1904.] 
W. Irvine —The Later Mughals. 
291 
competent to undertake such an arduous task. Curaman had mean¬ 
while constructed a new stronghold at a place called Thun. 1 
At length in the fifth year of the reign, Jamadi II. 1128 EL, May— 
June 1716, Rajah Jai Singh, Sawae, returned to court 2 from his govern¬ 
ment of Malwah. Finding out Farrukhsivar’s secret desire to get rid 
of Curaman, he offered himself as ready to undertake and carry out the 
work. Early in Shawwal (September 1716) he received his orders, and 
started on the 9th of that month (25th September 1716), being the 
Hindu festival of the Dasahrah. Some troops under Sanjar Khan and 
Shamsher Khan, of the Wdla Shahis, were posted at Palwal, thirty-six 
or thirty-seven miles from the city, to keep communications open, and 
provide convoys from that place to Hodal in one direction, and Farida- 
bad in the other. A large sum in cash was disbursed to Rajah Jai 
Singh from the imperial treasury, and he sent for troops from his own 
country. Serving under him were Maharao Bhim Singh, Hada, of Kotah, 
Rajah Graj Singh, Marwari, and Maharao Rajah Budh Singh, Hada, of 
Bondi. 8 
Thun having been completely invested, the siege began on the 5tli 
Zu,l Hijjah 1128 H. (19th November, 1716). The fort was provided 
with lofty walls and a deep ditch filled from springs, and round it 
spread a thick and thorny jungle “ through which a bird could hardly 
make its way.” Supplies were abundant; indeed, (though this is 
probably an exaggeration), there was said to be grain, salt, ghz, tobacco, 
cloth, and firewood sufficient for twenty years. When the siege was 
imminent, Curaman had forced all merchants and traders, with their 
families, to quit the place, leaving their goods behind them. Curaman 
made himself personally responsible for their compensation if he gained 
the day, and as the property could not be removed, the owners gave 
their consent without much demur. 4 
Curaman’s son, Muhkam Singh, and his nephew, Rupa, issued from 
the fort and gave battle in the open. In his report of the 7th Muharram, 
1129 H. (21st December, 1716), the Rajah claimed a victory. He next 
cut down all the trees round the fort, and erected a large number of 
1 Thun does not seem to be well known now. Can it be the Toond of the 
Indian Atlas, Sheet 50, between Dig and Gobardhan P Or is it Jatolee Thoou, 8 miles 
west of Sansani ? An 18th century writer remarks: “II y a encore (1767) un 
Thoun, mais dans un autre endroit, peutetre pour conserver la memoire d’une 
place qui, quoique mallieureuse,n’a pas donne peu de reputation aux Jats,” Orme 
Collections, p. 4218. 
2 Mace bearers were sent to fetch him on the 27th Rabi‘ II. 1128 H. (19th 
April, 1716), Kamwar IQian, 140, 163, Ma,dsir-ul-umard, MIrza Muhammad, 293. 
8 Kamwar Kh an, 140, 168, Shiii Das, lib. 
4 Kamwar [Khan, 168, Shiu Das, 12b. Hodal, 18 or 19 m. S, of Palwal, Indian 
