History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.33.4

v2.c40.33.4

But while the Maratha horse forayed over a country exceeding 80 miles in length, provisions and forage grew scarce in the Bengal camp, as the country was totally ruined. With lightning speed Raghujī fell upon Murshidabad, burnt and sacked the suburbs of Chhapāidaha and Mīr Ja'afar's garden and retired into Birbhum before the arrival of 'Alīwardī. 'Alīwardī fought a skirmish near Katwa where he had an advantage over the Marathas. Raghujī now left a small army under Mīr Ḥabīb and retired towards Nagpur.¹ The Marathas, though expelled from Bengal, still held Orissa in great strength with the dismissed troops of the Afghan leaders Shamsher Khān and Sardār Khan. After the fall of Durlabhrām, 'Alīwardī could not send any high officer of State to Orissa. Now he appointed Saiyad Aḥmad Khān Ṣaulat Jang, once more to be the Na'ib Nāẓim of Orissa, but took care to retain him in safety at Murshidabad by sending the arch-traitor Mir Ja'afar Khān (afterwards Shuja'-ul-mulk Nawāb Mir Ja'afar 'Alī Khān Bahādur) as his deputy. The Faujdāris of Medinipur and Hijli were conferred upon Mir Ja'afar in additon to his double appointments, Chief Pay-Master-General to the troops (Mir Bakhsī) and deputy to the Na'ib Nāẓim of Orissa. In order to encourage the coward the appointments were bestowed upon him in a public durbar and he was honoured with a khil'at, an elephant, a horse, a sword and a sarpech and a jhikā of jewellery.