[THIS work was written by Saiyid Ghulám 'Alí, the author of the preceding work. He states in his Preface that he wrote the 'Imádu-s Sa'ádat, containing memoirs of the ancestors of Yamínu-d daula, Nizámu-l Mulk, Nawáb Sa'ádat, 'Alí Khán Bahádur Mubáriz Jang, at Colonel John Baillie's* suggestion, by whom it was highly approved of on perusal. At his patron's recommendation, he then went away in expectation of employ­ment, and after spending a short interval at Cawnpore and Gorakhpúr, came to Faizábád, where he, for certain reasons, re­mained a considerable time. During his stay, he longed for an opportunity of sending his patron some present, by which he hoped to be recalled to his presence; when he had the good fortune to hear from a person of known veracity, who had been present at all the engagements, and had seen with his own eyes a whole world turned topsy-turvy, and whose name he says shall be disclosed on fitting occasions, an account of the battle be­tween the chief of the Dakhinís, Sadásheo Ráo Bháo and the Sháh Ahmad Sháh Abdálí. Although these events had been chronicled in the 'Imádu-s Sa'ádat, yet they were not equally well authenticated nor so fully detailed, being merely recorded briefly, and in conformity with conflicting statements. They were introduced among the exploits of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula Bahádur; but as the main object of the work was something else, many important facts were omitted; consequently he had determined to compose a separate little book regarding this wondrous incident. Partly from the bent of his own inclinations, and partly for the sake of pleasing Colonel Baillie, of whose taste for historical researches he was well aware, he wrote these few pages, and styled them the Nigár-náma-i Hind. He concludes with a hope that that gentleman will have the kindness to peruse his work, and that the public will charitably excuse all its faults and failings, etc.

In a subsequent page the author informs us that his authority was a brahman of the Dakhin, named Ráo Káshi Ráo,* who was in the service of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula of Oudh, and was present at the interview which the Mahratta envoy Bhawání Shankar had with him.* “He related just whatever happened before his eyes, and the writer of these lines clothed the facts detailed to him without increase or decrease in the garb of phraseology.”

This work travels over some of the ground already covered by the Táríkh-i Ibráhím Khán, and there are strong indications that our author had access to that work when he wrote this. The Táríkh-i Ibráhím Khán was finished in 1786 A.D. The Nigár­náma bears no date, but it was written after the 'Imádu-s Sa'ádat, which was not finished till 1808 A.H. So the oral information which the author received must have been reminiscences of more than twenty years' standing. This work is written in much greater detail than the Táríkh-i Ibráhím Khán, and the language is more laboured and high flown.

The whole work was translated for Sir H. M. Elliot by the late Major Fuller, and from that translation the following Extracts have been taken.

SIZE—6 inches by 4, 280 pages of 9 lines each.]

The ever-triumphant army of the Sháh, consisting of twenty-four corps, each of which consisted of 1200 horsemen, were drawn up, armed and accoutred, at the foot of the mound, under the command of the under-mentioned chiefs: Barkhúrdár Khán, Ashrafu-l Wuzrá Sháh Walí Khán, Sardár-i Sardárán Sardár Jahán Khán, Sháh Pasand Khán, Nasír Khán Bulúch, Bark-húrdár Khán Sakma'ah, Zamralah Khán Kúlwarághásí, and Murád Khán an Irání Mughal. Out of the whole 24,000 horse­men, 6000 were ghuláms,* who were encamped all round the royal pavilion at the distance of half a kos; and the rest of the army was ranged under the above-named leaders. Two thousand camels for the transport of sháhíns, each camel carrying one sháhín (a swivel-gun) and two sháhínchís (men to serve it), as well as 40 pieces of ordnance, and several camels laden with rockets, were counted among the royal troops. Along with Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula Bahádur were 2000 cavalry, 2000 in­fantry, and 20 guns of different calibre; and with Najíbu-d daula 6000 cavalry and 8000 Rohilla infantry. ^{* *} Along with Davíndí Khán and Háfizu-l Mulk Háfiz Rahmat Khán were counted 18,000 Rohilla infantry, 3000 or 4000 cavalry, and some guns; while with Ahmad Khán Bangash Farrukhábádí there were only 2000 horse and foot altogether, besides camp followers and attendants and a few guns.

The total force on this side was reckoned at 40,000 cavalry and several thousand infantry; out of which number 40,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry*. The men of the royal army were of several different denominations. First, Durránís of the same tribe as the Sháh, every one of whom might be well called iron-hearted, and a smasher of the hardest rock; second, Kazalbáshís, all of whom were equal in strength and martial prowess to Rustam and Narímán; third, Kábulís, who used the sher-bachahs, all youths with frames sturdy as elephants, and mounted on steeds of foreign breed, looking like mountains and accustomed to traverse the desert; fourth, the valiant and devoted ghuláms and 4000 sháhínchís, well-drilled and expert shots, two of whom rode one camel. These made up 24,000 cavalry, and there were also 4000 sháhínchís, who were reckoned the most warlike force, and used to receive subsistence money from the presence. Their names were inscribed on a roll in the Bakhshí's office; they were all picked and experienced soldiers of proved courage and loyalty, and strong, valiant and impetuous warriors. Besides, there was a force not taken into account, which was styled the corps of yatíms, for in company with each Durrání were four yatím horsemen. The corps was intended solely for harassing and pillaging the enemy; and hence, after the Durránís made a charge in the heat of a battle, the yatíms followed in rear of them, and prosecuted their attacks. These same Abdálí yatíms used to be employed for the purpose of cutting off supplies, and making predatory forays, and whatever spoil fell into their hands, they were allowed to retain, but no subsistence was granted them by government.

