Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c55.s9.2

v4.c55.s9.2

Early in the year 1794, we find Thomas raising fresh troops, collecting revenue by force from the ever-refractory peasantry of Mewāt, and (in April) supporting his unpaid soldiery by looting Gurgāon and two other villages in Begam Samru's jāgir of Pādishāhpur taluq. As Āpā Khāndé Rāo enlarged the contingent of Thomas, he assigned to him Tijārā, Tapukrā and Firuzpur as fiefs for the maintenance of his troops, and he had to fight repeatedly before he could impose his authority on the wild unruly peasantry* (March-July 1794). Tijārā was occupied only after a fight, Bahādurgarh was looted by him, and Jhajhar captured. Soon afterwards Jhajhar, Pataudi and the neighbouring villages were added to his jāgir, raising his income (on paper) to 1½ lakhs of Rupees a year.