The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.224

v4.c20.224

In the following year Hāmid Khān, accompanied by a large force of Marāthās, returned to Gujarāt and plundered the country. After many indecisive combats the Marāthās were completely defeated, and expelled for a time from Gujarāt. Sarbuland Khān’s army was so numerous that the revenues of the disordered province of Gujarāt did not suffice for its maintenance and he received from the central treasury a monthly subvention of half a million rupees. Through Sarbuland Khān’s enemies at court, the expulsion of the Marāthās from Gujarāt was made a pretext for orders directing the reduction of the army and the discontinuance of the subsidy. He was still further weakened by the withdrawal of the gallant Sayyid, Najm-ud-dīn ‘Alī Khān, who was appointed, as a reward for his services in Gujarāt, to the government of the province of Ajmer, and when the Marāthās returned in force the governor was obliged to recognise their claim to *chauth* and *sardeshmukhī* in Gujarāt.