353 



from Bejee Sihng, and exhorting his brother never to break the 

 engagements he had made to support Ram Siting, nor desist from 

 his endeavours to bring his affairs to a happy termination, he ex- 

 pired. 



Dutajee, renowned for courage, instantly gave orders for his 

 cavalry to mount ; and marching from his camp, he found Bejee 

 Sihno - advancing to take advantage of the confusion occasioned 

 by his emissaries. A severe conflict ensued, in which the sword 

 and spear were more used than artillery or small-arms: the raj- 

 poots under Bejee Sihng behaved with the greatest courage, and 

 made several desperate charges, so that many of the Mahratlas 

 were inclined, according to their custom, to change the battle to 

 a running fight, but were prevented by the firmness of their 

 leader; whose fortune at length prevailed, and Bejee Sihng leav- 

 ing the field, retreated slowly towards Merut. Dutajee pursued 

 him to near the walls, without being able, notwithstanding his ut- 

 most efforts, to break their line of march, and throw the raj pools 

 into confusion. 



Bejee Sihng having regained the fort, Dutajee returned to his 

 encampment, and for a long time closely invested the place, de- 

 solating, by his predatory excursions and foraging parties, the 

 whole country of Marwar. At length, on the intelligence of 

 Ahmed Shah Abdallee having entered Uindostan, Dutajee was 

 repeatedly summoned from Poonah, to join the Mahratta army 

 collected to oppose him. Thus urged, he was under the necessity of 

 proposing an accommodation between the cousins ; which having 

 effected, by securing certain districts for Ram Sihng, he marched 

 towards Delhi. Bejee Sihng, taking advantage of his absence, 



VOL. III. 2 z 