Review of the Bháo's Troops.

Sadásheo Ráo Bháo, having heard the news that the Sháh had been holding a review of his troops, and that the royal army resembling the waves of the sea was preparing to move, came several marches this side of Kunjpúra, and had an inspection of his own soldiery. In effect, the muster of the army (terrible from its numbers as the day of judgment) belonging to the Ráo in question was according to the under-mentioned detail. Ibráhím Khán, besides the body of horsemen mentioned below, of whom only 2000 accompanied him, had 9000 Gárdí carbineers, with four pieces of ordnance to every 1000 men. His full complement was 6000 cavalry;* Malhár Ráo Holkar, 5000 cavalry; Jhankújí Sindhia, 10,000; Appájí Gaikawár, 3000; Jaswant Ráo Panwár, 2000; Shamsher Bahádur, 3000; Pílújí, Jádún's son, 3000; Bithal Sheo Deo, 3000; Balwant Ráo, a half-brother of Bháo, who, on all trying occasions, dashed forward in advance of the latter, 7000; Biswás Ráo's private risálah, 5000; and Appájí Mángesiah, 2000. In a word, there mustered 51,000 warlike cavalry, suitably armed and mounted, and 11,000 infantry, together with the Gárdí carbineers, 200 pieces of artillery, and camels carrying rockets, and several others zambúraks. The arms, horses, and equipments of this force were in such excellent order, that no one of the royal or Hindústání armies had ever reached so high a state of discipline. Out of all the irregular troops accompanying Biswás Ráo and the body of Chorghorí Dhol horsemen, there were nearly 20,000 cavalry, as well as 2000 Rájpút horse, along with the wakíls of the Rájas of Kachhwáha and Ráthor, and other people belonging to the forces of different chiefs of Hindú extraction, who had mostly, through fear of the ravages of the Dakhinís, put the ring of obedience in their ears, and deeming submission to these chiefs the means of escape from disaster, hastened zealously to comply with their instructions As for Nárad* Shankar, who had been left behind with 6000 cavalry and a small quantity of military stores, with a view to protect the city of Dehlí, his detachment was in addition to this. It is a well-known fact that the whole Dakhin came along with Bháo, and I therefore assert, that however large the equip­ment and army which has been enumerated may appear, it is but a trifle after all.

Entrenched Camps.

Having at last reached Pánípat, the Bháo encompassed that city, and having regularly encamped his army around it, gave directions for the excavation of a ditch all round his own camp. Immediately after the promulgation of the order, the men applied themselves vigorously to the work, and having in a very short space of time dug a ditch twenty yards broad, and deeper than the height of an elephant, made it their safeguard against the enemy's fire, and having thus gained confidence, held their ground with firmness and intrepidity. Bháo having fixed upon this place in his own mind as the scene of strife and tumult, took up his quarters there, and planting his artillery at intervals connected by chains all along the ditch, closed the path of access against the enemy. The Sháh having likewise arrived at the head of his army, terrible as the day of judgment, within a distance of four kos, directed the excavation of an ordinary ditch, such as was usually dug every day. The pioneers, agreeably to orders, dug a ditch according to custom, and placed along the brink of it an abattis of dhák trees, or whatever else they could find; but as a longer stay was expected here than at other places, the excavation of a larger ditch than usual was undertaken.

The Bháo makes Overtures for Peace.

Bháo, notwithstanding his vast pomp, mighty valour, and numerous associates, lost heart, and beholding the form of adver­sity in the mirror of his understanding, let slip the cord of firmness from his hand, and knocked at the door of humble solicitation with the utmost importunity. Káshí Ráj, who is the narrator of these incidents, has thus related the story: “An individual by name Ganesh Pandit, who occupied the post of newswriter on behalf of the above-mentioned Ráo at the Court of Nawáb Shujá'u-d daula Bahádur, and enjoyed the honour of being admitted to his presence, began, after the occur­rence of these events, to make overtures for peace at the instance of the aforesaid Ráo. Most of the Hindí notes in the Mahratta dialect he wrote to me with his own hand, and the pith of their contents was this: ‘Do you solicit His Highness, and urgently persuade him to this course, viz., in combination with Ashrafu-l Wuzrá (Sháh Wali Khán), to throw open the door of peace to me, and if a peace be concluded, immense favours shall be shown him in return for it.’ Accordingly, on one occasion he sent His Highness the impression of his hand in saffron, together with a sworn agreement, and a white Dakhiní turban, with a sarpech studded with diamonds, by way of an interchange of turbans, and I presented it for the auspicious inspection. From this side likewise the customary present was made in return, and by de­grees I brought His Highness's mind to this, that he entered into a consultation with Ashrafu-l Wuzrá on the subject; and whatever appeared in writing between them was always addressed to Ashrafu-l Wuzrá through the medium of your humble servant. [Long consultations upon the proposal.] After all, the communi­cations led to nothing.”