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Book VIII. arrival. But advices being received that Balagerow was marching straight to the south, and intended to cross the Kristna, the Subah's army renewed their march to the northward, when in the beginning of February news arrived, that the Affghans had taken Delhi, that a large detachment of their army were plundering Agra, and that parties from this detachment were on the road to Brampour; which, from some conclusions of which we are ignorant, determined the Subah's council to proceed no farther to the north, whilst the Pitans were supposed to have any intentions of advancing to the south; so that they did not approach Aurungabad until the beginning of May. In this interval Seid Lascar Khan, who had been Duan of the Decan, and had given the northern maritime provinces to the French, died at Aurengabad; his treasures were reported to be great, and with all his effects reverted, according to the institutions of the government, to the sovereign; but they were deposited in the fortress of Doltabad, of which the governor was his near relation, and had always been obsequious to his will.

This place is called, and deemed impregnable, standing on the summit of a mountain, which is surrounded with two other inclosures, of which that on the plain contains a large town: notwithstanding the necessity of communication to admit troops and provisions, each has its particular governor; but the two lower forts are so overtowered by the upper, that they rarely resist the will of the governor there, who, until the late confusions of the empire, was always especially appointed by the Great Mogul.

Shanavaze Khan had succeeded Seid Lascar in the office of Duan, of which one of the most beneficial duties is to take possession for the emperor of the estates of all who die, holding, or having held, any office in the government: he therefore proceeded several days before the army, with a large detachment and some artillery, and summoned all the forts; the lowest, after a slight resistance, and much parley, surrendered on the third day; the governors of the two others being leagued together held out a month; but having neglected to lay in a stock of provisions, and being surrounded by the whole of Salabadjing's army, they at length yielded to money; and