A History of the Mahrattas v1.c28.67

v1.c28.67

In this order they slowly advanced towards the Abdallee camp, with every symptom of hopeless despair rather than of steady resolution. The ends of their turbans were let loose, their hands and faces anointed with a preparation of turmeric,² and everything seemed to bespeak the despondency of sacrifice prepared, instead of victory determined. Sewdasheo Rao gave over his own wife and several of the principal families to the particular care of Holkar. His reason for this is supposed to have been that Mulhar Rao was the only chief who might expect to find favour with the unrelenting Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, by whose counsel Ahmed Shah was greatly swayed, and Holkar was therefore the only person whose influence was likely to obtain their eventual protection. Sewdasheo Rao, just before he moved out, (1761.) sent a note to one of the Carcoons ¹ of Shujah-ud-dowlah, who had been employed as an agent in their negotiation, in which was written, ‘The cup is now full to the brim and cannot hold another drop,’ and requested that if anything could be done, it might be immediate. At the time this note was received, the scouts of Shujah-ud-dowlah brought intelligence that the Mahrattas were moving out, on which he proceeded straight to the king, whom he found asleep in his tent, with his horse saddled at the door. On being awoke he asked what news? and when informed of the exigency, mounted his horse and rode forward about a mile in front of his lines, where he at first began to doubt the intelligence; but by this time the Mahrattas had drawn up their army in the same order as they had moved out, with Ibrahim Khan on the left and Junkojee Sindia on the right; their artillery was placed in front of their line, and a general discharge of cannon announced that they were ready. Upon hearing this, the king, who was sitting upon his horse smoking a Persian kalleoon, gave it to his attendant, and with great calmness said to Shujah-ud-dowlah, ‘Your servant’s news is very true, I see.’ He then ordered out his army, which drew up with its artillery in front. His Grand Vizier, Shah Wulee Khan, with the Afghans, was