Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c47.14

v4.c47.14

Thus, at the beginning of December, Ismail Beg at last set out for Kānud. From the north-eastern corner of the Jaipur State, marching rapidly and in secrecy, by way of Fathpur and Pinghorā (south of Bharatpur), he arrived within eight miles of Kānud fort, with less than 4,000 men in all. But Khandé Rao Hari barred his path. In a battle fought on the 4th of December, Ismail Beg was utterly routed, because most of his long-unpaid Badakhshi troops went over to the Marātha side on being promised their salary. He had to abandon all his guns, baggage, transport animals and camp to the victors, and cut his way out of the enemy’s cordon with only four hundred men, and arrived before the walls of Kānud fort.