Muntakhab al-lubab 120.2

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.