Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c9.s4.16

v1.c9.s4.16

All this time despair and consternation had been raging in the camp at Medinipur. The Nawāb’s illness was believed to be fatal in view of his extreme old age. In fact, Mir Jafar and Rājāh Durlabhrām, who had been left by the Nawāb in command at Medinipur, were utterly incompetent and thoroughly shaken in spirit by their previous unfortunate encounters with the Marāthas. The situation at Medinipur became so critical, that the Nawāb had to set out for that place soon after his recovery from the fever, though he was still weak and far from having regained his normal health (December 1750). Here he fought Mir Habib and drove him into the western jungles. After some pursuit the enemy were compelled to flee towards Katak. The Nawāb then returned to Katwā (February 1751), putting off the recovery of Orissā to the next winter. [Siyar, ii. 187.]