A History of the Mahrattas v1.c28.55.1

v1.c28.55.1

Soon after the armies had taken post, Sewdasheo Rao directed Govind Punt Boondelay to cut off the enemy’s supplies, in which he was for a time very successful; but Attaee Khan, sent out for the purpose, having come suddenly upon him when in a mango grove with only about a thousand of his men, the rest being dispersed plundering, attacked and killed him, cut off his head, and presented the acceptable present to the Abdallee king. Before the death of Govind Punt there was a probability that a treaty might be concluded, and the officers in both armies had visited each other; but as Sewdasheo Rao declared that Govind Punt was only in quest of forage for his own army, mutual accusations of treachery inflamed both parties, and negotiation for a time ceased.² The loss of Govind Punt was followed by another misfortune; a party of horse in charge of treasure, each man carrying a bag, were returning with it from Delhi, but having in the night mistaken the Afghan camp for their own, they were cut off with the whole of the treasure.³ Nevertheless, the Rajpoots, although they had deserted, contrived to assist the Mahrattas with money, and Sooruj Mull sent a very large sum⁴ which safely reached their camp; but the distress was soon extreme, and the battalions of Ibrahim Khan became clamorous for arrears.⁵ Holkar proposed that they should attack with their horse and leave the Gardees (such was the name by which the regular infantry were distinguished) to take care of the camp;