Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c28.s6.14

v2.c28.s6.14

Throughout the three monsoon months negotiations for tribute went on with the Jat Rajah and the Bangash and Ruhelas, but nothing came of them, as no pressure could be put on these parties and Ramchandra Ganesh made an impossible demand on Nawal Singh. The end of this expedition showed once again that Najib’s shrewd and sure diplomacy was superior to Maratha short-sightedness and vacillation. Their hope of peacefully securing tribute and territory from the Bangash and the trans-Ganges Ruhelas through the backing of Najib, proved illusory. These Afghan chiefs dismissed the Maratha envoys with a scornful refusal, “Najib has usurped Mirat and other mahals, and you have not recovered them. Why then are you asking us to restore our annexations? We shall not give you *chauth* or land unless Najib does the same.” (August 1770.) The result was the utter failure of the Marathas to get a pice and a consequent addition to their army debt. The evil was aggravated by Najib’s double-dealing. Throughout the rainy season he kept writing to the par-Ruhelas in order to stiffen their backs and induce them to form with him and the Jat Rajah a vast anti-Maratha coalition. One of his letters to them was intercepted and revealed his treachery.