Page:History of India Vol 4.djvu/269

 BALAJI AND BAJI KAO 221 commissioners of his own, one to collect the sar-desh- mukM, and the other to receive the fourth share, or chauth. Amiru-l umard Husain *Ali, having increased the mansabs held by Balaji, the son of Basu Nath, and Sankaraji Malhar, deputed them to superintend the affairs of the Deccan, and sent them to join ' Alim *AH Khan. After the death of Balaji, the son of Basu Nath, his* son, named Baji Rao, became his successor, and Holkar, who was a servant of Balaji Rao, having urged the steed of daring, at his master's instigation, at full speed from the Deccan towards Malwa, put Giridhar Bahadur, the governor of Malwa, to death on the field of battle. After this occurrence, the govern- ment of that province was conferred on Muhammad Khan Bangash; but owing to the turbulence of the Marathas he was unable to restore it to proper order. On his removal from office, the administration of that region was entrusted to Raja Jai Singh Sawai. Unity of faith and religion strengthened the bonds of amity between Baji Rao and Raja Jai Singh; and this circum- stance was a source of additional power and influence to the former, insomuch that during the year 1146 (1733 A. D.) he had the audacity to advance and make an inroad into the confines of Hindustan. The grand vizir Itmad-ad-daulah Kamr-ad-din Khan was first se- lected by the Emperor Muhammad Shah to oppose him, and on the second occasion Muzaffar Khan, the brother of Samsam-ad-daulah Khan-dauran. These two, having entered the province of Malwa, pushed on as far as