Page:Gazetteer of the province of Oudh ... (IA cu31924073057352).pdf/246

 238 RAE great things of the fighting men of Baiswara, but they seem readier to pay than to fight." By this time the pán had been accepted by every one except the agent of Chet Ráe, who as being illegitimate hela the lowest rank, and therefore came last in order. He stepped forward and said “Nawab, my master was ready to accept your terms, but if you wish to see how a Bais can fight, he will not refuse to gratify you. Give him but a day to prepare himself, and then lead your forces against his fort." Next day Saâdat Khan attacked Pachhimgaon, and the battle raged all that day with no success to the besiegers. In the evening the Nawab admir- ing the gallant bearing of the man, sent to say he was quite satisfied with that specimen of the bravery of Baiswara, and if Chet Ráe would come in now, he should be assessed at only half the sum that had been fixed on his estate. Chet Ráe accepted the terms and was received by the Government with great distinction. From Baiswara Saádat went on, past Tiloi and Amethi (in both of which places the rájas resisted him and were defeated) to Fatehpur where, after a sanguinary battle, he defeated and killed Bhagwant Singh Khíchar, who had rebelled against the Delhi Government, and had already defeated the wazír's forces in a pitched battle. Returning thence to Delhi, the king asked him if he had found the people in those parts as turbulent as he had expected. “No” he said. “No one gave me any serious trouble except the half sword of Chet Ráe, and the whole sword of Bhagwant Khíckar." Saadat Khan's assessment was very heavy (he is said to have raised the revenue of Oudh from seventy lakhs to two crores), and when (in 1740) Mansur Ali Khan succeeded his uncle, and began a similar progress through the country, a panic seized all Baiswara lest he should demand a similar increase on the former taxation, which was more than the land could afford to pay. Many of the land- owners fled across the Ganges in anticipation of his arrival, and there was a general uneasiness. Ráo Mardan Singh was now grown old, and desired to end his days in quiet and to divide his estates among his sons; so he called them to him, and asked their advice in the present emergency. The eldest, Raghunath Singh, advised instant flight to Daundia Khera, from whence if necessary they could cross the Ganges in a moment. The second, Udat Singh, could not see the use of flying;" the Nawab had not come yet; perhaps he would not come at all; perhaps he would not im- pose hard terms; and if he did, they had the fort there in which to fight him; and if they found themselves getting the worst of it, then as a last resource they could fly." The third son, Achal Singh, said " the Nawab has not yet crossed the Sai. Let me go to him at once, and he will be pleased at our coming in so early to proffer allegiance, and we shall secure good terms." Ráo Mardan then told them that he had spoken to try them, and that he should divide his estate among them according to their answers. To Raghunath Singh he gave Daundia Khera with its seven and a half par- ganas, saying that he would now be as far off as possible from the seat of Government, and could always gratify his propensity for running away. To Udat Singh he gave the recently annexed Parganas of Pátan Bihár, saying that he was brave and daring, and would have plenty to do to maintain himself there against his antagonists. To Achal he gave tho