Later Mughals v1.c6.s14.4

v1.c6.s14.4

While these negotiations were proceeding with the Rajputs, there came the unwelcome news of a rising of the Sikhs in the north of Sarhind, under one Fath Shah,† who had been joined by many scavengers, leather dressers and nomadic traders (i.e., Banjaras). Wazir Khan, the *faujdar* of Sarhind, had been killed in a fight with these men on the 22nd May 1710. This news forced on a speedy solution of the difficulty with the Rajputs. It was seen that a popular rising, such as that of the Sikhs, in a portion of the Empire so near the capital, might have much more serious and far reaching consequences than the then pending quarrel with the Rajputs, who, even if left in quiet possession of their hereditary country, were not likely to be thereby encouraged to further aggressions. It was therefore determined to come to as speedy a settlement with them as possible.