Fall of the Mughal Empire v3.c40.s9.16

v3.c40.s9.16

The two sides fixed the 21st for the pitched battle. But when that day dawned the tortoise refused to move, having been dissuaded by his astrologers. But Rana Khan, on his part, pushed on to Bidakha, on the Morel river, which blocked his road to the Jaipur camp, while his vanguard under Ambaji Inglé crossed that river and raided the villages beyond up to two miles of the enemy camp. On the arrival of Rānā Khan in full force (23rd July), the garrison of Bidākha agreed to capitulate with honour. But "when the garrison was coming out, a *pāgā* trooper laid his hand on a Rajput's wife; the Rajput slew the man, fighting began between the two sides, with the loss of 30 to 40 men altogether, and the garrison went back into their fortalice and renewed their opposition. Afterwards, Ram Sevak (the Rao Rajah's agent) conciliated them and evacuated the garhi under his protection." During the day the main Jaipur army made a half-hearted demonstration to save their brethren in Bidakha and then withdrew to their base. Next day there was no movement on either side owing to rain; but Rana Khan dismantled the mudfort of Bidakha in order to remove that menace to his free crossing of the river.