sarfaraz Khan's tent, discharged from all sides cannon-shells on his ele¬ phant ; and over and above, rockets and cannon-balls, arrows and muskets were showered incessantly by the hostile army. Mir Gadai, who was a special favourite of Sarfaraz Khan, was shot down by a rocket. MirKamil, brother of Mir Muhammad Baqir surnamed Baqir A'li Khan (nephew of Shuja‘u-d-daulah), and a young unmarried boy of Mirza Muhammad Iraj Khan Bakhshi, and other personal attendants, including Bahram, Sa'id and other slaves, who had not fled from the battle-field, were hit by rockets, cannon-shells and bullets, and fell right in front of Sarfaraz Khan's elephant. Mirza Iraj Khan was also mortally wounded. Mir Diler A‘li gallantly attacked the Afghan column of A'li Vardi Khan, exhibited foats of prowess and bravery, but receiving sword- cuts gallantly fell with a number of his comrades. At this moment, Sarfaraz Khan himself was bit on the forehead by the bullet of a gun shot by a traitor from his own camp, and was felled on his elephant-litter,* and the bird of his soul flew to Heaven. As soon as they saw this mishap, Mir Habib, Mnrghid Quli Khan, Shamajiir Khan Quraisju (Faujdar of Silhafc) and Rajah Ghandrab Singh, who with their forces stood aloof at a distance from the battle, and were silent spectators of the scene, took to their heels. Mir Haidar Shah and Khwajah Basant who clung to eaoh other, and were hiding themselves in a Rath* fled without even casting a glance at the oorpse of their master. • Not one out of his companions remained, To guard him for an instant. In the cover of the darkness of the night, and deceived by the ruse of the Royal Standard and the Elephant being displayed by the Division under Nandlal Jama'dar, Qhaus Khan and Mir l Though exceptionally humane and forbearing in disposition, it is refresh¬ ing to note Sarfaras Khan conld fight and fall bravely like a hero. * The word used is ( Uikhah Dambar), which means a royal litter, carried on elephants. It is called Mik Dambar (in the Seiru-l.Mutoiherin ( p . 378) which explains its significance. * It i B p ( , S8 j blv . a fuikisli word, J * A four-wheeled carriage ; whilst Chakrah is a two-wheeled carriage, 318 Sharfuddin mistook the latter for Mahabatjang, and commenced fighting. By means of Rastam-like onslaughts and brave assaults, they killed Nandlal, and cut him up with their swords. Routing those who escaped the sword, they captured the Standard, kettle- drum, elephants, camels, horses and armaments, and then they marched swiftly to enquire about Sarfaraz Khan. Though Sar- faraz Khan had fallen, on seeing those two brave Generals, Maha- bat Jang did not stir from the field, but with his force which was more numerous than ants and locusts remained stationary and motionless on the battle-field. Those two Generals had yet received no tidings of the fall of Sarfaraz Khan, and, therefore, with a small force of veteran heroes comprising their sons, brothers, kinsmen and companions, they bravely spurred on their chargers, fiercely assaulted Ali Yard! Khan’s army, broke through its ranks, and heroically dashed up to its centre. The army of Mahabat Jang was about to reel from the blows of those lions of the forest of warfare, when Ghaus Khan received on the breast mortal wounds from the ' ' ■ 1 •• - bullets of Ohidan Hazari’s musketeers, and fell. Ghaus Khan’s two sons, Qutb and Babar, who were veritable tigers of the forest of bravery, and who on hunting-grounds were wont to slay lions with swords, unsheathed their swords, and killed a large number of Afghans and Bhallahs. 1 They attacked no one whom they did not finish, They struck no head which they did not hurl down. On whomover they struck their long-piercing daggers, His head came down rolling from the shoulder. Chidan Hazari also received sword-cuts at their hands. After much slaughter and daring, being hit by the bullets of mus¬ kets, Qutb and Babar fell like brave martyrs, and joined their gallant father in his journey to Eternity. Mir Sharfu-d-din with seven brave cavab'ars galloped right up to Mahabat Jang, and with great agility shot at the latter’s breast a heart-piercing arrow, which, however, grazed against the bow of Mahabat Jang, and piercing through lodged itself in the latter’s side-ribs. Mir Sharfu-d-din had pulled another arrow towards the bow-string, ^hen Shaikh Jahan Yar and Muhammad Zulfuqar, Mahabat Jang’s Generals, who were old friends of the Mir, came forward and said : “ Nawab Safaraz Khan has fallen, what can you gam 1 It would seem the race of heroes was not yet extinct in Moslem Bengal. 319 now by continuing the contest and sacrificing your life ” ? The Mir bravely replied : “ Hitherto I fought from a sense of loyalty for the salt 1 I had eaten, and from a sense of comradeship, but now I fight to maintain ray honour. ” These two Generals stood sureties for the security of his honour, and polled him back. Then the Mir with his followers set out for Birbhum* Notwithstanding that his gunners had run away, Pancho Ferengi, 4 Superintendent of Sarfaraz Khan's artillery, served his guns and bravely stuck to them, and kept up an incessant cannonade. After Mir Sjjarfa-d-din’s withdrawal, the Afghans in largo numbers attacked Pancho, and killed him. Baji Singh, a Rajput General, who with the rear-guard was at Khamrah, on receiving news of his master’s fall, felt his sense of honour aroused.