Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c26.s1.3

v2.c26.s1.3

No part of these contributions was paid * by the Rajput princes during 1751 and 1752, for it was long before the Marathas were in a position to enforce their claims by arms, and without the threat of war nothing could be collected. Throughout 1751 and the first four months of 1752 the Maratha forces in Northern India were entangled in Safdar Jang’s war with the Afghans, and no troops could be spared for Rajputana. When that war ended, their main army under Malhar Rao Holkar started for the South to instal Ghazi-ud-din II in the seat of the Nizam of Haidarabad, as we have seen (Chap. 8, § 10.) This plan ended abruptly in the death of the Maratha nominee by poison on 16th October, 1752. Thus, Rajputana remained denuded of Maratha forces from February 1751 till the end of May 1752, when a body of 5,000 horse under Jayapa Sindhia, detached by Malhar from Delhi with Ram Singh’s envoys, reached Ajmir for attacking Bakht Singh. This force was quite inadequate for defeating the flower of Rathor chivalry under a most gallant and capable chief. The invaders, after reaching Ajmir, sacked that city, burnt many of its houses, slew all who resisted, and then took to plundering the neighbourhood. Bakht Singh, on hearing of the invasion, had arrived with his full tribal levy and encamped about eight miles from Ajmir, guarding his frontier, but not advancing to the defence of Ajmir. He at first bided his time, and then in July struck his blow. Mounting guns on a hillock and planting strong block-houses (nakas) to hold the paths, he bombarded the Maratha position. His fire slew many of the raiders, including one captain; the Deccanis were checked and fled away to the South, accompanied by the discomfited Ram Singh. [TALS. 38b, 101a (regnal year corrected to fifth.)]