Muntakhab al-lubab 95: Siege of Jinji. Arrest of Prince Kám Bakhsh.

95

Prince Muhammad Kám Bakhsh, with Jamdatu-l Mulk Asad Khán and Zú-l fikár Khán Nusrat Jang, approached Jinji, and encamping about a cannon-shot off the fortress, began to prepare for the siege. The fortress of Jinji occupies several adjacent hills, on each of which stands a fort bearing a distinct name. Two of these hills are very high, and the forts were well furnished with artillery, provisions, and all necessary stores. It was impossible to invest all the forts, but the lines were allotted to different commanders, and every exertion was made for digging mines and erecting batteries. * * The garrison also did their best to put the place in order, and make a stout defence. From time to time they fired a gun or two. The zamíndárs far and near of the country round, and the Mahratta forces, surrounded the royal army on all sides, and showed great audacity in cutting off supplies. Sometimes they burst unexpectedly into an intrenchment, doing great damage to the works, and causing great confusion in the besieging force. * * The siege had gone on for a long time, and many men fell; but although the enemy's relieving force day by day increased, Zú-l fikár Khán Nusrat Jang and the other generals so pressed the siege that it went hard with the garrison. The command of the army and the general management of civil and revenue affairs in that part of the country were in the hands of Jamdatu-l Mulk and Nusrat Jang. This gave great offence to Prince Muhammad Kám Bakhsh, and Jamdatu-l Mulk and Nusrat Jang had to admonish him, and speak to him sharply about some youthful follies. The Prince was greatly offended. The Prince wished that the siege should be carried on in his name; but the generals acted on their own authority. Day by day the dissensions increased. The besieged were aware of these differences, and contrived to open communications with the Prince, and to fan the flames of his discontent, so that great danger threatened the army.
Intelligence now came of the approach of Santa, and the enemy's forces so closed round the royal army and shut up the roads, that for some days there were no communications whatever between the army and His Majesty. Messages still came to the Prince from the garrison, exciting his apprehensions, and holding out allurements. He was vexed with Jamdatu-l Mulk's opposition, and no communications arrived from the Emperor; so he was on the point of going over to the enemy. Jamdatu-l Mulk and Nusrat Jang were informed of this, and they surrounded his tents, and made the Prince prisoner.
When these troubles and discords were at their height, Santa came down upon the royal army with twenty-five thousand horse, and reduced it to such straits, that the commanders deemed it expedient to leave their baggage and some of their materiel to be plundered by Santa, and to retire into the hills for refuge. Every one was to carry off what he could, and the idea was that Santa would stop to plunder what was left, and not follow the retreating force. Accordingly the two generals retired fighting for some kos, till they reached the shelter of the hills, when they beat off Santa. A few days afterwards they renewed the siege, and the garrison was hard pressed. According to report, a sum of money reached the enemy, and they evacuated the fortress and retired.
When intelligence of the arrest of Prince Muhammad Kam Bakhsh reached Aurangzeb, he apparently acquiesced in it as a matter of necessity. The news of the reduction of the fortress came soon afterwards, and he applauded the services performed by the two generals. In reality, he was offended, and summoned the Prince with the two generals to his presence. The Prince was brought up under arrest. After waiting upon Aurangzeb, he addressed a few words of admonition to Jamdatu-l Mulk; but afterwards the marks of his displeasure became more apparent. Orders were given to set the Prince at liberty.