History of the Parsis : including their manners, customs, religion and present position : with coloured and other illustrations : in two volumes

CHAP. I.] A FALSE PROPHET. 25

energetic steps were not taken to seize the false prophet, the spark of fanaticism would spread and serious consequences might ensue. He therefore resolved to invest the mosque where Abdul Rehman had taken up his quarters with about seventy-five Arabs, and this he proceeded to do with a troop of dragoons. Dhanjisha Beheremandkhan accompanied the force in his capacity of native agent. The dragoons arrived about daylight at Bodhan, Dhanjisha was among the first to cross the river, and he endeavoured to prevail on the fakir to surrender himself without a vain resistance. The Mahomedan was obdurate, and Dhanjisha was killed in this attempt, together with the raja’s “vakil” and some others near him. Thus did the brave Dhanjisha lose his life at the early age of forty, and the Government of Bombay generously bestowed upon his widow a pension of Rs.3,000 per annum in recognition of the valuable services of this gallant officer.

1 The following extract of a letter addressed by Mr. Crow, the agent at Surat, to the Governor in Council at Bombay shows the Manner in which this Mahdi was disposed of :—

“Two borahs of Bodhan were sent to me by the kazi with a letter they had brought to him from the fanatic, and one to me, desiring me to accept the religion of Mahomed, retire, or fight.

“The best part of this and the following day was taken up in collecting information, which all bespoke the determined resolution of the fanatic and the hearty concurrence of his brother Mahomedans to try a revolution here, when I resolved to take the sudden step of seizing him. Two troops of cavalry were ordered to proceed by night to Bodhan, in order to invest the place and get hold of him if they could,