History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v2.c27.16

v2.c27.16

We now turn to the pursuers. Jai Singh reached Mairta on 20th March,† six days behind Dara, and there learnt the true route of his flight and immediately set out southwards after him by way of Jelor and Sirohi. On the way, one march beyond Sirohi, he was joined by Jaswant Singh and his Rathor army (31st March), and then, “in order not to allow Dara time to gain composure at Ahmadabad,” the Imperialists pushed on, marching from 16 to 20 miles a day, “in spite of scarcity of water, want of fodder, and exhaustion of the horses and transport-cattle.” Reaching Sidhpur on 5th April, they learnt that Dara had been refused entrance into Ahmadabad and had turned aside towards Cutch. Jai Singh had before this sent letters to the princes of northern Kathiawar and Cutch urging them to bar Dara’s path and seize him. Now he wrote to them again to be up and doing on the Emperor’s side. The pursuing army marched on to Ahmadabad to refit. Their misery was hardly less than that of Dara. The year was one of drought in Guzerat; and this vast army of 20,000 men moving together exhausted the scanty water-supply and fodder in their path. It was summer and the forced march broke down the horses and cattle; grass was very scare and grain so dear that even six seers of *bajra* (spiked millet) could be had for a rupee with difficulty. To encourage the soldiers and compensate them for the heavy loss of transport cattle, cash salary was distributed among them, probably at a higher rate than usual. For this purpose Aurangzib had wisely sent up a sum of money from behind.