Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c36.s8.12

v3.c36.s8.12

So the Macheri chief with his Maratha allies came to Lohāgarh, won over Nawal Singh (of Nawalgarh) and other discontented Shekhāwat vassals of Jaipur, and advanced to Najaf Khan's camp for paying a visit of submission. But he was suspected of harbouring the design of making a treacherous attack on the imperial general, and so Mirzā Najaf stood carefully on his guard. Rao Pratap Singh visited Najaf Khan, on 29th November 1778, but haughtily refused to pay any tribute. The Mirzā, through Gosain Himmat Bahādur, seduced Ambāji and his Marathas with a bribe of four lakhs, and with their aid surprised the Macheri camp early at dawn, a few days later. Pratap Singh, who had just bathed and was engaged in worshipping his idols, had barely time to cut his way through the ring of his enemies with a few followers; but "all his property and camp equipage, worth 20 lakhs of Rupees, and artillery were looted." The Rajputs fought desperately with the Mughals who barred their path, but effected their retreat to Rājgarh.