Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s12.53

v2.c28.s12.53

The Maratha attack on him, with all their forces led by the Peshwa’s uncle himself, had been warded off. His domestic rival was in the grave. His disloyal Gosain troops had been crushed. These successes turned the head of Jawahir Singh. The territory of the Rajah of Ater and Bhind (20 miles west and s. w. of Etawa) had formerly been tributary to the Marathas. After the departure of Dādā and his army from the north, (Sironj reached on 16 May, 1767), Jawahir Singh invaded that region at the height of the rainy season (July) and quickly effected a conquest of all the domains of the Marathas and the petty zamindars, up to Kalpi. Throwing Balaji Govind Kher, the officer in charge of Kalpi, off his guard by friendly messages, Jawahir sent a detachment to surprise him, and Balaji had just time to escape with his family across the Betwa to a friendly Rajah. As the Maratha local agents reported, “Bhadaur, Kachhvadhar, Tomardhar, Sikarbar, Dandrauli, Khitauli, all are gone from us. Only a small tract remains, but that too has been rendered *lamp-less*. We retain Gwalior and Jhansi only ; all else is under Jat rule.” Jawahir established his rule in the Kalpi district, levied tribute from Datia and Seondha, and advanced up to the bridge of Narwar. From this point he turned back, declining the invitation of the Khichi chief to go further south and expel the Maratha posts from his State. Returning towards Gwalior he took the Maratha thanah of Jigni. The Rajahs of Pichhor and Gohad joined him, and he promised to clear their dominions of Maratha posts in October in case no relieving force came up from the Deccan.*