Chapter 11

Mutual jealousies of the brothers—Abhai Singh dreads the
military fame of Bakhta—His policy—Prompted by the bard
Karna, who deserts Jodhpur for Nagor—Scheme laid by Bakhta
to thwart his brother—Attack on Bikaner by Abhai
Singh—Singular conduct of his chiefs, who afford supplies
to the besieged—Bakhta’s scheme to embroil the Amber
prince with his brother—His overture and advice to attack
Jodhpur in the absence of his brother—Jai Singh of
Amber—His reception of this advice, which is discussed and
rejected in a full council of the nobles of Amber—The
envoy of Bakhta obtains an audience of the prince of
Amber—Attains his object—His insulting letter to Raja
Abhai Singh—The latter’s laconic reply—Jai Singh calls out
the Kher, or feudal army of Amber—Obtains foreign
allies—One hundred thousand men muster under the walls of
his capital—March to the Marwar frontier—Abhai Singh
raises the siege of Bikaner—Bakhta’s strange
conduct—Swears his vassals—Marches with his personal
retainers only to combat the host of Amber—Battle of
Gangwana—Desperate onset of Bakhta Singh—Destruction of
his band—With sixty men charges the Amber prince, who
avoids him—Eulogy of Bakhta by the Amber bards—Karna the
bard prevents a third charge—Bakhta’s distress at the loss
of his men—The Rana mediates a peace—Bakhta loses his
tutelary divinity—Restored by the Amber prince—Death of
Abhai Singh—Anecdotes illustrating his character 1047