No. I.
Letter from Raja Jai Singh of Amber to Rana Sangram
Singh of Mewar, regarding Idar.
Sri Ramji,[[1]]
Sri Sitaramji,
When I was in the presence at Udaipur, you commanded[[2]] that Mewar was my home, and that Idar was the portico of Mewar, and to watch the occasion for obtaining it. From that time I have been on the look-out. Your agent, Mayaram, has again written regarding it, and Dilpat Ras read the letter to me verbatim, on which I talked over the matter with Maharaja Abhai Singh, who, acquiescing in all your views, has made a nazar of the pargana to you, and his writing to this effect accompanies this letter.
The Maharaja Abhai Singh petitions that you will so manage that the occupant Anand Singh does not escape alive; as, without his death, your possession will be unstable;[[3]] this is in your hands. It is my wish, also, that you would go in person, or if you deem this inexpedient, command the Dhabhai Naga, placing a respectable force under his orders, and having blocked up all the passes, you may then slay him. Above all things, let him not escape—let this be guarded against.
Asarh badi 7th (22nd of the first month of the monsoon),
S. 1784 (A.D. 1728).
Envelope.
The Pargana of Idar is in Maharaja Abhai Singh’s jagir, who makes a nazar of it to the Huzur; should it be granted to any other, take care the Mansabdar never gains possession.
8th S., 1784[[4]] [770].
[1]. Ram and Sita, whom the prince invokes, are the great parents of the Kachhwaha race, of which Raja Jai Singh is the head. I have omitted the usual string of introductory compliments.
[2]. These terms completely illustrate the superior character in which the Ranas of Mewar were held by the two princes next in dignity to him in Rajputana a century ago.
[3]. This deep anxiety is abundantly explained by looking at the genealogical slip of the Rathors, at p. 1087, where it will be seen that Anand Singh, whom the parricidal Abhai Singh is so anxious to be rid of, is his own brother, innocent of any participation in that crime, and whose issue, although adopted into Idar, were heirs-presumptive to Marwar!
| Written according to custom in the margin with the Raja’s own hand. | Let my mujra (respects) be known: when in the Diwan’s presence he ordered, that Idar was the portico, and Chappan the vestibule to Mewar, and that it was necessary to obtain it. I have kept this in mind, and by the Sri Diwan-ji’s fortune it is accomplished! |
[4]. [Forbes (Rāsmāla, 451), who gives the facts from local sources, remarks: “We do not know how this statement is to be reconciled with the following letter, quoted by Colonel Tod.”]