A History of the Mahrattas v1.c28.9

v1.c28.9

of Cabul. He returned early in the year 1756. Prior to his quitting Delhi, he had sent his own son Timoor Shah as viceroy of the Punjab, including Mooltan and Lahore, and had appointed Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, a Rohilla chief of reputation, to the office of Meer Bukhshee, and to the rank of Umeer Ool Oomrah, at the Imperial court. Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, prior to the coming of the Abdallee, had attached himself to Meer Shahabodeen; and the latter, displeased at his being set up as his own rival and promoted without his concurrence, as soon as the Abdallee retired, stripped him of his honours, and conferred his rank and appointment on Ahmed Khan Bungush. The Emperor Alumgeer, with Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, was in possession of Delhi; and, as the one supported the other, Meer Shahabodeen determined to reduce them. For this purpose, on the advance of Rugonath Rao into Malwa, where he arrived in the end of 1756, Meer Shahabodeen entered on an alliance with Rugoba¹; and by his assistance soon recovered Delhi and the control of the Emperor's person. Nujeeb-ud-dowlah must have fallen a prisoner into his hands, but Mulhar Rao Holkar, who was more friendly to all the Rohillas than any of the other Mahratta chiefs, protected Nujeeb-ud-dowlah and aided his escape from the citadel to his own territory, situated about seventy miles to the north-east of Delhi.