Muntakhab al-lubab 120: Siege of Wakinkera.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 120
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- English
Siege of Wakinkera.
120.1
[Text, vol. ii. p. 527.] At the beginning of the forty-ninth year of the reign, Aurangzeb moved with his army towards Wakinkera. * * At the end of Shawwal he reached the vicinity of the fort. His tent was pitched about a kos from the fort, and his officers were ordered to commence operations. Parya Naik had strengthened his defences and called in his scattered forces. He applied to Tara Bai for assistance, and had collected several thousand horsemen of all classes, especially Musulmans of bad character. The "black-faced infantry" with rage and clamour. and the artillery with a shower of fire, boldly resisted the advance of the Imperial forces. Cannon-balls from large and small guns were accompanied by thousands of blazing rockets, which rained night and day, and allowed not a moment's rest. A fierce struggle was commenced, and large numbers were killed on both sides. * *
120.2
The reduction of the fort was nearly accomplished, and the valour of the brave besiegers was about to reap its reward. The approaching fall of the fort was on every one's tongue, when intelligence came in that a large army of Mahrattas was approaching to succour the place. Next day Dahina Jadu and Hindu Rao, with two or three sardars, whose wives and families were in Wakinkera, approached with eight or nine thousand horse and an innumerable force of infantry. Dahina Jadu had been occupied for a short time in ravaging the country and opposing the royal forces. His present object was to get his wives and children and property out of Wakinkera, which he had deemed the safest of all the forts, and at the same time to render assistance to the garrison. On one side his strong force pressed severely on the royal army. At this juncture, when misfortunes poured like hail upon the besiegers, one body drew the royal generals into a conflict on one side, while on another two or three thousand horse dashed up to the fort, mounted the women on swift mares, and with the aid of the infantry in the fort they succeeded in carrying them off. * * Parya Naik sent money and goods, food and drink, to the Mahrattas, and settled allowances to their sardars to induce them to remain and protract the siege. The Mahrattas were quite willing to get money easily, so they remained and harassed the besiegers by daily attacks on both sides. Every day their forces increased.
120.3
Many men of the royal army were killed, and a great panic spread amongst them. [Private negociations.] Som Sankar, brother of Parya Naik, came out of the fort (as a hostage), presented his offering, and paid homage. He received the honour of a robe, horse, jewels, and a mansab, and then asked humbly forgiveness for his brother, and for a truce of a week. Muhtasham Khan then entered the fortress (to take formal possession as kila'ddr). He was entertained that night, and messages were sent to him assuring him that Parya Naik would see him next day, and then under his protection would proceed to pay homage. When he went into the fort, the drums of the royal army were beaten joyfully. * * The people in the fort, in order to satisfy the kila'ddr, busied themselves in sending out their useless goods, their women and the old men whose lives were precarious. The statement was still maintained that Parya Naik intended to visit the kila'ddr, but towards night the excuse was made that he was ill with fever. On the third it was stated that the fever had increased, and that he was delirious and talking wildly. Next day it was said that he was quite insane, and that he had gone out of the fort, and no one knew whether he had cast himself down from the fort to kill himself, or whether he had gone to join the Mahratta army.
120.4
The mother of that crafty one artfully made great cries and lamentations, and pretended to be in great distress. She sent a message to Aurangzeb, saying that when she was a little consoled for the disappearance of her son, she would leave the fort; but she hoped that her younger son, Sam Sankar, would receive investiture as the new zaminddr, and that he would be sent into the fort to Muhtasham Khan, because he would be able to show the kila'ddr the various places in which the treasure was buried. She would then leave the fort with her remaining property and children. Aurangzeb, not suspecting deception, allowed Sam Sankar to go into the fort. * * Then no one from the royal army was allowed to enter. Muhtasham Khan with some other persons were kept under restraint in the fort, and it became clear to the Emperor and his associates that they had been made the victims of deception; but the Emperor was patient, and acted cautiously, as the circumstances of the case required. Intelligence was now brought that Zu-l fikar Khan Nusrat Jang and others were approaching with the force under his command, and the Emperor issued an order directing him to join as soon as possible. * * Zu-l fikar Khan seized several wells from which the enemy drew their supplies of water; and the enemy now felt the deprivation which the Imperial forces had suffered.
120.5
* * The approaches were pushed forward to the fort, and on the day appointed for the assault the Emperor mounted his horse to take part therein, * * and took his position at a cannon-shot distance from the fort. * * The enemy were overpowered, and some positions were captured. * * Being greatly dispirited, they placed two or three thousand musketeers to hold one of the gates to the last. They then took their wives and children, their jewels, and whatever they could carry, and after setting fire to their temple and other buildings, they went out at another gate, and by some outlets which had been prepared for such an occasion, they made their way to the Mahratta army in parties. They then fled with the army. The conflagration in the fort and the cessation of the firing made the besiegers aware of their flight. A party of men entered, and found only disabled and wounded persons who were unable to fly. On the 14th Muharram the Imperial forces took possession of the place. * * The name Wakinkera was changed to Rahman-bakhsh. The Imperial army then retired to pass the rainy season at Deo-ganw, three or four kos from the Kistna. * * News arrived that the fort of Bakhshinda-bakhsh or Kandana had been lost through the carelessness of the commander and the strategy of the Mahrattas. On the same day Hamidu-d din Khan was sent to retake it.