Left alone and helpless, Abdunnabí thought of trying

Abdunnabí is reconciled to the Mír and is again recognized as a ruler.

to be reconciled to the Mír. With this object in view, he deputed Bághah Fakír son of Mirzó Fákír to go to the Mír and settle matters. At the same time he entreated Muhammad Baháwal, the chief of the Dáúd­pótahs to help him in the affair. Fazlalí Khán’s help was also sought in the same way.* Muhammad Baháwal sent his brother Sardár Khán, who accompanied by Fazlalí and other chiefs, went to the Mír. Abdunnabí even succeeded in enlisting the sympathy of Mír Fateh Khán, who undertook to speak in his favour. Abdunnabí sent a copy of the Korán to the Mír, with the following words written in his own hand writing on the margin of the book,— “I hereby commit to writing and swear by the word of God that henceforth, I shall remain true to the Mír and will not prove treacherous.” When the Korán was brought to the Mír, he got up before it, out of respect. He kissed it and placed it on his head. He read the words and accepted them to be true, though he still suspected treachery. For, there and then, he remarked to his cousin Mír Fateh Alí “Brother, I lay my head as a sacrifice on the Korán. I may soon join my grandfather and father and uncle, and I leave my little children to your care. I hope you will treat them like a father.” So saying the Mír walked to the tent of Mián Abdunnabí, in the com­pany of other nobles. Abdunnabí apparently gave him a very hearty reception. In the evening he returned the visit to the Mír and seemed to repent of what he had been doing so long. Soon they became friends as before and travelled on together, till they arrived at old Khudábád. Mián Abdunnabí was now treated as the ruler and the Mír went over to his court every day, as the fashion was, along with a few friends or attendants. Abdunnabí was secretly watching for some opportunity to execute his nefarious plan. As, however, he could not yet succeed, he hit upon another treacherous plan. One night he put on the dress of a beggar and taking an attendant with him, came privately to the Mír’s residence. He then addressed him in the following manner,—“O! wise Mír, either kill me now or make me your prisoner. As I think you have not yet full faith in the Korán, or my writing on it, here I am alone and unarmed at your place. You come to my place with a large number of men, which shows that some suspicion still lurks in your mind about me. Now do whatever you like to me.”

The Mír was much ashamed. He gave word to him that in future he would visit him alone, as thereafter he had no fear of him. The next morning the Mír sent away his followers and forces to his own derah or residence,* along with his kinsmen and chiefs, Fateh Alí, Ghulám Alí, Suhráb, Alahyár, Thárah* and others. Only he himself, Mír Fateh Khán and Mirzó Fakír remained behind with a few Balóch attendants and officers. There­after the Mír began to visit Mián Abdunnabí, with one or two men only.

The Mián now began to laugh in his sleeve, pleased at

Murders of Mírs Abdullah and Fateh Khán and Mirzó Fakír by treachery.

the idea that he had at last got an opportunity to get rid of his enemy. One day he instructed a number of his men to appear fully armed in the court the next morning, when the two Mírs should come to visit him in the usual manner. The morning came and Mír Abdulláh with Mír Fateh Khán came to the court. Before they entered the presence of the Mían, the latter asked some men to require the Mírs to come to him without their arms. The men communicated the order to the Mírs, who thought the Mían was testing their faith and feelings. For a minute they hesitated, seeing that some treason was afoot, but they remembered the promise made by them on the Korán, and resolved to become martyrs. Each of them quietly removed their swords and handed them over to the men. Instantly they were surrounded by the Mián’s armed men and taken prisoners. At the same time some men ran to the Mír’s tents, where about 100 Balóches were staying, including Mírzó Fakír, who was confined to bed owing to illness. A volley of guns was fired at them, killing a large number of them. Those who survived were killed with swords, though in doing so, about 200 of the Mián’s own men lost their lives in the assault made by the Balóches in their self-defence. An executioner now appeared at the place, where the two noble prisoners had been contned and where they were spending their last moments in reading the Korán. First a blow was given to Mír Abdulláh and his head rolled down by the side of the Korán, reddening the sacred pages with his innocent blood. The next blow was given to the old Mír Fateh Khán, and his head, separated from his body, struck his young relation’s head. Thus died these two noble and innocent chiefs by the treachery of Mián Abdunnabí.*

Mír Abdulláh died leaving two little sons Ghulám

Mír Fateh Alí Khán succeeds Mír Abdulláh, occupies the fort of Díngarh and proceeds against Abdun­nabi.

