Khan-i-Dauran,[1] after capturing Udgir and
Exactions from the Gond Rajahs.
Ausa, had extorted from the
king of Golkonda a famous
elephant named Gajmati, or “the Pearl among Elephants", priced one lakh
of rupees, with another lakh of rupees for covering it with gold plates and hawda to make it
worthy of presentation to the Emperor. He
next marched into the Gond country, between the
Wardha and the Wainganga, levying contributions. First he seized the forts of Ashta and
Katanjhar (Katanjhiri) from the hands of some
refractory Gond chiefs, and then besieged Nagpur,
the stronghold of Kukia, the Gond Rajah of
Deogarh, who had refused to pay contribution.
Three mines were fired, overthrowing two towers
and parts of the wall; the assault was delivered,
and the commandant Deoji taken prisoner. Kukia
now came down on his knees: he interviewed
Khan-i-Dauran (16 January, 1637), and made
peace by presenting one and a half lakhs of rupees
in cash and all his elephants (170 in number)
and promising an annual tribute of one and one-third lakhs of rupees. Nagpur was restored to him.
The victorious Khan-i-Dauran returned to the Emperor, with 8 lakhs of rupees levied from the
- ↑ Abdul Hamid, I. B. 230-233.
