The Cambridge History of India, Vol. IV: The Mughul Period v4.c20.236

v4.c20.236

Later in the year the pacific minister himself indulged in a similar military promenade and in November, 1734, marched to Mālwā and back. These expeditions were entirely futile. The Marāthās, avoiding a general engagement, harassed the imperial troops and never ceased to levy contributions from the people. In March, 1735, only a few months after the minister's triumphal return to Delhi, a force of Marāthās advanced, sacked the town of Sāmbhar on the high road from Delhi to Ajmer, drove out the commandant and slew the *qāzī* at the door of his own house. Further resistance was clearly useless and the emperor, on the recommendation of Rājā Jay Singh, tacitly recognised Bājī Rāo as governor of Mālwā. Later in the year Abhay Singh of Jodhpur, who had proved to be a most inefficient governor, was dismissed from Gujarāt, but his deputy would not evacuate Ahmadābād and the new governor was obliged to court an alliance with Dāmājī Gāikwār before he could gain possession of the city.