History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s13.5

v5.c74.s13.5

But Santaji Ghorpare, flushed with his signal victory over Ali Mardan Khan and the unresisted plunder of the Conjeveram district, now arrived at Jinji and turned his great talents and energy against Zulfiqar. Fighting took place daily, in warding off the Maratha attacks on the imperial camp and foraging parties. As the eye-witness Bhimsen writes, —"The enemy exceeded 20,000 men, while the imperialists were a small force and many of them were engaged in guarding the prince and the camp. Kam Bakhsh's contingent was unfriendly and never left their tents to co-operate in the defence. Man Singh Rathor (a *two-hazari*) and several other imperial officers hid in their tents on the plea of illness. The whole brunt of the fighting fell on Zulfiqar Khan and Rao Dalpat, Sarafraz Khan Deccani, Fathullah Khan Turani, Kanhoji Maratha and a few other *mansabdars* with only 2,000 horsemen." [Dil. 108 *b*, also M. A. 358.] They, however, fought like heroes and were victorious in every encounter in the open.