Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c27.s11.3

v2.c27.s11.3

Even a fortnight before this the Bhāu had written to the Peshwā: “There is starvation in my camp; but no loan can be had; no revenue is being paid to me by any kamāvisdār (collector), in spite of my frequently writing to them. My troops are going through many a fast.” Up to 5th September, the Bhāu had received from two Maratha collectors in North India only Rs. 2,80,000 and “not a kauri from any one else.” The two lakhs that he had received at Sironj (6 May) from the Peshwā had been exhausted in a fortnight. And, as early as 26th June, when he had not yet reached Agra, he makes this piteous appeal to the Peshwā for financial assistance: “I am getting no money from any side,—neither from our mahals [in the Doāb] which are disturbed, nor from tribute which is being evaded [by our vassal chiefs.] If we are to overcome Abdāli we require 30,000 horsemen. Many of my troopers had lost their chargers in the war with Nizām Ali, or from disease, and they have to be supplied with remounts. The parting gift for last year is still unpaid to my troops. As I cannot give them their full subsistence even, whence can I pay their overdue parting gift and bounty for equipment (nālbandi)? The troubles around Delhi have dispersed the bankers of this region; hence no loan can be raised here.” [SPD. ii. 130, 131, xxi. 193, xxvii. 257, 255, 258.]