Háfiz Rahmat sent Muhammad Khán and 'Abdu-llah Khán * * to require from Shujá'u-d daula the return of the bond for forty lacs, in accordance with the verbal promise made by Sháh Madan, his wakíl. Shujá'u-d daula denied that he had ever made any promise to return it, and that Sháh Madan could never have made such an offer. Háfiz Rahmat's friends urged that Shujá'u-d daula had written a letter promising to faithfully adhere to the verbal arrangements made by Sháh Madan. They then required that Sháh Madan should be brought forward, that he might be questioned upon the point. Shujá'u-d daula sent for him, and after trying to bias him, asked what it was that he had said to Háfiz Rahmat about the bond. Sháh Madan was one of the honourable Saiyids of Sháhábád, and deeming a lie to be derogatory to his honour, he spoke the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, saying, “In accordance with the directions of His Highness, I made a promise for the restoration of the bond.” Shujá'u-d daula got into a rage, and said it was all a lie and a conspiracy, for he had never uttered a word of such a promise. Sháh Madan three or four times affirmed the truth of his statement, and then held his peace. Khán Muhammad, seeing no hope of obtaining the bond, uttered some sharp words, at which Shujá'u-d daula also waxed warm, and went into his private apartments in a rage. * * Háfiz Rahmat did not deem it advisable to press further for the restoration of the bond at that time, and, concealing his annoyance, he said no more about it. Shujá'u-d daula was very much vexed with Háfiz Rahmat. He remained several days at the same place, and busied himself in winning over Háfiz Rahmat's officers and soldiers. * *
At the end of the year 1187 A.H. (1773 A.D.), Shujá'u-d daula busied himself in winning over to his side, by various inducements, the people of Katehr, both small and great. * * Having gained several chiefs and officers of that country, he felt full confidence, and marched to effect first the conquest of Etáwa. The Mahratta detachments, which had been left there when their armies returned to the Dakhin, were too small in numbers to offer any resistance, and retreated before him. He soon made himself master of Etáwa, and prepared to settle its administration. But Háfiz Rahmat wrote to him, protesting against this, and saying that the country of Etáwa had been conferred upon him, after the battle of Pánípat, by Ahmad Sháh Durrání, as the Nawáb knew full well. That after the end of the war, he had obtained possession of a large portion of the country, and although circumstances had made it necessary for him to allow the land to pass into the hands of the Mahrattas, he was about to take measures for recovering it. * * Shujá'u-d daula wrote in answer that he had not taken the country from Háfiz Rahmat, but from the Mahrattas, so there was no cause of complaint. * * Háfiz Rahmat repeatedly urged the restoration of Etáwa; but Shujá'u-d daula, having secured the support of the chiefs of Katehr, was desirous of bringing the question to the test of war. So he wrote to Háfiz Rahmat, demanding speedy payment of the thirty-five lacs of rupees, which were due out of the forty thousand for which he (Shujá'u-d daula) had given his bond to the Mahrattas. After this had been settled, the question of Etáwa might be gone into. After this, Shujá'u-d daula called together his forces, and prepared to march into Katehr.
Háfiz Rahmat, seeing that Shujá'u-d daula was intent upon war, wrote in reply, “The money which the Mahrattas received from you has already been repaid; to demand more from me than the Mahrattas have either received or asked, and to make it the excuse for strife and warfare, is unworthy of your high position. If, in spite of everything, you are resolved upon war, I am ready for you.” On receipt of this letter, the Nawáb drew together his forces, and prepared to pass the Ganges by way of Koriyá-ganj. Háfiz Rahmat also ordered his camp to be pitched outside of the town on the Ánwala side.
General Champion, who was with Shujá'u-d daula, wrote to Háfiz Rahmat, promising that, if he would pay the money, or would promise to pay it in two or three months, he (the General) would, by his own influence, effect a peace, and cause Shujá'u-d daula to return to his own country. Pahár Singh, díwán of Katehr, [urged Háfiz Rahmat to assent to the General's advice]. But death had deprived him of all his friends and supporters, such as * *, and especially of 'Ináyat Khán, his son; he had therefore withdrawn his heart from the world, and was desirous of martyrdom. He said that he had not got the money, or he would send it; and that to ask others for it, to seize it by force, or to be under any obligation to Shujá'u-d daula for it, he considered so disgraceful, that he would leave the matter to the arbitrament of God, and would welcome martyrdom. * * He sent an answer to the General to the above effect. Then he issued a general order in these words, “Let those who think fit accompany me, and let those who are unwilling depart. Each man may do as he likes. I have many enemies and few friends, but this I heed not.”
On the 11th Muharram, 1188 A.H. (24th March, 1774 A.D.), Háfiz Rahmat marched out of Bareilly with a moderate force, and went towards Ánwala. * * The alarm of war having spread, numbers of Afgháns from Mau and Farrukhábád, and the inhabitants of Katehr, both subjects and strangers, obeying the instinct of clanship, gathered round Háfiz Rahmat. Zamíndárs of the Rájpút tribe, who had lived in peace under his rule, came in troops to support him without summons, so that his army increased in numbers every day. * * Háfiz Rahmat marched from Tánda, and crossing the Rám-gangá at the ford of Kiyára, he entered Farídpúr, seven kos to the east of Bareilly. Shujá'u-d daula advanced by successive marches to Sháh-Jahánpúr. * * From thence he went on to Tilhar, where he rested and prepared for action. Háfiz Rahmat then marched from Farídpúr, and crossing the river Bhagal, encamped in the groves around Karra. There was then a distance of not more than seven or eight kos between the two armies. * *
Two or three days after, Shujá'u-d daula, acting on the advice of General Champion, who was the most accomplished General of the time, made a march towards Pílíbhít, and halted at the village of Músalí, where there was a wide open plain. Reports of an intended attack on Pílíbhít spread through both armies. Háfiz Rahmat thereupon left Karra, for the purpose of protecting Pílíbhít, and encamped in face of the enemy in the open plain. * * General Champion cheered the drooping heart of Shujá'u-d daula, and taking the command of the advanced force, he selected the positions for the guns, and made the necessary arrangements for the battle. * *
On the 11th Safar Shujá'u-d daula advanced with an army numbering 115,000 horse and foot. * * Háfiz Rahmat went to the tent of Faizu-llah Khán, and said, “My end is near at hand. So long as I remain alive, do not turn away from the field; but when I fall, beware, do not press the battle, but leave the field directly, and flee with my children and dependents to the hills. This is the best course for you to take, and if you act upon my advice, it will be the better for you.” After giving these directions, he mounted his horse, and marched against the enemy with ten thousand horse and foot. He had proceeded only a short distance, when the advanced force of the enemy came in sight, and fire was opened from cannons and muskets. * * Ahmad Khán, son of the Bakhshí, who had made a secret agreement with Shujá'u-d daula, now fell back, and set the example of flight, which many others followed. * * Háfiz Rahmat had only about fifty supporters left when he drew near to the Telingas and English. He was recognized by his umbrella, of which spies had given a description, and a cannon was levelled against him. He advanced in front of all his companions, using his utmost efforts. The cannon-balls fell all around, and * * at length one struck him on the breast. He was lifted off his horse, and after taking a sip or two of water, he drank the cup of martyrdom.