Riyaz al-salatin 111.5.3

111.5.3

A large number of Mustafa Khan's Afghan adherents also joined them, and the market of fight and slaughter once again became warm in the conflict between Mahabat Jang and the Marhattas. The Subah of Orissa fell into the hands of Janoji, whilst weakness set in in the Province of Bengal. Mir Habib opened negotiations for the settlement of the Chauth of Bengal. Nawazish Ahmad Khan, Ahsan Quli Khan, Jagat Set, and the Rai-Raian exerted themselves strenuously on the side of peace. But in Darbhanga and its neighbourhood, and these had effected a sanguinary revolution by treacherously killing at a Darbar Zainu-d-din Khan, Subadar of Patna. Now Janoji moved to Patna (with him being Mir Habib), and Ali Vardi also proceeded to Patna. Ali Vardi now rose to the height of his generalship, and succeeded in crushing and routing his united Afghan and Marhatta foes in a great battle near Barh. (See the spirited description of this battle in the Seir, p. 566). Janoji, now receiving news of his mother's death, retreated to Nagpur, leaving Mir Habib towards Katak and Mednipur with some Mahratta and Afghan troops (Seir, p. 576). Shortly after, Raghoji sent to Mir Habib another Mahratta reinforcement under Manaji, younger brother of Janoji [Mohan Singh of the text is obviously a mistake or misprint for Manaji] Ali Vardi marched out with his army from Murshidabad and passed through Katwah, Bardwan, Mednipur, Bhadrak, and Jajpur;