Later Mughals v2.c14.s31: Sec. 57.—Mahrattas in Gujarat, October 1726—June 1727.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s31
- Language
- English
Sec. 57.—Mahrattas in Gujarat, October 1726—June 1727.
v2.c14.s31.1
Pilaji, acting on behalf of Trimbak Rao Dhabariya, the senapati to whom the chauth on the lands east of the Mahi river had been assigned, exerted himself to collect the money. But Baji Rao the Peshwa to harm his sworn rival sent his own officer Udaji Puar to interfere in the collections. Both sides met at Baroda and the quarrel ended in a fight. Abdun-nabi Beg, deputy faujdar of Dabhoi, having been much harassed by Pilaji about the payment of chauth, took the side of Udaji and gave him shelter in Dabhoi. In the subsequent fighting Abdun-nabi Khan was killed, and the town and fort thus fell into Udaji's sole possession.
v2.c14.s31.2
Kanthaji now came back from his quarters in Khandesh and joined Pilaji in laying siege to Dabhoi. While the Mahrattas were thus occupied, Sadar-ud-din Muhammad Khan, the new faujdar of Baroda, made a dash for that place. He crossed the Mahi at Fazilpur and hoped by a night march to reach his destination. Pilaji detached a party which intercepted him, his baggage and transport were plundered, and he was forced to fight his way to Baroda. The attack on both it and Dabhoi was pushed more actively than ever, and Udaji was forced to apply to Sarbuland Khan for help. Anand Rao, his brother, came with his son to Talab Kakariya, agreements were entered into and presents interchanged. Muhammad Amin Beg and Shaikh Allahyar were recalled. They had settled the country on the banks of the Mahi and were just then moving towards Jhalawar and Sorath and were at the moment near Dhanduka.[^ *] On their march towards Dabhoi they were hindered at every step by Mahratta horse under the command of Krishna, adopted son of Kanthaji Kadam, and the ingress of supplies was stopped. Near the Watrak there was a pitched battle in which Krishna suffered defeat and retreated to Baroda.
v2.c14.s31.3
Pilaji and Kanthaji raised the siege of Dabhoi and making a forced march attacked the Muhammadans, who were then at Nariad on their way to Baroda. Amin Beg and Allahyar with their rear to the town resisted for a week. Kanthaji then offered terms to Sarbuland Khan through Fida-ud-din Khan, faujdar of Pitlad. The governor gave a favourable answer, Mumin Khan the provincial diwan was sent from Pitlad and an agreement was made to pay the chauth. The governor's troops were recalled. Udaji foiled in his attempt to obtain aid from the Muhammadan governor, strengthened the defences of Dabhoi and continued the warfare, being helped as far as his means allowed by Sadar-ud-din Muhammad Khan, faujdar of Baroda. Their united efforts though long continued were of no
v2.c14.s31.4
[^ *]: In the north-eastern corner of the Kathiawar peninsula, 30 m. s. s. e. of Wadhwan. (Indian Atlas, sheet 22 S. W.) [J. S.]
v2.c14.s31.5
avail; finally the two men evacuated Dabhoi and entered the province of Malwa where Udaji had a foothold at Dhar. Dabhoi and Baroda were occupied by Pilaji. Having sent out their men to collect the *chauth*, Kanthaji and Pilaji departed to their quarters for the rainy season. Krishna the adopted son of Kanthaji took the fort of Champanir and made it his headquarters and abode. From this strong inaccessible fortress, standing on the top of a high hill, he led plundering expeditions into Marwar as far as Jhalor.
v2.c14.s31.6
In the latter part of 1139 H. (April-May 1727) when the harvest was ripe, Sarbuland Khan once more took the field and went into Sorath;* and for the second time the zamindar of Nawanagar paid a tribute of one lakh of Rupees through Salabat Muhammad Khan Babi. In time the governor reached Purbandar and Chhaya on the shores of the ocean. The latter place could not be reached by the Muhammadans until they had cut down the trees and burnt the brushwood. On their approach the zamindar put to sea in a boat and escaped, leaving behind him a few cannon, seven cuirasses and such supplies as he had not time to remove. The governor waited in the hope of the fugitive’s return. As he did not submit, men were set to work to raze the fort to the ground. But under other advice Sarbuland Khan changed his plan, began to repair the fort and announced the appointment of a faujdar. The fear of permanent exclusion soon brought the absconder to his senses and he was reinstated on making a payment of 125,000 Mahmudi Rupees. On the return march Sarbuland Khan married the daughter of Partab Singh of Halod and the peshkash on his estate was remitted. Jam Tamachi (son of Rai Singh) had succeeded to the rule of Nawanagar on 11th Bhadra Sudi 1767 S. (1710). His nurse fearing his uncle Hardhol sent him to his aunt Bai Ratnaji at Bhuj. The aunt spent money in his interest and also wrote to her brother Rajah Partab S. of Halod to give his daughter in marriage to Sarbuland Khan and the daughter of one of his cousins to Salabat Mhd. Khan Babi. These two men expelled Hardhol and restored Tamachi.†
v2.c14.s31.7
∗ i.e., Kathiawar. Not to be mistaken for the port of Surat. [J. S.] † Ranchorji Amarji’s *Tarikh-i-Sorath*, p. 258.
v2.c14.s31.8
Sarbuland Khan's position at Court now began to be seriously undermined. From the first, when he was opposed by Hamid Khan, the governor had occupied and turned to his own uses all the parganas assigned in jagir to nobles and courtiers at Dihli. Complaints were made to the Emperor, and the governor's wakil (agent) at Court repeatedly received orders for transmission to his master directing the restoration of these jagirs. No attention was paid. At last Sarbuland Khan's old jagirs in the Panjab, held irrespective of his office (bela shart) were annexed; and the more influential of the displaced jagirdars obtained rateable shares in them in proportion to the lands they had lost. But the rest were ruined, and either starved where they were or dispersed in search of a livelihood.