History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c75.s3.2

v5.c75.s3.2

* This is the contemporary record compiled from State papers like despatches and news-letters, (M. A. 375—377). But more than 30 years later, Khafi Khan (ii. 429), gave the following different and seemingly inaccurate account:—"A party of the enemy fell upon Qasim Khan's tents...and 10 to 12 thousand horsemen attacked the baggage of Khanazad ...7 or 8 thousand more appeared between the two Khans, so that neither could reinforce the other...The battle raged till sunset...All night the chiefs remained on their elephants and the soldiers holding the bridles of their horses, to repel night-attacks. At dawn the Marathas renewed their attack... in this way the imperialists were attacked for 3 days, at last [on the fourth day] they marched fighting all the way and took refuge under the *garhi* of Dodderi. For these three days they had no food. In the same way 3 or 4 more days were passed, the imperialists entrenching and repelling charges under shelter of the walls of the *garhi* day and night, while their camels, horses and oxen were carried off by the Marathas. As the gates of the *garhi*...had been closed upon them, the grocers of the *garhi* threw down to them grain from the top of the wall, charging one or two rupees per *seer*. On the 4th or 5th day [i.e., the 7th or 8th day after the first battle] the two Khans decided to enter the *garhi*."