Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c25.s1.1

v2.c25.s1.1

We have seen how by the month of May 1756, all the forces of the Maratha Government had vacated Rajputana and Hindustan north of the Chambal. There was left near Delhi a body of 5,000 horse under Antāji Mānakeshwar, but they were the Emperor's servants whose salary of 13 lakhs a year the wazir had taken it upon himself to pay. There were, besides, small bands of escort with the Maratha managers of Antaji's jagirs in the Doab, (Phaphund, Shukohabad and Etawa), the Hinganes' jagirs further north (in the Bulandshahar and Mirat districts), and the Peshwa's tribute-collectors in the south-east (Kora and Jahanabad.) But all their generals and regular armies had gone back to the Deccan. Raghunath himself had reached Puna on 10 August 1755 after two and a half years of campaigning; and in October 1756 we find him as well as Malhar Holkar at Puna and Dattaji Sindhia due to return there from Ujjain after the Diwāli ceremony. At the end of this year Malhar and some weeks later Raghunath were again despatched to the north.