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in their houses or to return to Sihonda. Dalel Khán rejected their counsel, saying he would be disgraced if he retreated, that he had with him Ibrahím Khán, his brother, ’Ináyat Khán, Haidar Khán, Himmat Khán, Muaz-uddín Khán, Sayyad Hámid ’Ali, Báz Khán, Mukhtár Khán, Rahím Khán, and five hundred other Patháns. Turning to his troops he harangued them, and offered to pay up and discharge all those who held their wives and children dearer than honour. A number of the Patháns then left him. With the rest he marched from Padhori to Maudha.

Now Himmat Khán was Dalel Khán's chief friend, and he usually rode by the Nawáb's side and conversed with him. That day as he rode along half stupified with opium, Dalel Khán as usual addressed his conversation to Himmat Khán, and playing on his name remarked that if Himmat (courage) held firm, they might after all win the day. As no reply came the Nawáb called out, "Brother, are you nodding or have you dropped behind ?” Haidar Khán who was at some distance cantered up and answered, “Nawáb Sahib, he was only Himmat Khán at meal time, he left us at Paḍhori, I am the Himmat Khán for this emergency."

When they reached Korhiya Tál, near the Paráo, Dalel Khán told his men to alight and breakfast. They then mounted and drawing their swords made ready for the attack. The Bundelas meanwhile advanced from Makaránw, and Tandohi. The battle then commenced. The first day fifty Paṭháns and three hundred Bundelas were killed, the second day one hunand fifty Patháns and four hundred Bundelas. Haidar Khán pushed his advance as far as Makaránw, and on his way killed five leaders and sixty men. He was killed himself in Makaránw. His tomb exists there near a pond, to the west of the. metalled road to Hamírpur, and it is known as Haidar Shahíd. Sayyad Hámid 'Ali was killed to the east of Maudha, and his tomb is some twenty-five or thirty rassi to the east of the town; its name is Hámi Shahíd or Hámid Shahíd. Báz Khán's tomb is close to Shekh Chánd Pír's dargáh, and it is called Bájá Sarmúr Shahíd. 'Inayat Khan's tomb is to the south of the Bándá and Jalálpur road, it is called 'Inái Shahíd.

Dalel Khán was slain himself on the third day. Many others were killed with him. Ibráhím Khán, brother of Dalel Khán, fell at a place now in Maudha but then a jungle. A second Ibráhím Khán was killed near where 'Abd-ul-Karím Kanungo's house now stands. There is a Dargáh known as that of Maudi Shahíd, which no doubt is meant for Muaz-ud-din. There is also a Shahíd's tomb called vaguely Bábá Shahíd, which Mr. Kaye, late Collector, put into repair when opening out a new road. There are numerous other tombs in Maudha and its vicinity.

They relate that on the day of his death Dalel Khán drove the Bundelas before him as far as Mowaiya, about four miles south-west of Maudha.

Here one Bundela, urged by despair, struck at him and cut off his left hand; where the hand fell a tomb was built, which is also called Dalel Shahíd. It lies to the east of the metalled road to Nyaganw. The Bundelas finally drove Dalel Khán back into Maudha, where he received the cup of martyrdom. His tomb and a masjid with well still exist. The date assigned locally for Dalel Khán's death, viz., 1792 S. (1735 A. D.) is fourteen years out, the correct date being May 1721.

The Hindi poets of his time composed many dohá (couplets) in praise of Dalel Khán's courage; such as are still current were collected from the lips of the before-named Rúp Bráhman, from Shákir Musalmán of Maudha, Sardár Khán of Bhamaura, about three miles to the south-west of Maudha, and others.

1st.—At the time Harde Sáh, Jagat Ráj and Mohan Singh had appointed to take the oath on Ganges water, Mohan Singh went away to Bijánagar, about two miles east of Mahoba. Then Harde Sáh refused to join; and Jagat Ráj set out alone. The poets on this occasion put the following dohá into Chattarsál's mouth

मोहन माटी लै रहे

जगत अकेले लड़त है

हिरदे साह गये रिसाय |

वह दुख सहो न जाय ॥

“ Mohan has decided not to join, Harde Sáh is angry, Jagat fights “alone, but he cannot bear the weight of it."

2nd.—Chattarsál wrote a long letter to Dalel Khán trying to dissuade him from fighting. The inhabitants of Maudha remember these verses.

हिरदे साह से नहिँ छली
बेटा कहिये दलेल से
भाई महम्मद खाँन ने
तब से तुम बेटा मेरे
मोहन द्वारा है गये

तुम कन्यावा देह

कीरत सेन

कपूत ।

बंगश वंत सपूत ॥
डासा मोरी गोद |
जगत समान सुबोध ||
हिरदे रहे लुकाय ।
तो मैं जगते लेइँ समझाय ॥

"I am not deceived by Harde Sáh, Kirat Sen is a disobedient son; tell my son Dalel, of Bangash race, a good son, that brother Muhammad Khán made him over to me, since then he is my son, better than all the world; Mohan has gone off, Harde has concealed himself, let him (Dalel) give ear, and Jagat will then be talked over.”

3rd.—The following answer was sent by Dalel Khán :

तुम राजा महराज है। सब राजन मेँ छज्ज |

अब दलेल कैसे हटे दोहदीन की लज्ज ॥

"You are a great king, and the most powerful of all Rájahs, now how can Dalel retreat, it would disgrace both creeds," i. e., his own and that of his supposed adoptive father Chattarsál.

4th. down.

Some miscellaneous verses are given which have been handed

बहुत जगीरेँ ँ तुम चीँ

जो ना दललै मारिहौ

खायो घी अरू खाँड़ ।

तौ घर घर करि राड़ ||

“ You occupy great jágirs, you eat butter and sugar, if you do not defeat Dalel, he will make widows in many houses.”

