History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v4.c64.s4.4

v4.c64.s4.4

On hearing of the enemy’s dash on Burhanpur, Khan-i-Jahan made a forced march northwards from Aurangabad across the Kanner and Fardapur hills, “covering in one day and night the space of four days’ march.” But his army suffered terrible privations from the roughness of the track, the abundance of jungles, and the many hills in the way. The camp-followers and transport cattle were footsore and lagged two stages behind the army, while the horsemen had to live on whatever they could get on the spot and to bivouac in the open. This unwise haste brought about its natural result. The whole force had to halt for two days to let the baggage come up. The enemy’s horsemen, overloaded with booty, were sure to take the road to Salhir, their nearest stronghold for depositing plunder from Khandesh and Berar, as the forts of Konkan and the Sahyadri were too far off. Khan-i-Jahan ought, therefore, to have hastened to Erandol and Chopra to intercept their flight. But after losing two days below Fardapur, he followed exactly the opposite direction and marched towards Idalabad and Burhanpur, long after the last-named town had been evacuated by the enemy. The Marathas immediately took the open road westwards and reached Salhir in four or five days with all their prisoners and booty. Popular voice in the Deccan charged the Mughal viceroy with having been bribed by Shambhu to follow this wrong strategy.¹ The citizens of Burhanpur complained to the Emperor to this effect and the Muslims threatened to stop their Friday prayers unless they were assured of the safety of their life and honour in future.*