MARATHAS CONQUER THE PANJAB 231 made above. After leaving the suburbs of Delhi, they arrived first at Sirhind, where they fought an action with Abd-as-samad Khan, who had been installed in the government of that place by the Abdali Shah Ah- mad, and took him prisoner. Turning away from thence, they pushed on to Lahore and got ready for a conflict with Jahan Khan, who was stationed there. The latter, however, being alarmed at the paucity of his troops in comparison with the multitude of the enemy, resolved at once to seek safety in flight. Ac- cordingly, in the month of Sha'ban, 1171 A. H. (April, 1758 A. D.), he pursued the road to Kabul with the ut- most speed, accompanied by Timur Shah, and made a present to the enemy of the heavy baggage and property that he had accumulated during his admin- istration of that region. The Maratha chieftains fol- lowed in pursuit of Timur Shah as far as the river Attok, and then retraced their steps to Lahore. This time the Marathas extended their sway up to Multan. As the rainy season had commenced, they delivered over the province of Lahore to Adina Beg Khan on his promising to pay a tributary offering of 7,500,000 rupees, and made up their minds to return to the Dec- can, being anxious again to behold their beloved fam- ilies at home. On reaching Delhi in the course of their return, they made straight for their destination, after leav- ing one of their warlike chieftains, named Janku, at the head of a formidable army in the vicinity of the metropolis. It chanced that in the year 1172 A. H.
