Riyaz al-salatin 111.5.4

111.5.4

whilst Mir Habib with his Mahratta and Afghan troops fell back from Mednipur towards Katak. Ali Vardi triumphantly entered once more the City of Katak, and recaptured the Fort of Barabati, after killing its commandants, Serandaz Khan, Syed Nur, and Dharam Dass (p. 578, Seir), Pers. text. This re-conquest, however, proved abortive, for whilst Ali Vardi was still at Balasore on his way towards Murshidabad, Mir Habib with his light Mahratta and Afghan cavalry swooped down on Katak, and killed Shaikh Abdus Subhan, who had been left there as Deputy Governor by Ali Vardi. (See pp. 579-580 of the Seir, which also gives a good description of the Katak City). The Mahrattas, it would seem, always moved with light and mobile cavalry, whilst Ali Vardi's army was not equally light or mobile. Ali Vardi had, therefore (despite the fact that next to Asafjah, he was the first General of the time in India) to encounter the same difficulties in encountering Mahratta troops, that the British had in encountering the Boers in the late South African War. In the end, it is true, Ali Vardi triumphed, but the price that he had to pay for his apparent victory was too much, nor did he survive it long enough to reap its benefit. Mahabat Jang, considering the acceptance of Chauth to be humiliating, refused to conclude peace, and with his army prepared to fight and drive out the Mahrattas.