Nigar-namah-i Hind 4: The Bhao makes Overtures for Peace.

4

Bhao, notwithstanding his vast pomp, mighty valour, and numerous associates, lost heart, and beholding the form of adversity in the mirror of his understanding, let slip the cord of firmness from his hand, and knocked at the door of humble solicitation with the utmost importunity. Kashi Raj, who is the narrator of these incidents, has thus related the story: "An individual by name Ganesh Pandit, who occupied the post of newswriter on behalf of the above-mentioned Rao at the Court of Nawab Shuja'u-d daula Bahadur, and enjoyed the honour of being admitted to his presence, began, after the occurrence of these events, to make overtures for peace at the instance of the aforesaid Rao. Most of the Hindi notes in the Mahratta dialect he wrote to me with his own hand, and the pith of their contents was this: 'Do you solicit His Highness, and urgently persuade him to this course, viz., in combination with Ashrafu-l Wuzra (Shah Wali Khan), to throw open the door of peace to me, and if a peace be concluded, immense favours shall be shown him in return for it.' Accordingly, on one occasion he sent His Highness the impression of his hand in saffron, together with a sworn agreement, and a white Dakhini turban, with a sarpech studded with diamonds, by way of an interchange of turbans, and I presented it for the auspicious inspection. From this side likewise the customary present was made in return, and by degrees I brought His Highness's mind to this, that he entered into a consultation with Ashrafu-l Wuzra on the subject; and whatever appeared in writing between them was always addressed to Ashrafu-l Wuzra through the medium of your humble servant. [Long consultations upon the proposal.] After all, the communications led to nothing."