Later Mughals v2.c14.s24: Sec. 49.—Shujaat Khan Slain.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s24
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Sec. 49.—Shujaat Khan Slain.
v2.c14.s24.1
When they reached the village of Motiya Medara, four *kos* from the city, being in total ignorance of the enemy's presence, the camp-followers and the troops, mostly horsemen, began to leave in small groups and race each other to the city. All order and discipline were lost. Mahratta horsemen, known as Hol-suwar, appeared in sight and attacked the rearguard. Shujaat Khan's men lost their heads entirely, and the march became a mere *sauve qui peut* with the city as its goal. Pressing onwards the Mahrattas fell upon the centre and commenced plundering it. Shujaat Khan did all he could to restore order, but owing to the crowd of fugitives and the strings of carts his efforts were without avail. The men were only too eager to escape out of their chief's sight and save themselves from the Mahrattas.
v2.c14.s24.2
∗ Khush-hal Chand (Berlin MS. f. 1045) suggests drunkenness as the cause of Shujaat Khan's defeat.
v2.c14.s24.3
Shujaat Khan abandoning these fruitless endeavours took up a position on one side, a little apart from the crowd. Hamid Khan seized the chance and came on, clad in armour *cap-a-pie*, seated in an iron-sided canopy. The standard elephants of the two leaders fought together and that of Shujaat Khan prevailed. Then Hamid Khan drove forward the elephant he was riding. Shujaat Khan was seated on a simple pad with no iron-protected sides and with him was a little child, his son. Nevertheless he hesitated not, but brought his elephant alongside that of his enemy. Then both men let fly their arrows.
v2.c14.s24.4
Husain Quli, son of Shujaat Khan, who commanded the vanguard of three thousand horse, saw from his seat on his elephant Hamid Khan come up against his father. He tried to rally the few men about him and lead them in a charge; not one followed him. Alone he rode to his father's succour; but arrived too late. Shujaat Khan's arrows glanced harmlessly off the sides of the iron canopy, while several of Hamid Khan's had struck Shujaat Khan with full effect. His few companions, who had not been killed or wounded, took to flight and were made prisoners by the Mahrattas. Then Hamid Khan's men surrounded the elephant and gave the coup de grace with their lances and spears. The deceased's family, including two sons, Husain Quli Khan and Mustafa Quli Khan, were taken prisoners; and the whole of the goods and equipage in his camp became the spoil of the conqueror. At nightfall Hamid Khan accompanied by the Mahrattas entered his camp, which was pitched at the Shahi-Bagh. During the night the head of Shujaat Khan was sent into the city to Safdar Khan Babi, and he sent it on to Ibrahim Quli Khan.
v2.c14.s24.5
The next day, the 17th Dec. 1724, Hamid Khan entered the city and took possession of the Bhadar palace. Munim Khan the diwan and Fidwi Khan his predecessor, who had taken up his abode in the city, accompanied by the chief Muhammadans and Hindus, presented themselves in fear and trembling. In all the parganas west of the Mahi the *chauth* and sardeshmukhi were given to Kanthaji ; and the Mahratta's soldiers thronged the streets and lanes, went where they pleased, and sold the plunder of Shujaat Khan's camp. Much property was also removed from the shrine of Shaikh Ahmad Khattu [at Sarkhej],—grain, glass candle-shades, canvas awnings, and brass railings, the latter torn down from their place round the tomb. Kanthaji sent out his agents to realize the chauth, and went himself to levy ransom (khandani) from Viramgaon, an unfortified unwalled town. By the advice of Ude Karan the desai, the inhabitants submitted and agreed to the levy of 250,000 Rupees if their goods were spared. When the money was collected the desai prudently added something, and with this money a fort was built. Meanwhile Hamid Khan threw off the mask, turned out the imperial officers and grandees, took possession of the whole country, and by degrees sent for all the books and papers of the diwan's office, and from this time forth the revenues of this province were lost to the Emperor and retained by the governors (nazims).