Fall of the Mughal Empire v2.c30.s3.49

v2.c30.s3.49

Leaving Sarai Alamchand on 2nd May, Shah Alam marched by way of Shujaetpur and Kora to Jajmau (23 May), where Shujā who had borne him company so long took leave for his own province (3 June.) Then, by way of Cawnpur the imperial camp reached Bithur, where General Sir Robert Barker refused to proceed any further, bade formal farewell to the Emperor on 28 June, and came back with his two English battalions to Cawnpur and Benares. So, also did Munir-ud-daulah, who had persistently opposed this undertaking. The Emperor continued his progress to Qanauj and then to the neighbourhood of Farrukhabad, whose Nawab, Ahmad Khan Bangash, had died on 17 April. An imperial demand was made for escheating all his property to the State, but the late Nawab's man of business Bakhshi Fakhruddaulah replied to it by gathering a large force of Ruhelas from the neighbourhood and preparing for war. The helpless Emperor appealed to Mahadji Sindhia, who approached with a vast army, the report of which cowed Fakhruddaulah and he agreed to pay six lakhs (two lakhs down) on condition of Ahmad's son Muzaffar Jang being recognised as Nawab of Farrukhabad and confirmed in his father's estates. This success achieved, the Emperor moved on to Nabiganj, 19 miles south-west of Farrukhabad, and there encamped for the rains.