Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c26.s1.7

v2.c26.s1.7

Not a farthing having been realized from Rajputana, the Peshwa sent a vast army under his brother Raghunath Rao with Malhar Holkar to that country. This chief crossed the Mukundara pass and entered Kota territory on 30th October 1753. Thence he proceeded through Jaipur to the Kumbher district of the Jat country (arriving there on 20th January 1754.) He was nowhere opposed; Kota and Bundi were old allies, while Madho Singh averted the desolation of his kingdom by sending his diwan Haragovind Natani (16 Dec. 1753) and agreeing to a contribution of 16½ lakhs of Rupees, *—15¼ lakhs being the outstanding tribute, and 1¼ lakhs a present to Raghunath for the honour of his visit! On 17th December, Ram Singh, the ex-Rajah of Marwar, waited on Raghunath and begged his help in recovering his paternal throne. But Raghunath could not be diverted from his main purpose, which was to go to Delhi and support Imād-ud-mulk in getting control of the Emperor. After losing four months on the way in a vain attempt to subdue Imād’s enemy Suraj Mal Jat, the Maratha army arrived opposite Delhi on 1st June 1754. Next day Imād made himself wazir and set up an Emperor of his own creation, and Raghunath had nothing more to do than realize the subsidy promised by Imād and establish Maratha revenue collectors in the districts ceded in the Gangetic Doab and elsewhere.