Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c48.s3.15

v4.c48.s3.15

Holkar’s power for mischief having been thus neutralised for the time being, and a working compromise effected between the two parties, the Sindhian generals went back northwards to their own work in the Jaipur and Alwar territories. But in the April of next year (1793), the hatching of a second anti-Sindhia coalition by Tukoji Holkar and alarming reports of his armed preparations made the Sindhian generals again hurry to the south of the Banās river. During the six months that had passed since the brush at Surauli, Ahalyā Bāi had been raising new levies and sending them in successive detachments to Tukoji. This chief was now encamped at Jhapāit ghāt, a ferry at a sharp northward re-entrant angle of the Chambal river, 12 miles south of Lākheri city. About 14th April he was reported to be collecting forces, “Gosāin, Bairāgi, Rāngré, Rajput, Minā, Gujar, and Pathāns from Bhupāl, Kurwāi and Sironj as sebandi (militia or irregulars). The Deccani horse raised in Maheshwar (the seat of Ahalyā Bāi) was reaching him” in a continuous stream. His lieutenants were also being called in: Kāshi Rao (his eldest son) and Bāpu Holkar (the guardian of Kāshi) had already reached his camp, while Malhar Holkar (a younger son) was coming up from Maheshwar *via* Kanad, Agar, Bhansodā, and Mehidpur.