Later Mughals v2.c14.s33: Sec. 59.—Gujarat Affairs, October 1728—June 1729.
Later Mughals v2.c14.s33
- Language
- English
Sec. 59.—Gujarat Affairs, October 1728—June 1729.
v2.c14.s33.1
In 1141 (the open season thereof being from about the 1st Oct. 1728 to the 30th June 1729) Sarbuland Khan proceeded to the country along the banks of the Mahi river. At Tal Chaudula he halted to enable stragglers to join and the artillery to arrive. While still there he heard of the death of Jawanmard Khan Babi, faujdar of Pitlad. This officer had attacked the village of Balur and in the fight was hit by a ball on the left thigh and died, several days after his return to Pitlad. He was buried near the Idgah at the capital by the side of his ancestors' graves, and his eldest son Kamal-ud-din Khan received his rank and assignations in parganas Sami and Munjewar with his father's title. The younger son M. Anwar was made Safdar Khan and appointed faujdar of Radhanpur in his father's place.
v2.c14.s33.2
Sarbuland Khan moved his tents to the village of Kanaj in pargana Haveli. Thence he marched to the town of Nariad, where he was joined by the officials and headmen of pargana Pitlad. Rai Kishwar Das, the chief officer of the late faujdar, who had held the district on a lump rent, agreed to take over the obligation. After a time, having failed to meet his engagements, the rent was made over to Salabat Muhammad Khan Babi; but as the arrears were still unrealized he was put into prison in the Bhadar and there committed suicide. The governor then moved on to the banks of the Mahi and attacked village Bhadarwara, the residence of Sardar Singh. The first day's fight was indecisive and Sarbuland Khan spent the night on the spot. In the morning when hostilities were renewed terms of submission were offered and through Salabat Muhammad Khan the demand was settled for twenty thousand Rupees. As it was now the end of the dry season and fodder was very scarce, the army returned to Ahmadabad, taking on the way tribute from Utmina and other places.
v2.c14.s33.3
In this year (1728-29) the collection of the revenue in the district round the city was a source of trouble. Himmat Dil Khan quarrelled with the headmen and tenantry, they fled, he resigned, the assessments and collections fell into confusion. Ali Muhammad Khan who had known the people for many years, having been Prince Jahan Shah's agent in the reign of Bahadur Shah (1707-1712), was placed in charge, one son* was made faujdar of the district and another was appointed to several offices in the city, [such as] the collections on cloth, the customs dues, the horse market, and the mint. Soon the governor's necessities caused him to ask for ten thousand Rupees more than had been assessed. Ali Muhammad Khan pointed out that in the current year the district could not bear further harassment; if left alone it would pay a large increase in the coming year. But the need of money was extreme. Sarbuland Khan next suggested that the money might be raised in the departments of receipt subordinate to the faujdar or magistrate's office. As money in that department could not be levied without oppressive action, Ali Muhammad Khan refused and resigned his offices. Zainal Khan, a dependant on Mumin Khan, succeeded. The extra funds were produced by imposing fines and leasing the ferries to harsh unscrupulous renters. Once or even twice in the year the trading community was taxed either on their income or the number of persons or on the number of houses. One Hasan, an iron merchant, who had risen to wealth by questionable means, was killed one night on his way home. His heirs accused his caste-fellows of the crime. The governor, glad of the pretext, seized their chief men, and by beatings and torture extorted three lakhs of Rupees, one of the chief men dying under the cruelties inflicted.
v2.c14.s33.4
∗ The author of the Mirat-i-Ahmadi.
v2.c14.s33.5
Kanthaji on his way from Sorath to his home country passed by Ahmadabad at a distance of about twelve miles. When he was in the vicinity of Sanand, his horsemen, known in Gujarat as *Hol-suwar*, spread out in all directions in search of plunder. In the plain near the village of Ghiyaspur, about six miles from Baroda, they came across a party of Sarbuland Khan's elephants which had been sent to collect forage. Of these three were driven off. To punish this affront, Allahyar Bakhshi was despatched at once; but he had not gone beyond Mahmudabad when the governor learnt that the Mahrattas, afraid of pursuit, had abandoned the elephants after having driven them for a couple of miles. Allahyar was recalled and returned the next day.
v2.c14.s33.6
SEC. 60.—GUJARAT AFFAIRS, OCTOBER 1729—JUNE 1730.
v2.c14.s33.7
When the rainy season had passed and the harvest was ripe, the time had come to take the field once more (Oct. 1729). Sarbuland Khan marched towards Kolwa and recovered tribute from Bhao Singh of Sahpur. Collecting money as he went, the governor arrived at the village of Madhupur near Junagarh. The place, which was a large one, was attacked and plundered. Here an invasion of Kachh was planned, but as a preliminary, envoys were sent to demand a tribute of ten lakhs of Mahmudi Rupees. The ruler of Kachh declined to treat. Thereupon his rivals and enemies promised to point out the most flourishing parts of his territory whence most money could be realized, and asserted that little or no effort would be required. But to approach Kachh it is necessary to cross the salt waterless desert known as the Rann, about fifty miles in breadth. Sarbuland Khan was warned by the men of the country that there would be great difficulty, but tempted by the hope of gathering tribute and plunder, he decided to make the attempt. Each man was ordered to carry as much food and water as he could; and to make the march easier they started at night. In spite of this precaution, before the other side of the desert was reached many men had died of thirst.
v2.c14.s33.8
When they had entered the territory of Bhuj, they began to burn and plunder the villages. They surrounded Bhuj, dug a trench, and erected batteries. Both sides began an artillery fire. Then the zamindar asked for terms, but those offered being too high he refused them and burnt all the villages for some distance round until there was not a trace left of grass or grain. He also sent out every day parties of well-mounted cavalry and all ingress of supplies was stopped. Meanwhile he continued to send misleading offers of submission. In this manner one-and-a-half months were passed. In the camp all supplies had been exhausted; men and four-footed beasts daily grew weaker, most of the artillery bullocks and the baggage camels died. Then came word from the wakils at Court that Sarbuland Khan had been removed from the Government and replaced by Maharajah Abhai Singh Rathor of Jodhpur. The siege of Bhuj was raised, and the return march was directed towards Radhanpur, where the Rann desert is not quite so wide. At Radhanpur visits of condolence were paid to the family of the late Jawan-mard Khan Babi, and thence Ahmadabad was reached.