Chapter 10

The parricidal murder of Ajit, the cause of the destruction
of Marwar—The parricide, Abhai Singh, invested as Raja by
the emperor’s own hand—He returns from court to
Jodhpur—His reception—He distributes gifts to the bards
and priests—The bards of Rajputana—Karna, the poetic
historian of Marwar—Studies requisite to form a
Bardai—Abhai Singh reduces Nagor—Bestows it in appanage
upon his brother Bakhta—Reduces the turbulent
allodialists—Commanded to court—Makes a tour of his
domain—Seized by the small-pox—Reaches the court—Rebellion
of the viceroy of Gujarat, and of Prince Jangali in the
Deccan—Picture of the Mogul court at this time—The _bira_
of foreign service against the rebels described—Refused by
the assembled nobles—Accepted by the Rathor prince—He
visits Ajmer, which he garrisons—Meeting at Pushkar with
the Raja of Amber—Plan the destruction of the empire—At
Merta is joined by his brother Bakhta Singh—Reaches
Jodhpur—The Kher, or feudal levies of Marwar,
assemble—Consecration of the guns—The Minas carry off the
cattle of the train—Rajput contingents enumerated—Abhai
reduces the Mina strongholds in Sirohi—The Sirohi prince
submits, and gives a daughter in marriage as a
peace-offering—The Sirohi contingent joins Abhai
Singh—Proceeds against Ahmadabad—Summons the viceroy to
surrender—Rajput council of war—Bakhta claims to lead the
van—The Rathor prince sprinkles his chiefs with saffron
water—Sarbuland’s plan of defence—His guns manned by
Europeans—His bodyguard of European musketeers—The
storm—Victory gained by the Rajputs—Surrender of
Sarbuland—He is sent prisoner to the emperor—Abhai Singh
governs Gujarat—Rajput contingents enumerated—Conclusion
of the chronicles, the Raj Rupaka and Surya Prakas—Abhai
Singh returns to Jodhpur—The spoils conveyed from Gujarat 1035