New History of the Marathas v2.c27.28

v2.c27.28

With the increase of the summer heat of 1755 the feelings of the combatants at Nagore also ran high, and Bijay Sinh looked out for some stratagem by which he could make short work of his redoubtable antagonist. The Rathor envoys were often coming and going from the fort of Nagore to Sindia’s camp on the Peacock-lake (Taus-sar) about 7 miles distant, for negotiating peace terms. The talks were protracted over months and the party used to be accompanied by large numbers of clerks, accountants and servants. No foul play was suspected by the Marathas. On the morning of Friday 25th July, 1755, the Jodhpur Vakil Bijay Bharati Gosavi, accompanied by Rajsinh Chauhan and Jagneshwar, two of his helpmates, and a number of menials, some of whom were dressed like the Marathas, visited Jayappa’s camp and held long discussions with him over the terms. The discussions were held in a tent in the middle of the open square of his camp, where the cavalry horses were tied in long rows. About 11 o’clock in the morning Jayappa’s bath was ready, which he finished as usual openly seated on a wooden stool. Suddenly two beggars who had been picking up horse-grain in the compound ran at Jayappa, as he was drying his hair with a towel, and stabbed him, wounding him mortally, so that in an hour he died.⁶