Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c29.s2.20

v2.c29.s2.20

The Rajput tradition given by Tod, that in 1764 “Malhar invaded Mewar, advanced as far as Ontala, where Arjun Singh and the Rana’s foster-brothers met him and negotiated for the payment of 51 lakhs of Rupees” is unsupported by history. The Maharana had not 51 lakhs to spare, and if Malhar had actually collected such a vast sum the Peshwa would have taken the lion’s share of it and there would have been an entry about it in the account-books of the Peshwas which are still preserved. The correct transaction is set forth above. The Maharana’s actual payment was five lakhs (not 51 lakhs), made in November 1765 (not in 1764), and to Sindhia’s diwan (not to Malhar Holkar.)