Chap. T.] NADIR SUAJl'S INVASION. 399
been fully alive to the danger, but months passed away, during which Nadir was ad. itss. left to settle his conquest and make new preparations. The actual invasion seemed indeed to have become impossible, at least for one season ; for the winter was approaching, and it was never dreamed that he woiUd commence a cam- paign which, in its very first operations, would ex])Ose him to the rigours of a mountainous country and the assaults of its warlike inhabitants. How great then must have been the consternation when it was learned that all these sui)])osed impossibilities had been overcome, and that Nadir, after crossing the Indus by a bridge of boats in November, 1738, had advanced into the Punjab at tlie head of a mighty army !
Great as was the danger, so tardily were the means of defence provided, Nauii shai. that Nadir for the first time came in sight of the Indian army after he had Moguls reached the banks of the Jumna, and was within 100 miles of the Mogul capital. Here, in the neighbourhood of Camoul, Nizam-ul-Moolk, to whom the chief command was intrusted, occupied a fortified camp. Just at the time when Nadir was ap})roaching, Saadut Khan arrived with a reinforcement from Oude, and the battle immediately commenced. The Indians, consisting for the most part of raw levies, were no match for the Persian veterans, and after little more than a show of resistance were signally discomfited. Mahomed Shah, deeming all further resistance hopeless, sent Nizam-ul-Moolk to make his sub- mission, and then repaii'ed in person to the Persian camp. He was courteously received, but was not permitted to attempt negotiation, as Nadir Shah, conscious of being complete master, had determined to dictate his terms within the walls of Delhi. Thither therefore the two monarchs proceeded, the one as a miser- able captive, the other as a conqueror in triumphant procession at the head of his victorious army. Tlie entrance took place in the beginning of March. 1739.
Nadir Shah took up his residence with Mahomed Shah at the jialace, and Deiiii taken
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appears, from the careful arrangements which he made for the mamtenance of di.scipline and the protection of the inhabitants, to have meditated no gi-eater severity than the levy of a very heavy contribution. This mild intention, if he had it, was frustrated by the inhabitants themselves. On the very second day, hastily believing a rumour of Nadir Shah's death, they broke through all restraint, .and commenced an indiscriminate massacre of the Persians at their various isolated stations throughout the city. The shah was furious, and forth- with i.ssued ordei-s for a fearful retaliation. From sunrise to sunset the citv was given up to the fury of 20,000 soldiers, and lust, rapine, and slaughter raged in their most horrific forms. This was only a deed of vengeance. Nadirs own claims still remained to be satisfied ; and the work of confiscation and plunder was carried on for weeks without interruption. The "Peacock Throne " foi-med an important item in the spoils. At the most moderate estimate, the amount carried off in money, plate, and jewels, could not be less than £30,000.000 sti^rlinij-.
