Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c10.s8.11

v1.c10.s8.11

One of the Afghān divisions had been posted opposite Safdar Jang (on the imperial Right wing.) By Abdāli’s order 700 of his camel-swivels had been advanced to a hillock overlooking Safdar Jang’s position; here the camels were made to lie down, their knees were tied together, and the swivels were directed against the Indian troops. Safdar Jang met this danger by dismounting 1700 of his musketeers and sending them to charge up the hillock on foot. With one concerted volley of their long pieces (*jizails*) these men slew many of the Afghān gunners, routed the survivors, and captured all their camels and swivels. A counter-attack failed to recover the hillock; Abdāli’s men, as they ran up the slope, were shot down by the soldiers of Safdar Jang in possession of the crest. Thus, the Afghān wing engaging the imperial Right was decisively defeated. Safdar Jang now had breathing time; he detached men to reinforce the prince (in the Centre), and made a bold advance into the field with all his troops in line, preceded by rockets, long firelocks (*jizail*) and light artillery (rahkala), in order to draw away the Afghān attack from Muin (van) upon himself.