3. The Mewati depredations had gone on for centuries. The Sultan
Balban (Ghias-ud-din, alias Ulugh Khan), who reigned from A.D. 1265-
87, temporarily suppressed them by punishments of awful cruelty,
flaying the criminals alive, and so forth. The Mewatis now supply men
to a few robber gangs, but are incapable of mischief on a large
scale.
4. Delhi was most nobly defended against Holkar by a very small force
under Lieutenant-Colonel Burn, who 'repelled an assault, and defended
a city ten miles in circumference, and which had ever before been
given up at the first appearance of an enemy at its gates'.
The battle of Dig was fought on November 13, 1804, by the division
under the command of General Fraser on the one side, and Holkar's
infantry and artillery on the other. 'The 76th led the way, with its
wonted alacrity and determination,' and forced its way into the
village in advance of its supports. The fight resulted in the total
defeat of the Marathas, who lost nearly two thousand men, and eighty-
seven pieces of cannon. The English loss also was heavy, amounting to
upwards of six hundred and forty killed and wounded, including the
brave commander, who was mortally wounded, and survived the victory
only a few days.
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