Later Mughals v2.c14.s26: Sec. 52.—Exactions of Hamid Khan and the Mahrattas.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s26
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Sec. 52.—Exactions of Hamid Khan and the Mahrattas.
v2.c14.s26.1
As agreed on, the *chauth* for the lands on the Ahmadabad side of the Mahi river was given to Kanthaji and that for those on the side of Baroda Surat and so forth to Pilaji. The Mahrattas spread wherever they liked far and wide in the parganas, and collected sums by way of ransom, payments which they called *khandani*. On his side Hamid Khan assumed airs of independence. A sum of eighty thousand Rupees and the clothes prepared for the Emperor (a department in charge of Shaikh-ul-Islam Khan) were forcibly seized. The store-rooms of imperial goods were opened and emptied of their contents; and as the official accounts formerly annexed had been destroyed, the remaining volumes were removed from the diwan's custody. All the lands of the subah, assigned or unassigned, were appropriated, wealthy men were seized and the fine locally called *babura** imposed. Ahmad Quli and Husain Quli (sons of Shujaat Khan) were poisoned; only Mustafa Quli (a small child) was allowed to live. Murlidhar, a Gujarati of the writer caste, was appointed by Hamid Khan to be his diwan.
v2.c14.s26.2
∗ It was assessed in various ways, on the amount of trade, or on each caste, or by heads, or on homes. It had never been heard of before, but now became an annual thing. [Mirat, 180a.]
v2.c14.s26.3
Meanwhile the Mahrattas spread over the country in all directions, burning and plundering wherever they went. At Sarkhej, where is the tomb of Shaikh Ahmad Khatu, the better class of the inhabitants immolated their wives and children in the mode known as juhar, while many hundreds of high-born women threw themselves into wells or ponds to avoid outrage. Thus, too, in the hamlet across the Sabarmati where Afghans lived, many women were slain by their relations. Two sons of the late Shujaat Khan, one three years of age and the other an infant at the breast, were put to death by the victors; and of that family the only survivor was Suhrab Khan, a boy of twelve, who had been left in charge of the city and fortress of Surat.
v2.c14.s26.4
Kanthaji, as an officer of Rajah Sahu, affected to look down upon Pilaji, a mere agent for the Mahratta senapati or commander-in-chief. At Kambhayat (Cambay) this feeling led to a dispute, ending in a conflict. They fought within sight of the walls, and Pilaji, being defeated, retired to Mahtur a village near Kaira. Kantha then levied a contribution from Cambay, where the English factors, in spite of their letters of protection from Rajah Sahu were forced to pay five thousand Rupees. After this open quarrel, Hamid Khan forced them to sign an agreement by which Pilaji took the chauth to the east, and Kanthaji that to the west of the river Mahi. Soon after the battle at Cambay, Pilaji retired into quarters at Songarh, and Kanthaji went to his jagir in Khandesh. [Mirat.]