Fall of the Mughal Empire v1.c9.s2.11

v1.c9.s2.11

The Afghāns at Patna after inviting Mir Habib, Mohan Singh and some other Marātha officers to an interview, confined them, demanding 30 to 40 lakhs of Rupees as their pay, on the ground that they had been led into this rebellion at the instigation of the Marāthas, who had promised to pay their expenses. The generals were released only after Mir Habib had given bankers' security for two lakhs of Rupees. Then the allies advanced towards Bārh to oppose Alivardi.* The Afghān army was about 35,000 strong; the Marāthas were reported as 30,000 (Siyar, ii. 167), but 12,000 is a more probable number. All the artillery of Patna fort accompanied the rebels; the Nawāb's army is estimated in Siyar, (ii. 164) at 15,000 horse and 8,000 barqāndāzes (foot musketeers.)