Later Mughals v1.c9.s14.12

v1.c9.s14.12

The conclusion of the campaign was soon announced at Court by a report received on the 14th Rabi I. 1126 H. (29th March 1714). It appeared that Ajit Singh had retreated in one night from his position south of Sambhar and had fallen back on Mairtha, and without making any stand there had gone on to Jodhpur, where he had hoped to be safe, surrounded by the desert. Finding that the Sayyid was still pressing onwards and seemed determined to strike a blow at him in spite of the inaccessibility of his capital, he sent his women and children into places of safety in the hill country, and himself sought refuge in the deserts of Bikaner.* Evidently he felt himself too weak to meet the imperialists in the open field, and during the time that Sayyid Miyan, the Bakhshi's father, was governor of Ajmer, the Rajputs had learned respect for Husain Ali Khan's qualities as a general. When Husain Ali Khan was within 30 miles of Mairtha, an embassy arrived from the Rajah, escorted by fifteen hundred horsemen.† It was believed that their arrival was a mere subterfuge, devised in order to gain time for the Rajah to escape. In order to make sure of them, Husain Ali Khan told them that if they were in earnest, they must agree to be put in fetters. After objecting to this proposal, as involving infamy and disgrace, they consented. Four of the principal men were put in chains. Directly they made their appearance from the audience tent in this condition, the loose characters of the imperial camp assumed that the envoys' overtures had been rejected. A body of them rushed at once to the Rajput tents, attacked their guards, and plundered all their property. There was great difficulty in suppressing this disorder. The envoys were sent for, their chains removed, and full apologies made. The envoys themselves were satisfied and continued the negotiation, but news of the outbreak having reached the Rajah, he fled. Husain Ali Khan was thus forced to advance to Mairtha, where he halted until the terms of peace had been arranged.*