The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c18.49

v4.c18.49

The wild hilly country lying south of the Ganges and east of Bundelkhand also came under closer rule. Rājā Rudra Pratāp, brother of, and successor to, the Ujjainiya chief who had assisted Shāh Jahān in his rebellion against Jahāngīr, had been less subservient than his predecessor and was reduced to order by 'Abdullah Khān, the governor of Bihār. 'Abdullah Khān then attacked Lachman Singh, the Baghel chief of Ratanpur,¹ and with the assistance of the chief of Bāndho¹ soon obtained his submission. The Cheros, an aboriginal tribe in Palāmau, whose recorded history dates only from this period, were also troublesome and in 1641 the governor of Bihār was ordered to invade their country. Passing south through Gāyā he invested Palāmau and Pratāp Rāi, the Chero rājā, offered terms, which were accepted as the rainy season was approaching and further campaigns would be arduous and dangerous. Other chiefs who were dissatisfied with Pratāp Rāi arrested him, but failed to hold their tribesmen and after several changes in the leadership Pratāp Rāi was released and finally submitted to the Moghuls in 1643.