Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s1.5

v2.c27.s1.5

In the course of three or four days, the food supply of the Maratha camp failed altogether, "as the traders ceased to convey grain there for fear of plunder, and extreme scarcity appeared. Nine or ten thousand Deccani troopers, crossing the Jamunā, went to Ghaziabad, but the inhabitants opposed them with artillery and matchlocks. The Marathas, baffled here, went on and looted Dāsna, belonging to the wazir . . . They sent the captured grain and other provisions from that place to their own camp [near Delhi.] . . . The wazir protested to Dattāji against this outrage during peace negotiations, and the raiders were recalled. On 29th January, the Maratha army, which lived only by foraging, recrossed the Jamunā and went towards Shāhdara and Patparganj. A force sent by the wazir effectually guarded the markets in these two places, but some traders who were bringing grain to Delhi were intercepted on the way and robbed of their goods. Next day an agreement was reached as to the amount of money contribution payable by the wazir, and on 1st February Dattāji began his northward march, and peace returned to Delhi." [TALS. 197b-198b.]