THE CAPTURE OF MAHUVA Zamindar of Waghnagar, having seized Jhanjhmer and made that place his headquarters, conducted a number of raids on villages subject to Talaja, and created much misery. Wala Khimoji, Wakhatsinhji's newly appointed governor at Talaja, found himself unable to cope with the raiders, and asked Wakhatsinhji to punish them. An army from Bhavnagar thereupon marched on Jhanjh- mer and captured it, but Hamir Khasia managed to escape and fled to Gopnath, where he took refuge with a friend. He was eventually surrendered after receiving a promise that his life would be spared on condition that he desisted from attacking Bhavnagar territory, and Wakhatsinhji sent him back to Waghnagar. He now quarrelled with his uncle, Jasa Khasia of Mahuva, and attacked him, but without success. He therefore suggested to Wakhatsinhji that now was a good opportunity for adding Mahuva to his dominions, and the latter being desirous of punishing Jasa Khasia for a recent act of piracy committed against a Bhavnagar ship, fell in with the suggestion, and marched against Mahuva with a large force of fifteen thousand men. The town was reached in A.D. 1784, after much difficulty had been experienced in passing through country covered with a forest of thorn-trees, through which a way had to be cut. A seven days' fight ensued, the attacking force being unable to make good a footing within the fort. But finally a portion of the wall was breached by artillery and the Bhavnagar army effected an entrance. Meanwhile Jasa Khasia had fled to Rajula, and after his departure his troops gave up hope and surrendered. At Rajula Jasa Khasia induced the Zamindar, Bhola Dhankhado, to endeavour to recover Mahuva for him, and Wakhat- sinhji found himself confronted with a new enemy. He marched on Rajula, while Bhola Dhankhado retired before him and finally surrendered. Rajula now came with Mahuva under Wakhatsinhji's rule, and garrisons were 167