pretending that the aggressions of Mádhají's agent, Gopál Ráo Bháo, forced him to this act of open hostility.
Gopál Ráo Bháo had but a small force under him in Rájpútáná. Aware that Túkají was supported by a body of native troops, armed and drilled in the European fashion, and commanded the Chevalier Dudrenec, Gopál Ráo sent pressing messages to de Boigne, and to Lakhwa Dádá, commanding the main body of Sindia's cavalry, to join him without delay. De Boigne set out at once from Aligarh at the head of 9000 infantry, and joined Gopál Ráo before the latter had been molested by Holkar. Lakhwa Dádá brought in his cavalry at the same time. De Boigne immediately assumed command of the combined force, consisting of 9000 infantry, 20,000 cavalry, and about forty guns, and forthwith marched upon the enemy. Túkají became now aware of the double mistake he had committed; in the first place, in becoming the aggressor; in the second, in not at once crushing the small force opposed to him. He did his utmost, then, to avoid a general engagement. But de Boigne was not to be denied. He followed him up vigorously, and at last, on the 20th September, had the satisfaction of finding himself in front of his enemy posted at the pass of Lakhairí on the road leading from Kanúnd to Ajmír.
Túkají and Dudrenec had under them four battalions of sepoys, trained by Dudrenec, about 30,000 irregulars, mostly cavalry, and thirty-eight guns. The position
