Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c12.s2.35

v1.c12.s2.35

On the way, the Bakhshi halted at Pataudi (35 miles south-west of Delhi) for the first ten days of the month of fasting (30 Nov.—9 Dec. 1749) and then marched ravaging Mewāt to the little mud-fort of Nimrānā (33 miles s.w. of Pataudi), which belonged to the Jat Rajah. His vanguard took it at the first attack (30th December.) Early next morning his camp and baggage were sent ahead towards Nārnol (17 miles west of Nimrānā), which was the seat of a faujdār attached to the subah of Ajmir. When, a few hours later, Salābat himself mounted to follow, he suddenly changed his plan and, wishing to go to the Agra province and fight the Jats there first, called a council of his officers. They advised him to go to Ajmir first, there strengthen himself by junction with Bakht Singh who was on the way with his levies, train his raw troops for some time, settle the affairs of Ajmir, and then challenge the Jats with a better prospect of success. But the easy capture of Nimrānā had turned Salābat’s head; he would not listen to reason; he recalled his baggage and set his face back towards Agra. The night was spent in Sarāi Sobhāchānd.* In the course of that night an extremely mobile Jat force of 5,000 men under Suraj Mal overtook him by a forced march. Next day (1st January 1750), the Mughal foraging party found the Jats barring their way and summoned reinforcements which reached them two hours before sunset. The soldiers of the Bakhshi’s army, hungry thirsty and inexperienced in war, began to run, one before another, placing their guns in front lest the Jats should capture them at night if planted in the rear. Seeing this disorder, the Jats charged in successive squadrons, firing volleys from their muskets, and causing heavy slaughter. Hakim Khan Kheshgi, the commander of the Bakhshi’s right wing, was shot dead; Ali Rustam Khan, in charge of his vanguard, was wounded. Utter defeat fell on the imperialists. The victorious Jat horse hovered round the camp of Salābat Khan, plundered a part of it, and threw him into helpless terror. The Jat Rajah Badan Singh had at first humbly begged the Bakhshi not to ravage his lands, as he had done no offence against the Emperor but was living as a loyal vassal, and the Bakhshi had haughtily demanded two *krores* of Rupees as the price of his forbearance, saying that Mewāt was his (the Bakhshi’s) *jāgir* and the Jat Rajah had seized some villages there and slain Asad Khan Khānazād his local agent. Now, after a day or two of helpless confinement within his entrenchments, Salābat was forced to sue for peace, which was granted by the Jats on the following terms :—(i) the imperial Government would promise not to cut down *pipal* trees, (ii) nor to hinder the worship of it, while (iii) Suraj Mal undertook to collect 15 *lakhs* of Rupees from the Rājputs as the revenue of the province of Ajmir and pay it into the imperial Exchequer, provided that the Bakhshi took his advice and did not proceed beyond Nārnol.*