the Battle of Paniput, 95 



* r according to the extent of my comprehenfion and knowledge. In the 

 " firft place, the families of the chiefs and foldiers, the large train of 

 "baggage, and the heavy artillery',, will be great impediments to carry- 

 " ing on the kind of war, which you have now in hand. Your troops 

 *'* are more light and expeditious than thofe of Hindoftun ; but the Durranies 

 M are fill more expeditious than you. It is therefore advifable, to 

 '-' take the field againft them quite unincumbered, and to leave the fuperflu- 

 *' ous baggage and followers, on the other fide of the Cbumbul, under 

 " the protection of Janfje or Gualiar,. which places are under your autho- 

 * l rity. 



*' Or I will put you in pofTefnon of one of the large forts in my coun- 

 <* try, Deig, or Com&eir, or Burt poor, in which you may lodge the baggage 

 *" and followers; and I will join you with all my forces. In this arrange- 

 " ment, you will have the advantage of a free communication with a 

 " friendly country behind you, and need be under no apprehenfions ref- 

 " peeling fupplies to your army; and there is reafon to believe, that 

 *' the enemy will not be able to advance fo far, but will by this plan of 

 '" operations be obliged to difperfe, without effecting any thing/* 



" Mulhar Row and the other chiefs approved of this advice, and 

 obferved, " that trains of artillery were fuitable to the royal armies, but 

 " that the Mahtatta mode of war was predatory, and their belt way was 

 " to follow the method to which they had been accuftomed, that Hindojian 

 " was not their hereditary pofiefhon, and, if they could not fucceed in re- 

 ** ducing it, it would be no difgrace to them to retreat again. That the 

 " advice of Surj a Mul was excellent; and that the plan, which he pro- 

 M pofed, would certainly compel the enemy to retreat, as they had no fixed 



