Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c47.7

v4.c47.7

As the result of his defeat at Mertā, the Jodhpur Rajah was driven to solicit terms of peace from Mahādji. One of the conditions laid down by Sindhia was that Ismail Beg should no longer be harboured in Marwār. Rajah Bijay Singh was in no position to refuse; so, on 7th March 1791 he delivered Ajmer fort to Sindhia, and a few days later sent away Ismail Beg, accompanied by the Jodhpur minister Shivchand Singhavi and a Rāthor contingent to levy contribution from Sirohi, Pālanpur, Rādhanpur, Thārad and other States on the border between the kingdom of Marwār and the province of Barodā governed by the Gaekwār for the Peshwā.* As he approached Sirohi, its Rajah fled away to Mount Abu, but his capital held out for four days, after which it capitulated and agreed to pay a ransom of four lakhs. While this money was being collected, Ismail Beg encamped near the city and sent out detachments to raid far in advance. The Nawābs of Pālanpur and Rādhanpur, who lay next in his way, looked to their defences and at the same time tried to placate Ismail Beg by sending their agents secretly to him; the diwān of Pālanpur offered his sister to the Mirzā in marriage. The invaders spent over four months (April to 12 August 1791) in this region, and their furthest advance reached 16 miles beyond Thārad and some forty miles north of Patan (Anhilwara).