Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c24.3

v2.c24.3

Abdali had marched from Attock to Delhi without a sword being bared against him, such was the degradation of the empire. The first opposition that he met with came from Antaji Manakeshwar. This Maratha retainer of the wazir, on being summoned to the defence of the capital, had arrived near Shāhdara (opposite Delhi) on 30th December 1756 and been employed by the wazir to prevent the flight of the citizens from Delhi.[*] On 7th January he had been presented to the Emperor with his two sons and some of his captains, and he now crossed over to the Delhi side and encamped on the sandbank below the fort. On 15th January, during the panic raging in the city at the news of the Abdali troops' arrival near Bādli, he had pursued the congenial game of robbing the helpless people running about in confusion. He was next sent