The Military System of the Marathas, with a Brief Account of Their Maritime Activities c13.13

c13.13

Here Raghoba lost an excellent opportunity. While on the banks of the Indus, he obtained an autograph letter from the Shah of Persia proposing an alliance against the common enemy.¹ Raghoba took it lightly. He underestimated the strength of his enemy and talked of the conquest of Kabul and Kandahar, as they had once formed an integral part of the Mughal empire. But if he had been seriously thinking of further conquest and annexation, it is difficult to understand why a strong Maratha force was not permanently posted on the natural frontiers of India. It would be far more easy to prevent Abdali’s aggression with the mighty Indus in front and a hostile Persian army at his flank, while his Indian co-religionists would be absolutely incapable of rendering the least assistance, for a comparatively small force would be sufficient for keeping the Rohillas in check. But in 1758 Raghoba again left for home. His army had long been in arrears and probably nothing would induce a southern force to stay away in a northern province for two successive rainy seasons.