5th.—The following call for aid was sent to Harde Sáh.

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"Our cart has stuck in the clay, make no childish excuses, help us now to shove on the cart, lend aid to your country, O Hirdesh! (Harde Sáh)." 6th.-Harde Sáh's answer was

सीख मोर मानी नहीं जगत ढिठाई कोन ।

तैसे अब मूँड़े परी फेर शरण मम लीन ॥

"He heeded not my counsel, Jagat acted wilfully; now the calamity has fallen on his head, he comes back in submission to me."

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“ Dalel's chest was a yard wide, he was a perfect soldier ; the bright soul has rejoined its essence, he has gained the rank of beatitude; collecting together all his followers, he was killed in the field of battle. Like a lamp burns a moth, so did Dalel rush into the fight. From Delhi came Dalel Khán, with sword in hand, and fought by Maudha town with Jagat Maharáj. The fight was like that of practised wrestlers (Paṭṭhán, a play upon the word Paṭhán); the blood flowed and turned the earth into mire. For three days the Patháns undaunted fought, Jagat trembled and fled from the field. The fourth day at noon the Bundelas surrounded him (Dalel Khán); then fell Dalel to the earth, and many swords wounded him."

8th.--The following verses were taken down as recited by Sardár Khán

of Bhamaura village, pargana Maudha :

मेलाता सिजड़ागढ़ में जिन आनकै खोज कियो लड़ना ।

गहि तीर कमानहि चरू मेलेड मुंगस के रमना ||

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तोपन की तड़क कड़क किरवानन की
कढ़ी चपनाल चहुँ ओर देखो एक बेर
लोहे के दरियाव में दरियाव राव दलपत
लीजियो लड़ाई ह्याँ खनन की धाई यार

है

=

चली मुगलानी तुरकानी बडकावो है । मौदहा के मार वीच खेत झरवावेा है ॥ ४ ॥

“ They gathered in Sihunda-garh, when came word of the war; they took up bow and arrow and repaired to the hunting-ground of Mungas. They leapt into the midst of the foe, like the chitah* seizes and shakes a deer. All the Rájahs hesitated, when bold Dalel began to drive his way through

The Pathán left Mungas, Dalela encamped in Paprenṛ. He hunted the herds of deer, and his bullet killed many a one. Leaving Papreny, they camped in Aloná, and lingered on the banks of the Karunawati. Passing through Bhulsi, they stopped in Pandhori, and fought with the Bundelas in Baharela. Like elephants black as lamp-black, maddened, lifting up their tusks, they drove all before them. Muhammad's son jumped exultingly, his followers shouted 'Ali, 'Ali. Fight-barrelled and seven-barrelled guns were let off, they discharged the great Janjáls. In many ways did he thrust with his spear, did brave Dalela, the mighty. The cannon roared, the swords clashed, the rockets flashed like lightning clouds. They drew their chapnál, look at them once! on every side the Mughal and the Bundelas are mingled in one wave. In the rivers of blood there are numbers of Rájahs and lords of armies. The Mugalánis and Turkánis are disheartened. Hear thus, O friend ! the fighting, the sword wounds, in the battle of Maudha, and how the field was won."

* The IS. has chilh, a falcon, in place of which I suggest chilah.

9th.—Verses in praise of Dalel Khán's horses.

खोदत खुरन धरनं देही रकेब पाँयँ

वायु से उड़ायँ यही चिनी रंग हैं ।
पाले खाँड घी महेला मिर्च मुट्ठ पाय
पुट्ठन पनारी परों यही माते तंग हें ॥
जकरे जंजीरन से पकरे सईस दुई
सकरैं दुरावत करत जोर जंग है ।
कल्लेदार नकरे निकन्दर जुरावर ज्यान

कंचन सो ढारे है वनाये अङ्ग अङ्ग हैं ॥
है

भूल ताश वादली की पायँ रंग रंग है ।
हरी पेरी स्याह सेत बैजभी कुरंग है
चंग से चढ़त जोर जंग से मतेग है ।

साहब असगर ऐसे सैद के तुरंग है 11

!!

"Their hoofs stamp the ground, as soon as the foot touches the stirrup ; they go like the wind, these milk-white steeds. They are fed on ghi and sugar, they get a handful of spices. A line is formed in their back, they are so stout; they are fiery and strong. By strong chains two grooms lead them; they pull at the chains and plunge and prance. They have arched necks, are white, youthful, strong and young. They are as if formed in moulds out of gold, they are of beautiful shape and form. They have cloths of gold stuff and brocade of every colour, green, yellow, black, white, purple, every colour. They leap and bound, in strength they are elephants. Sahib Asgar, these are the steeds of a great lord.”

10th.-Verses in praise of Dalel Khán obtained from Shákir Muhammad called Láhori.

महम्मद खान का पून सपूत

कढ़ी बहु तंग लगी नहिं बंग
जुरे दल बीर लड़ें बलबीर

गहे किरपान दलेल पठान

दलेल करी झिक कोर बुन्देलों से ।

मो छप्पर फार करेजों से ||

मुरैं न मुहारे फेजों से ।

बद्ये। कर फेर सुमू छों से ॥

"Muhammad Khán's son was Dalel, he scattered the Bundelas, many swords were drawn, there was no delay, from bravery their livers burst their clothes. The armies met, they bravely fought. Though pressed hard they would not give way before those hosts. Sword in hand Dalel Pathán went forward, twirling his moustache. "

11th.-The following verses are handed down as Dalel Khán's answer to the Musalmáns of Maudha when they entreated him to turn back.

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