Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c14.s5.2

v1.c14.s5.2

Winter is the natural time for campaigning in India, but the arrival of the Marātha allies was delayed till spring. They had first to fulfil their undertaking in Rajputana by seating Mādho Singh on the Jaipur throne and levy the promised subsidy from that State, and secondly they had to write to the Peshwā and get his consent to taking the Ruhela business in hand instead of immediately going to the South, as commanded by him, for a projected attempt to oust the Nizām from that part of India. (S. P. D. xxi. 40 and ii. 31.) It was only in the second week of February 1751 that the Marāthas could start from Jaipur. At last all his arrangements having been completed, Safdar Jang took formal leave of the Emperor on 11th February and entered his marching tents on the sandbank of Mahābat Khan. Thence he marched to Kishandās's Tank on the 18th, and was joined two days later by his ally Malhar Rao. Surajmal also arrived with his Jāt force, and the plan of campaign was now formed.