Lehal Library

The Indus to the Ganges 165 the Ganges to the Nawab Wazir of Oudb and his English patrons.~ These incursions along and across the Jumna brought the Malwais into conflict with the Jats, Rohillas, Mughals, Marathas, Rajputs, and the English. Across the Jumna In January 1770 a Sikh force of over twenty thousand horsemen invaded Panipat and after fighting an indecisive engagement with Najibuddaulah's son, Zabita Khan,~ crossed the ,;verJumna and camped near Aligarh. It withdrew in the face of a superior force ofJats and Marathas, but later plundered villages around Panipat, Sonepat, and Kamal. Two years later, the Malwais clashed with the Marathas who had come into Sirhind. They expelJed the Marathas from Malwa and followed up their success by again crossing the Jumna. In the winter of 1773-74 they levied tribute on many towns and villages between the Jumna and the Ganges. Thereafter, their visitations into this doab became a regular post-hatvest feature. Their method of operations is described by Francklin: 'When determined to invade a neighbouring province, they assemble at first in small numbers on the frontier, when having first demanded the rakhl or tribute, if it be complied with, they retire peaceably; but when this is denied, hostilities commence, and the Seiks in their progress are accustomed to lay waste the country on all sides, carrying aJong with them as many of the inhabitants as they can take prisoners, and all the cattle. '11 3 Colonel Polier, a Swiss, described the misls as 'Lhat formidable aristocratic republic' of Sikh soldiers who are 'indefatigable; mounted on the best horses that India can afford.. . . Fifty of them are enough lo keep at bay a whole battalion of the King's forces.' (Asintir A1111ual Regi.stn, 1800, PP· 34-5.) 4 A few months before his death, Najibuddaulah had advised his son: 'You are free to settle the affairs of che Sikhs eill1er by peace or by war al your discretion.· Fh·e years later Zabita thought it discreet to make peace with the Sikhs. (Nnjiburldaullih, pp. 125--6.) 5 Francklin. Sliiili Aulum, pp. 76-7.