Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s4.20

v2.c22.s4.20

But Khwājah Mirzā's worst enemies were at home. "The Qizilbāsh captains of Timur's army whom he had captured [and afterwards enlisted] made a coalition with the Marathas. From among them, their leading captain, Mirzā Ahmad Khan, made himself subahdar of Lahor, and the second highest, Sālih Khan, that of Multān. They paid some money to the Marathas in cash and promised more, and placed Khwājah Mirzā and his brother Khwājah Said Khan in confinement." [Miskin, 194.] This anarchy in the Panjab and ruin of the Maratha interests there induced the Peshwā to send a strong force to that province under the able and spirited Dattaji Sindhia. This general reached the eastern bank of the Satlaj in the first week of April 1759 and halted at Machhiwārā for about three weeks. Here Adina Beg's son came and saw him and paid some money on account of the tribute due from his father. By his advice, Dattaji sent Sābāji Sindhia* with an army to Lahor to take over the governorship of the province directly into Maratha hands. "On finding that in Lahor and around it the Sikhs were predominant and commanded a vast force, making the conquest of the Panjab difficult, Dattaji turned back towards Delhi." [*TALS.* 205*b*.]