Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c25.s3.1

v2.c25.s3.1

On 16th July from the walls of Delhi fort a Maratha force was sighted on the opposite bank, plundering the grain dealers engaged in bringing supplies from Shāhdara to the capital. The Maratha headquarters under Sakhārām Bāpu (Raghunāth's dīwān) and Tātyā Gangādhar (Holkar's dīwān) were established at Patparganj. Then the ferries over the Jamuna from Wazirabad in the north of the capital to Khizirabad in its southern suburbs, were closed, "none could come from either bank, and grain in Delhi became very dear," (2 Aug.) Najib Khan had at first sent a part of his own troops (under his brother Afzal Khan and captain Mullā Āmān Khan) with some artillery across the Jamunā to defend the Doab, but recalled them after four or five days on seeing the Maratha occupation of that tract complete, and even wrote to his collectors there to retire peacefully before the Maratha advance. Thus, the Doab was surrendered, and Najib concentrated his forces on the defence of the capital. *