Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s4.15

v2.c22.s4.15

The Marathas did not venture to carry the war across the Chenāb, because the river was too deep for fording and the country beyond it was mostly tenanted by Afghan supporters of the Durrānī cause.* Lahor was captured about 10th April 1758. Raghunāth passed one entire month there. He wisely realized that as his own troops could not be induced to garrison a province so distant from their home and subject to such severe winter, and as the universal rebellion of the Sikhs made its direct administration by Maratha officers impossible, the only means of keeping the Panjab in nominal allegiance to the Maratha power and getting any revenue out of it was to entrust it to Adina Beg, who had a very old understanding with the Sikhs and possessed the experience of many years' successful administration of that country. So, Adina Beg was given the viceroyalty of the Panjab on promising on annual tribute of 75 lakhs of Rupees. After this settlement, the Maratha chiefs and their soldiers marched back towards Delhi, arriving at Sonepat on 14th June. Adina Beg went back to his home in the Jalandar doab, leaving his son-in-law Khwājah Mirzā Khan to govern Lahor as his deputy.†