Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c35.s10.6

v3.c35.s10.6

His one problem now was how to support his overgrown army. So, after being freed from the Dig enterprise, he sent away his lieutenants to collect revenue in their respective jagirs. The rainy season which followed the fall of Dig was spent by Najaf in renewed military preparations near Agra. Shortly before its close, early in October, Afrāsiyāb Khan crossed the Jamuna at Mathurā and entering the south-western corner of the Aligarh district began to establish his authority over the refractory zamindars of that region, mostly Jats and Gujars whom Suraj Mal had first subjected to his rule. The chief of these was Phup Singh (a Tenwa Jat unconnected by blood with the house of Bharatpur) who had made himself master of Mursān and Sāsni and assumed the title of Rajah, (accession in 1749, death in 1798.) In December 1776 Najaf arrived before Mursān, after his letters from Agra had failed to bring this rebel to obedience. Afrāsiyāb and other generals were called up and with an overwhelming force he laid siege to Mursān. His big guns breached the walls in a few days. Though the garrison fought bravely, wounding Himmat Bahadur Gosāin, the place became untenable in 17 days, and one night (3rd January 1777) the Rajah fled away from it to Sāsni. Mirzā Najaf followed him thither; Phup Singh now made a full submission and was confirmed, through Himmat Bahadur's mediation, in such of his forts and lands as he still held. Mursān was joined to Afrāsiyāb's fief. The Mirzā next made a rapid march and captured Chharra-Bhamauri, 25 miles east of Aligarh. By this time January had ended, and Najaf Khan received an urgent call from his master to another field.*