Muntakhab al-lubab 97: Destruction of a Royal Army by the Mahrattas.
Muntakhabu-l Lubáb, of Kháfí Khán (Elliot & Dowson, extracts) 97
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Destruction of a Royal Army by the Mahrattas.
97.1
[Text, vol. ii. p. 428.] Among the events of this year was the defeat of Kasim Khan and * * *, who were sent to Danderi against Santa Ghorpura. * * One day intelligence was brought that Kasim Khan's advanced force had been attacked by a division of the enemy, that all their portable goods had been plundered, and the standing camp set on fire. * * Kasim Khan, on hearing this, endeavoured to push forward to their assistance; but he was surrounded by the enemy, and fighting went on till sunset. * * They had no food for man or animal. The nobles passed the night upon their elephants, and the men with their bridles in their hands. * * * At daybreak, the enemy became more daring, and the fighting more severe, for the Mahrattas swarmed on all sides. * * For three days the royal forces, overmatched and surrounded, did their best to repulse the enemy; but Kasim Khan was at length compelled to give ground and to retire fighting, to the shelter of the fort of Danderi. The chief men got some hay and corn from the fort, but the soldiers got no food. Movement in any direction was scarcely possible. Thus they remained for three or four days under the shelter of the walls of the fort, and of the lines they threw up to protect themselves from the assaults of the enemy. Their camels and cattle fell into the hands of the Mahrattas. While the fighting went on, the gates of the fort were kept closed, and the traders and inhabitants within let down food from the walls and sold it.
97.2
On the fourth or fifth day the enemy got intelligence that Himmat Khan was coming with a force to the rescue. Santa left half his force to keep Kasim Khan's army invested, and with the other marched against Himmat Khan. On learning that another force belonging to Ram Raja would act against Himmat Khan, he returned to his former position. Meanwhile matters went ill with the royal forces, and Kasim Khan, with a few other officers, resolved upon taking refuge in the fort secretly, without the knowledge of their brethren in arms. * * Kasim Khan went out at night with the ostensible purpose of making the rounds. Several reasons made it inexpedient to enter the gate, near which so many men and officers were gathered; so he ascended the walls by a rope-ladder. Ruhu-llah Khan, Saf-shikan Khan, and a crowd of soldiers in great tumult made their way in by the gate. Muhammad Murad Khan and others, hearing of this, followed the example. * * * In fine, for a month they were besieged within the four walls, and every day affairs grew worse with them. They were compelled to kill and eat their baggage and riding horses, which were themselves nearly starved. For all the greatest care and economy, the stores of grain in the fort were exhausted. * * To escape from starvation many men threw themselves from the walls and trusted to the enemy's mercy. * * People brought fruit and sweetmeats from the enemy's bazar to the foot of the walls, and sold them at extravagant prices.
97.3
* * Reverses, disease, deficiency of water, and want of grain, reduced the garrison to the verge of death. Kasim Khan, according to report, poisoned himself, or else died from want of the usual potion of opium, for he was overcome with disappointment and rage. Ruhu-llah Khan and the other officers were compelled to make overtures for a capitulation. * * Some officers went out to settle the terms of the ransom. Santa said, "Besides the elephants and horses, and money and property, which you have with you, I will not take less than a lac of huns, equivalent to three lacs and 50,000 rupees. A Dakhini officer said, "What are you thinking of! this is a mere trifle. This is a ransom which I would fix for Ruhu-llah Khan alone." Finally, seven lacs of rupees was settled as the ransom, the payment of which was to be distributed among the officers. Each one's share was settled, and he made an engagement to pay it as ransom, and to leave a relation or officer of rank with Santa as bail for payment. Santa's officers sat down at the gate of the fort, and allowed each officer to take out his horse and his personal clothing, the others were allowed to carry out as much as they could bear in their arms. Everything else, money and jewels, horses and elephants, etc., were confiscated by Santa. * * The government and personal property lost during this war and siege exceeded fifty or sixty lacs of rupees. * *
97.4
Santa was delighted with the terms he had made with the defeated army. Soon afterwards he heard that Himmat Khan was approaching by forced marches to the relief of the besieged army. Santa divided his forces into two divisions, and marched to meet him. At the distance of sixteen kos the force under command of Santa fell in with Himmat Khan, and a great battle followed. Himmat Khan fought with great spirit and bravery. Numberless Mahrattas were slain, and many of his own army perished. Santa's forces retreated, and the royal forces were led against the second army. Himmat Khan made arrangements for the pursuit. By orders of Santa many musketeers had taken positions in the thick jungle and among the trees, to impede the advance of Himmat Khan. Some of the best marksmen had climbed the trees, and concealed themselves among the thick branches. When Himmat Khan approached, a ball entered his forehead and killed him immediately. All the baggage and elephants and munitions of war belonging to Himmat Khan then fell bodily into the hands of Santa.