Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s12.6

v2.c28.s12.6

Suraj Mal left to his successor 15,000 cavalry, 25,000 infantry (apart from his fort garrisons), 300 pieces of cannon of all kinds, 5,000 spare horses, 60 elephants, and munition in proportion. Above all, he left a country, well cultivated, tranquil, free from the danger of being easily surprised, which during his last years used to yield Rs. 175 lakhs in cash. Suraj Mal took pride in being a zamindar; he knew how to improve the yield of his conquests, to give them peace, to conserve and defend them. He entertained no foreign soldier in his service: he had conquered all that country by means of his Jat brethren only. "They tilled the soil, they defended it too. He had made them warriors, but after their martial service they returned to their plough, not less industrious as peasants than they had been brave as soldiers when defending the territory on which they were established.