Fall of the Mughal Empire v4.c54.s7.1

v4.c54.s7.1

Leaving Shendhwā on 4th May 1802, Jaswant crossed the Tapti into West Khāndesh, and here we find him halting at Chalisgāon on the 20th of that month. At Malégāon, Pārolé, Ner (18 miles west of Dhuliā), and other places in this region, he spent the next two months, June and July. But his advanced division of light cavalry with guns, under Fath Singh Māné, crossed the Godāvari, and after plundering the north Ahmadnagar district arrived near that fort on 25th June. About the same time (c. 21st June) Shahāmat Khan with his Pathān horse, in Holkar's pay, burst into the Nāsik district, robbing the people with ruthless vigour. Early next month the Khan turned from Nāsik south-eastwards to Sinnar (70 miles north-west of Ahmadnagar) in order to be nearer to Māné for concerted action. On 2nd August, Jaswant himself reached Sangamner, about midway on the road from Nāsik to Ahmadnagar, and assumed direct control of the operations for carrying the war into the Peshwā’s homeland.*