Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c24.s4.20

v2.c24.s4.20

This party arrived at Agra on 23rd March; Jahān Khan left that city for his master's camp that very night, and the princes, after being welcomed by the imperial officers of the locality, crossed the Jamunā on the 25th, and by way of Firuzabad (28th) reached Mainpuri on the 31st. Here Ahmad Bangash respectfully waited on them (4th April) and took Mirzā Bābā with himself to Qādirganj in the north-west, while Hedāyet Bakhsh moved south-eastwards to Etāwa, from which the Maratha collector fled away. “The Durrāni contingent merely plundered the ryots of the place instead of establishing a settled administration there, because Ahmad Shah’s soldiers knew nothing but looting. The prince gained no revenue there. Mirzā Bābā remained at Qādirganj till the 20th, Ahmad Bangash supplying his shameful want of tents dress and other materials. Then came the news that Shujā-ud-daulah had sent a force under Anupgir Gosāin against the two princes and that this force was coming to loot Farrukhabad. So, Ahmad Bangash hastened back to his own city and Mirzā Bābā arrived there soon afterwards and Hedāyet from Etāwa on 6th May. The trans-Ganges Ruhelas too came in a large body under Hāfiz Rahmat Khan and encamped on the other side of the river, opposite Qādirganj... The wazir Imād tried hard to win Hāfiz over and gain his armed support. He crossed the river and visited Hāfiz on the 30th, and the two princes did the same next day and enjoyed Hāfiz’s hospitality for four days.”