A.D. 1738
for after a few days he disappeared and encamped at a considerable distance, Meanwhile, the consternation produced by his presence caused hasty messages to be despatched to every quarter from which relief might be expected; and while the Vizier Kamr-u-din Khan, who had formed a junction with Saadut Khan, was advancing from his encampment at Muttra, Nizam-ul-Moolk also hastened from the Deccan. Bajee Rao, true to the Mahratta tactics, avoided an encounter, and by a precipitate retreat soon placed the Nerbudda between himself and his pursuers.
Niznm-ul-Moolk endeavours to arrest Bajee Rao' progress Nizam-ul-Moolk, notwithstanding Bajee's departure, continued his march to Delhi, where on his arrival he was invested with full powers to adopt whatever measures might be necessary for the safety of the empire ; and his eldest son, Ghazi-u-din, was appointed governor both of Malwah and Gujerat. So low had the Mogul resom'ces now fallen, that after his utmost efforts the army under his command did not exceed 34,000 men. With this army, and a reserve com- manded by the nephew of Saadut Khan, he set out in search of the Mahrattas; and proceeding southward past Seronge, took up a position near the fort of Bhopaul, while Bajee Rao crossed the Nerbudda and advanced to meet him. As Nizam-vd-Moolk was outnumbered by the Mahrattas, but possessed a power- ful artillery while they were almost entirely destitute of it, he deemed it advisable to retain his position and act on the defensive. With an ordinary enemy this might have been expedient, but with the enemy with whom he had now to deal it was a decided blunder. The Mahrattas, keeping carefully beyond the reach of his artillery, commenced their usual system by laying waste the surrounding country, and cutting off his supplies. This they did so effectually that no alternative was left him but to commence a retreat. As may be supposed, it was only a series of disasters ; and he was obliged to make a peace by which he conceded all the demands of the Peishwa, and bomd himself to pay him £500,000 sterling. This humiliating peace, concluded in February, 1738, was only the forerunner of a far more overwhelming calamity.
Political state of Persia. The Persian dynasty of the Sophis or Safaris, after existing for two centuries, became so degenerate as to fall an ea.sy prey to the Afghans of Kandahar in 1722, when, on the capture of Ispahan, after a dreadful siege. Shah Hosen, the last Sophi, went forth with his principal courtiers in deep mourning, and with his own hand placed the diadem on the head of Mahmood, his Khilji conqueror. It had been worn by the new monarch only for two years when he died raving mad, and was succeeded by his nephew Ashref, who was no sooner seated on the throne than he was called to struggle against both foreign and internal foes. The Turks and Russians, leagued together to dismember the kingdom and share it between them, advanced, the one from the west and the other from the north, with powerful armies, while Tahmasp, who had made his escape from Ispahan when his father Shah Hosen was obliged to surrender, had mustered a body of retainers, and annoimced his determination to make
