Manazil al-futuh 1.2.2

1.2.2

In like manner, as often as one or two thousand of the Mahratta horse went out for grass and forage, the Abdali and Hindustani heroes used to pillage them on their way; till at length affairs reached such a pass that none would stir out fruitlessly from their position, which they had surrounded with a strong intrenchment, except wretched naked labourers who, going by stealth into the open country, used to dig up grass from the ground with their kharpas, and offer it for sale. As soon as Ahmad Sultan became cognizant of these matters, he directed Khanjan Khan, the head of the Fufalzai chiefs, who is generally known as Jahan Khan, along with three or four thousand Kazalbashis who were under his command; as well as Haji Nawab Khan Alkuzai; to mount every day and patrol round the Mahratta camp at a distance of two kos from their intrenchments, one from the northern side, and the other from the southern; and whenever any forager with grass should approach the enemy's camp, to put him to death. The chiefs in question accordingly continued for a period of two months to patrol round the intrenched camp, slaying and pillaging every forager they came across, who attempted to convey grain, fodder, or grass to the enemy; afterwards they used to separate from each other on the east and west. The Mahratta army being reduced to great extremities for want of grass, fodder, and grain, marched out with intent to give battle;