Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/37

Book. VI. forcement. On hearing which, the Nabob accused Juggutseat of treachery; who defended himself by producing letters from Aliaverdy, prepared for the purpose, in which he was upbraided for not having used his influence to prevent the banishment of Hodgee. Suffraze Khan now assembled his troops, and ordered them to rendezvous on the plain of gheria, which lies on the west side of the river of Cossimbuzar, about five miles to the north of Muxadavad. Here he had scarcely formed his encampment, which consisted of 30,000 men, horse and foot, when Allaverdy appeared in sight, with an equal number, but of better troops; for amongst his cavalry were 3000 Pitans, the bravest of the Mahomedans in Indostan; and his infantry, levied in Behar, were much stouter than those in the army of Suffraze Khan, who were mostly natives of Bengal.

However, the unexpected firmness of the Nabob inspired some of his officers with courage; but more were either disaffected, or wavering; and all belonging to the Artillery had been engaged by Allumchund to discharge the cannon without ball, and to desert it boon after the onset. Troops after troops quitted the field, as soon as they saw the artillery abandoned. Nevertheless Suffraze Khan continued the fight, until he was left with only a few squadrons of horse, whom the enemy were moving to surround, when the driver of his elephant, warning him of the danger, offered, at the forfeit of his head, to convey him back safely to the capital; to which proposal the Nabob, with a resolution worthy of a better life, and of a better fate, replied, that he scorned to retreat before rebels and traitors; and ordered the driver to push into the thickest of the enemy's troops, toward the standard of Allaverdy; where, supported by the remains of his cavalry, he renewed the fight more desperately than ever, until he fell, shot through the heart by a musket ball.

Allaverdy, without meeting any farther opposition, marched to Muxadavad, where he was immediately proclaimed Nabob of Bengal, Behar, and Orixa; and used his victory with more lenity and