In his time Prithwīnārāyana came into Nepāl, and Tēj-narsinha fled to Bhātgāon. Prithwīnārāyana, knowing the six Pradhans to be traitors, bound and killed them. One only escaped, who went ahead of all the others and could not be seized. The wives of the Pradhans became satis. CHAPTER VIII. Progress of the Gōrkha invasion under the command of Prithwinārāyana. Taking of Bhatgaon. Fate of the three kings of Bhatgaon, Kathmandu and Patan. THE Gōrkhālis fought for six months with the people of Dhulkhel. After this Prithwīnārāyana Sāh built a fort1 on the top of the mountain south of Chaukōt, and collected a large number of troops 2. On consulting with his followers, he was told by the Kājīs that small villages were easily taken, as the people fled when they heard the shouts of the assailants, but that this village, Chaukōt, would require some military skill to take it. After this consultation the troops blockaded Chaukōt. Some of the people fled to Pyuthana by the way of Basdōl, and others to other places. Namsinha Rai went to Mahindra Sinha Rai3, and said, "We are unable to cope with the Gōrkhālis, with the help of only fifty houses. The rest of the people have fled, and I am come to tell you. Do not delay, but fly soon." Mahindra Sinha reproached him and charged him with cowardice, saying, "Do not 1 There are the remains of such small garhis or forts on all the low ridges round the valley. They consist of circular ditches and mounds, and could hardly have held more than forty or fifty men. * Chaukōt and Dhulkhel or Dharkhēl lie east of Bhatgaon. stay for me, but escape with your lives. As for myself, I will repulse the whole force of the Gōrkhālīs, and having earned great renown, will enjoy my possessions in happiness. If I do not succeed, I shall leave my body on the field of battle, and earn an abode in heaven, by the merit of which my sons and grandsons will obtain happiness." He then called together his faithful followers, who were desirous of securing happiness in the next world, and encouraged them. On the 6th of Jēth Badi a severe battle was fought, which lasted from evening till 12 gharis of the night. The Gōrkhālis, having lost 131 men, retreated. The battle was renewed daily for fifteen days, without the Gōrkhālis making any impression. Prithwīnārāyana and his Kājis were much disheartened, and seeing that a small village made such a determined resistance, wondered what was to be expected from large towns. On the 6th of Jeth Sudi a hardly contested battle was fought, which lasted till 14 gharīs of the night. At this time a sipahi, getting behind Mahindra Sinha, killed him with a khoḍā and a lance, and wounded Namsinha in the left shoulder with a khukri, so that he fell senseless to the ground. Seeing this, the Chaukōtiyās fled, and the village was set on fire. In this battle the Gōrkhālīs lost 201 men, which, with the 131 killed on the former day, gives a total of 332 men killed. Namsinha Rai, having recovered from his swoon, and seeing no Gōrkhālīs near, raised himself, and binding up his wound with his waistcloth fled to Pyuthānā, through Basdōl. He saw Mahindra Sinha Rai lying on the ground lifeless, being pierced from behind by a khoḍā and a lance, but he had no time to wait longer. The next morning Sri Prithwīnārāyana Sāh inspected the field of battle, and seeing Mahindra Sinha Rāï's lifeless body pierced with wounds, he praised his bravery, and sent for his family, that they, being the relatives of so brave a man, might have proper protection. They were brought and fed morning and evening from the royal kitchen. After this, having with ease taken five villages, viz., Panāvatī, Banēpā, Nālā, Khadpu, and Sāngā, Prithwīnārāyana returned to Noākōt. After eight months, Prithwīnārāyana came to attack Bhatgaon, where he had previously gained over the Sātbāhālyas1 by promising to leave to them the throne and revenue, and to content himself with a nominal sovereignty over the country. According to previous arrangements, therefore, the troops commanded by the Sātbāhālyās fired blank cartridges on the enemy, admitted them within the fortified walls with little opposition, and secretly sent them ammunition. Thus Bhātgāon was taken. The Gōrkhālīs entered the town, but met with great resistance at the durbar, which they surrounded. After some fighting, the golden door of the Mūla Chōk was broken open, and the Gōrkhālī troops entered the durbar. Jaya-prakasa Malla fought for three or four gharis, but he was disabled by receiving a bullet in his foot. Every one then yielded. The Bhōtiyā sipāhīs, having been suspected, had been shut up in a building, and on their clamouring to be let out to fight, Ranjit Malla set the place on fire. Prithwīnārāyana Sah now entered the durbar, and found the Rājās of the three towns sitting together, whereat he and his companions began to laugh. Jayaprakāsa was offended at this, and said, “O Gōrkhālīs, this has come to pass through the treachery of our servants, or 1 Seven illegitimate sons of Ranjit Malla. else you would have had no cause for mirth." The Gōrkhālis then became silent. Some conversation took place between Prithwinārāyana and Jaya-prakāsa, in which the latter praised the former, but cautioned him against his own officials, who he said were faithless and not to be trusted. Prithwinārāyana then paid his respects to Ranjit Malla, and respectfully asked him to continue to rule as he had hitherto done, although he (Prithwinārāyana) had conquered the country. Ranjit Malla replied that Prithwinārāyana had obtained the sovereignty by the favour of God, and that all that he now asked for was to be sent to Benares. Prithwīnārāyana entreated him to remain; but the recollection of the treachery of the Sātbāhālyās was fresh in his memory, and he would not consent. Prithwinārāyana then gave him leave to go, and also provided for his expenses on the road. When Ranjit Malla reached the top of the Chandragiri pass, he took a last view of Nepal, and with tears in his eyes exclaimed, "The Sātbāhālyās have killed my son Bir-Narsinha, and have caused me this sorrow." He then cursed them. "May they look like May their offspring Chandāls, and live in beggary. perish. May their birtās be taken from them; and may no respectable person ever associate with them. May they be reduced to selling windows, houses, clay, and tiles." There are several songs on the subject composed by him. He then bade farewell to Tulja (Turjā or Talēju), Pashupati, and Guhjeswarī, and went to seek an asylum with Bisweswara-natha and Gangā. Prithwīnārāyana Sāh then caused the members of the Sātbāhālyā families to be brought bound before him; and reflecting that they had been traitors to their father, for the sake of obtaining the gaddi, and that they could |