Muntakhab al-lubab 184: Nizamu-l Mulk.

184

[Text, vol. ii. p. 873.] Dilawar 'Ali Khan, bakhshi of Husain 'Ali Khan, who had been sent with six or seven thousand horse against the Raja of Bundi, having hastily increased them to twelve or thirteen thousand, crossed the Nerbadda. Various rumours reached Nizamu-l Mulk, and according to one, Dilawar 'Ali Khan had reached Handiya. Nizamu-l Mulk prepared to encounter him. The plan of 'Alam 'Ali Khan (the acting subadar) was to enlist as many Mahrattas as he could, to gather together the great faujdars, and to march from Aurangabad as soon as he heard of the near approach of Dilawar 'Ali Khan. Nizamu-l Mulk would thus be placed between two armies. * *
[Text, vol. ii. p. 875.] Nizamu-l Mulk, on receiving intelligence that 'Alam 'Ali Khan had taken the field, marched from Burhanpur to oppose him. He crossed the Tapti and encamped towards the east. When he heard of the advance of Dilawar 'Ali Khan, he resolved to meet him first. He sent his family to the fort of Asir, and then began his march against the enemy. On arriving within two or three kos of Ratanpur, and sixteen or seventeen from Burhanpur, he encamped about two kos distance from his adversary. To avoid shedding the blood of Musulmans, he sent conciliatory messages to Dilawar 'Ali, deprecating battle, but without effect. On the 16th Sha'ban, 1132 A.H. (11th May, 1720), both sides drew out their forces for the struggle. [Dispositions for and progress of the battle.] Dilawar 'Ali Khan, mounted on an elephant, fought resolutely, * * but he was struck by a musket-ball and killed. The army of the Barhas then turned to flee; but the Rajputs, Raja Bhim, and Raja Gaj Singh disdained to escape, and fought with great valour. They and three or four hundred other Rajputs, many Barha Saiyid officers and others, altogether four or five thousand men, were killed. The day after the battle, intelligence came that 'Alam 'Ali Khan had arrived at the tank of Hartala, seventeen kos from Burhanpur. Nizamu-l Mulk sent Mutawasal Khan with a force of three thousand horse to protect the city and the people.
[Text, vol. ii. p. 882.] When the news of the defeat and death of Dilawar 'Ali Khan reached the Saiyid brothers, it greatly disturbed and perplexed them. Every day some new plan was formed. Now it was proposed that both should go to the Dakhin, and take the Emperor with them. Then that Saiyid Husain 'Ali should go to the Dakhin and that Saiyid 'Abdu-llah should proceed to Dehli with the Emperor. * * Every week and every month the tents of the Emperor and of the two brothers moved in different directions, and their councils were distracted.