Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s4.18

v2.c22.s4.18

But this nominal Maratha domination gave no peace to the Panjab. Adina Beg Khan enjoyed his highest glory for five months only. On 13 October 1758 he died after a prolonged illness and in the fulness of years. Immediately afterwards, confusion broke out in the Panjab at the disappearance of the strong and clever hand that had held the realm in order for so many years. The wazir Imād-ul-mulk tried to escheat the dead subahdar's property to the State, but he was prevented by a Maratha force which the retreating Raghunāth had hurriedly sent up from Malwa (November.) At Lahor, Khwājah Mirzā Khan now engaged in governing the province as substantive subahdar. "The Sikhs were such rebels and robbers that the governor could not cope with them." Maratha armies one after another reached Lahor and its districts and took up their posts. Beyond the Jhilam some Afghans and Gakkhars in concert looted the Gujrat pargana and crossed over to the east bank of this river. Khwājah Mirzā with a band of Sikhs came up from Lahor, defeated and drove them back across the river. He followed them to the other bank and entrenched. But the Afghans and Gakkhars reappeared in vaster numbers and defeated him there. On hearing that Maratha armies were marching up from Lahor to his aid, the Afghans shrank from coming over to the eastern bank of the Jhilam again, (evidently in December 1758.)