Husain and Bahrám, and Mír Fateh Khán died leaving two grown up sons, Mírs Alahyár and Thárah. Mír Fateh Alí Khán was formally declared to be the head of the Balóches as soon as the tragic news was received by them. All were prostrated with grief at first, but they were soon up, ready to be revenged on the murderous Abdunnabí. Mír Fateh Alí Khán wanted to march against him without any loss of time, but Mír Suhráb proposed to remove their families and their heavy baggage to the fort of Díngarh for their safety, and from thence to march against the enemy. This proposal was approved by all and Mír Fateh Alí Khán acted accordingly. They came to Díngarh and occupied the fort. After the families and children were comfortably lodged, Mir Fateh Alí Khán accompanied by his brother Mír Ghulám Alí Khán, Mír Suhráb, Mír Fateh Khán’s sons Alahyár and Thárah, and Bághah Fakír, started with an army of six thousand selected Balóches. As that army was small as compared with the enemy’s army, Mír Suhráb offered to go to Wangah* and bring Nindah and other Balóch chiefs with their forces to assist. The Mír permitted him to do so. Accordingly Mír Suhráb left his nephew and went to Wangah.

When Abdunnabí heard that Mír Fateh Alí Khán had

Advance of Abdunnabí to meet the Balóches.

come with a Balóch army to the battle-field, he advanced with his forces to meet him. He appointed Muhammad Hasan Khuháwar to be the Commander-in-Chief and to go in advance with his Khuháwars. He was also joined by Biláwal, the son of Rájah Líkhí with a large squadron. Ghulám Hasan, the son of Alah Baksh Jhinjan, marched next with his tribesmen. He was followed by Tájah Sámtiah, Dhingánah Jatóí, Peróz Kalerí, Peróz Tálpur, with their respective forces, together with large hordes of Nuhmardís, Khósahs and Afgháns under the leadership of Sardár Khán and Is-hák Khán. The number of these fighting men exceeded thirty thou­sand.

Proceeding with the above forces Mián Abdunnabí came

The battle of Hálání and the defeat of Abdunnabí.

to Hálání* about 6 miles from the Mír’s camp and halted there. Seeing that the enemy had come prepared to fight, Mír Fatehalí Khán, without waiting for succour to be brought by his uncle Mír Suhráb, marched on to meet them. The two armies met and the bloody work commenced. Muskets and bows were brought in use at first. Then the turn of swords came. While the fight was hot Mír Suhráb arrived with 3,000 brave Balóches. The leader of the enemy’s advance guard Muhammad Hasan fought creditably, but he soon fell under the sword of Mír Fatehalí Khán. His brother Bákar hastened to fill the vacant place, but he too did not long survive his brother. Then the Mír ordered a general attack on the enemy from all sides. Mír Suhráb accordingly fell on the party of Sámtiahs and cut down Tájah Líkhí and his brother Alahdád. Mírs Ghulámalí, Alahyár, Thárah as well as Bághah Fakír each made havoc in the enemy’s line in his own way, killed a large number and took others prisoners. In short Abdunnabí could not stand against the vehement attack of the Balóches and gave way. He plunged into the water of a lake that was close to the battle-field and made his escape with a few attendants, leaving his friends to shift for themselves. Crossing the lake with some difficulty, he betook himself to the river and putting himself in a boat went to the other side. Then he fled once more straight to the hills. The above battle was fought in the year 1196 A.H. (1782 A.D.)*

The flight of Mián Abdunnabí was followed by a general route of his army. After gaining this victory, Mír Fateh Alí Khán came to Naoshahrah * and halted there. Biláwal Líkhí was pursued by a force, but escaped by sea to the Hálár mountains to seek help from the Hindús. Tájah Fakír, the son of Mehráb Jatóí, and Dhingánah Jatóí, having repented of having taken the side of the cowardly Abdunnabí came and joined the Mír with their forces. The Mír received them well and appointed Tájah to his father’s post, giving Tájah’s place to Dhingánah.