A History of the Mahrattas v1.c30.93

v1.c30.93

In the meantime, the Prince Jewan Bukht remained at the Moghul capital, where Nujeeb-ud-dowlah exercised the entire powers of administration. Sooruj Mull, the Jhat Prince, was gradually extending his power and consequence: the Mahratta officer⁴ in Agra accepted his protection and admitted a garrison of his troops: he took Rewaree and Ferohnugur from a Beloochee adventurer who possessed them in Jagheer; and at last applied to Nujeeb-ud-dowlah for the office of Foujdar in the environs of the capital. These encroachments were so palpable that Nujeeb-ud-dowlah was obliged to have recourse to arms, and gained an easy and unexpected victory by the death of Sooruj Mull, who was killed in the commencement of the first action.¹ His son, assisted by Mulhar Rao Holkar² during the short period the latter was absent from the Deccan in 1764, besieged Delhi, but Nujeeb-ud-dowlah, by means of that secret understanding which always subsisted between him and Holkar, induced the Mahrattas to abandon the alliance and return to Malwa.