Later Mughals v2.c14.s24.1

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.