Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c22.s4.25

v2.c22.s4.25

The entire province of the Panjab was abandoned to the Afghans, but not without a severe loss of men to the Marathas. Though Sābāji did not stand up to a fight, his detachments, dispersed throughout the country, could not be withdrawn in absolute safety ; a general and several soldiers of the Marathas who had lagged too long behind near Lahor, were overtaken and cut off by the Afghan vanguard. One corps of 6,000 Maratha horse and foot posted in Multan retreated to the east of Lahor without loss. But in the Jalandar doab the disappearance of all authority tempted its notoriously lawless peasants to rise against these fugitives. When only a part of this force had crossed the Satlaj the villagers fell upon those left behind and plundered them of 4,000 camels (worth Rs. 40 each), and of most of their horses, treasure and other property. Only a thousand horses and ponies escaped capture, and 500 well-born Maratha cavaliers had to march on foot through this loss of their mounts. But though the Marathas failed, the Sikhs opposed the invaders, and in a severe battle with them the Afghans triumphed only at the cost of 2,000 of their own men. [Raj. i. 146.] After establishing his government in Lahor, the Abdali king resumed his march and entered Sarhind on 27 November 1759. Thus, the Panjab was finally lost to the empire of Delhi.