Chap. I.]
THE MAHRATTAS AND DOORANEES.
10 :
sterling, expressed his dissatisfaction so strongly, that Ragoba was piqued, and told him he had better conduct the next expedition himself. The Bhao, elated by some recent successes which had somewhat increased the Mahratta territory, and added largely to its revenue, was not disinclined to avail himself of an opportunity of ac(iuiring new distinction. Treating Ragoba's taunt as if it had been a serious propositi, he exchanged situations with him, and assumed the chief command in Hindoostau.
The only formidaljle enemy whom the Mahrattas had now to encounter was in the field. Ahmed Shah Dooranee, after nearly annihilating two separate Mahratta detachments, the one commanded by Holkar and the other by Scindia, had taken up a po.sition at Anopsheher, situated on the right bank of tlie Ganges, seventy-three miles south-east of Delhi. The Bhao, accom])anied by Wiswas Rao, the youthful son and heir of the Peishwa, and the leading Mahratta chiefs, advanced at the head of a numerous host, without encountering serious opposition, and having gained possession of the t-apital, disgraced himself by rapacit3^ Palaces, tombs, and .shrines were defaced for the sake of their rich ornaments, and the silver ceiling of the hall of audience torn down was coined into rupees, to the amount, it is said, of seventeen lacs (£170,000). Ahmed, in addition to his own Dooranees, was cordially joined by the Rohillas, and rather lukewarmly by Shuja-u-Dowlah, governor of Oude, who would willingly have remained neutral, and afterwards made the most of the event by taking part with the winning side. As the contest, however, had a.ssumed a religious aspect, the Hindoos being ranged on one side and Mahometans on the other, lie found it impossible to withhold his aid from Ahmed, who was considered as the representative of the latter.
Ahmed, as soon as the rains permitted him to move, hastened to the Jumna, with the view of relieving a fort on its banks to which the Mahrattas had laid siege. He arrived only in time to learn that it had fallen, but showed such desperate determination, by effecting a ])a.'*sage of the river more by swimming than fording, that his enemies were intimidated and drew off to Panijnit. Here the Bhao encamped with an anny consisting of 70.000 cavalry and 15,000 infjintry, of whom 9000 were disciplined sepoya In addition to these were
A.U. 1759.
Decisive Btnigiile be- t«eeii tlie Malinittiis and l»(Kir- anees.
DuoHANtES. — Fn.iii Kliiliiimtoiie's Cabool.
Their two .imiiee.
