Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.s2.6

v2.c29.s2.6

A vast Sikh army (25,000 strong) led by Jassa Singh Tara Singh and two other sardars, in the pay of Jawahir Singh, penetrated into the Jaipur kingdom by way of Rewari, and joined by the Jat Rajah began to plunder the realm unopposed (late Dec. 1765.) Dulerai (the bakhshi) and Jaychand (the Khan-i-saman) had been then sent from Jaipur to invest the fort of Kanaud which was being held by Ratan Singh Khangarot, a rebel against the Jaipur Government. The Sikh invaders arrived on the scene and encamped seven *kos* from the Kachhwa siege lines. Their strength was overwhelming, and Madho Singh in utter helplessness appealed to Malhar and Mahadji to come to his aid. A Sindhia contingent, some 5,000 horse, under Achyut Rao Ganesh, which was plundering near Kishangarh, on being promised Rs. 5000 daily, hastened to Jaipur. This prompt intervention of the Marathas upset Jawahir’s plans and he patched up a truce with the Jaipur Rajah through Nawal Singh. The Sikhs were promised a subsidy and sent back to their homes, while Jawahir returned to Kumbher. Achyut, arriving near Fāgi, found that there was no work for him; the Jaipur general Raj Singh Ghorcharā gave him and his officers presents and put them on the way of return to Mahadji. During their march these Maratha allies “were beyond their officers’ control, plundered the country and devastated the crops.”