In the second year after the above-mentioned date, Bájí Ráo attempted another invasion of Hindústán, when the wazír 'Itimádu-d daula Kamru-d dín Khán Bahádur and the Nawáb Khán-daurán Khán went forth from Dehlí to give him battle. * * On this occasion several engagements took place, but victory fell to the lot of the wazír; and peace having been ultimately concluded, they both returned to Dehlí.
In the third year from the aforesaid date, through the mediation of Amíru-l umará Khán-daurán Khán Bahádur, the government of Málwá was bestowed on Bájí Ráo, whereby his power and influence was increased twofold. The Ráo in question, having entered Málwá with a numerous force, soon reduced the province to a satisfactory state of order. About the same time he attacked the Rája of Bhadáwar, and after putting him to flight, devastated his territory. From thence he despatched Pílájí with the view of subduing the kingdom of Antarbed (Doáb), which is situated between the Ganges and Jumna. At that very time Nawáb Burhánu-l Mulk had moved out of his own province, and advanced through Antarbed to the vicinity of Ágra. Pílájí therefore crossed the Jumna, and engaged in active hostilities against the above-named Nawáb; but having been vanquished in battle, he was forced to take to flight, and rejoin Bájí Ráo. An immense number of his army were drowned while crossing the Jumna; but as for those who were captured or taken prisoners, the Nawáb presented each one with two rupees and a cloth, and gave him permission to depart. Bájí Ráo, becoming downcast and dispirited after meeting with this ignominious defeat, turned his face from that quarter, and proceeded towards Dehlí. * *
Samsámu-d daula Amíru-l umará Bahádur, after considerable deliberation, sallied forth from Sháh-Jahánábád with intent to check the enemy; but Bájí Ráo, not deeming it expedient at the time to kindle the flame of war, retired towards Ágra, and Amíru-l umará, considering himself fortunate enough in having effected so much, re-entered the metropolis. This was the first occasion on which the Mahrattas extended their aggressions so far as to threaten the environs of the metropolis. Though most of the men in the Mahratta army are unendowed with the excellence of noble and illustrious birth, and husbandmen, carpenters, and shopkeepers abound among their soldiery, yet, as they undergo all sorts of toil and fatigue in prosecuting a guerilla warfare, they prove superior to the easy and effeminate troops of Hind, who for the most part are of more honourable birth and calling. If this class were to apply their energies with equal zeal to the profession, and free themselves from the trammels of indolence, their prowess would excel that of their rivals, for the aristocracy ever possess more spirit than the vulgar herd. The free-booters who form the vanguard of the Mahratta forces, and marching in advance of their main body, ravage the enemy's country, are called puíkárahs (púíkárahs?);* the troops who are stationed here and there by way of picquets at a distance from the army, for the purpose of keeping a vigilant watch, are styled mátí, and chháppah is synonymous in their dialect with a night-attack. Their food consists chiefly of cakes made of jawár, or bájrá, dál, arhad, with a little butter and red pepper; and hence it is that, owing to the irascibility of their tempers, gentleness is never met with in their dispositions. The ordinary dress worn by these people comprises a turban, tunic, selah (loose mantle), and jánghiah (short drawers). Among their horses are many mares, and among the offensive weapons used by this tribe there are but few fire-arms, most of the men being armed with swords, spears, or arrows instead. The system of military service established among them is this: each man, according to his grade, receives a fixed salary in cash and clothes every year. They call their stables págáh, and the horsemen who are mounted on chargers belonging to a superior officer are styled bárgírs. * *
When Bájí Ráo, in the year 1153 A.H. (1740 A.D.), on the banks of the river Nerbadda, bore the burden of his existence to the shores of non-entity, his son, Bálájí Ráo, became his successor, and after the manner of his father, engaged vigorously in the prosecution of hostilities, the organization and equipment of a large army, and the preparation of all the munitions of war. His son continued to pass his days, sometimes at war, and at other times at peace, with the Nawáb Ásaf Jáh. At length, in the year 1163 (1750 A.D.), Sáhú Ráo, the successor of Sambhájí, passed away, and the supreme authority departed out of the direct line of the Bhonslas. Bálájí Ráo selected another individual of that family, in place of Sáhú's son, to occupy the post of Rája, and seated him on the throne, whilst he reserved for himself the entire administration of all the affairs of the kingdom. Having then degraded the ancient chieftains from the lofty position they had held, he denuded them of their dignity and influence, and began aggrandizing the Kokaní Brahmins, who were of the same caste as himself. He also constituted his cousin, Sadásheo Ráo, commonly called Bháo Ráo, his chief agent and prime minister. The individual in question was of acute understanding, and thoroughly conversant with the proper method of government. Through the influence of his energetic counsels, many undertakings were constantly brought to a successful issue, the recital of which would lead to too great prolixity. In short, besides holding the fortress of Bíjápúr, he took possession anew of Daulatábád, the seat of government of the illustrious sovereigns, together with districts yielding sixty lacs of rupees, after forcibly wresting it out of the hands of Nizámu-l Mulk Nizám 'Alí Khán Bahádur. He likewise took into his service Ibráhím Khán Gárdí, who had a well-organized train of European artillery with him.
Ahmad Sháh Abdálí, in the year 1171 A.H. (1757-8 A.D.), came from the country of Kandahár to Hindústán, and on the 7th of Jumáda-l awwal of that year, had an interview with the Emperor 'Álamgír II., at the palace of Sháh-Jahánábád; he exercised all kinds of severity and oppression on the inhabitants of that city, and united the daughter of A'azzu-d dín, own brother to His Majesty, in the bonds of wedlock with his own son, Tímúr Sháh. After an interval of a month, he set out to coerce Rája Súraj Mal Ját, who, from a distant period, had extended his sway over the province of Ágra, as far as the environs of the city of Dehlí. In three days he captured Balamgarh, situated at a distance of fifteen kos from Dehlí, which was furnished with all the requisites for standing a siege, and was well manned by Súraj Mal's followers. After causing a general massacre of the garrison, he hastened towards Mathurá, and having razed that ancient sanctuary of the Hindús to the ground, made all the idolators fall a prey to his relentless sword. Then he returned to Ágra, and deputed his Commander-in-Chief, Jahán Khán, to reduce all the forts belonging to the Ját chieftain. At this time a dreadful pestilence broke out with great virulence in the Sháh's army, so that he was forced to abandon his intention of chastising Súraj Mal, and unwillingly made up his mind to repair to his own kingdom.
On his return, as soon as he reached Dehlí, the Emperor
'Álamgír went forth with Najíbu-d daula Bahádur, and had
an interview with him on the margin of the Maksúdábád lake,
when he preferred sore complaints against 'Imádu-l Mulk
Gházíu-d dín Khán Bahádur, who was at that time at Farrukh-