History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c40.79

v2.c40.79

Considerable misunderstanding existed among early English writers about the true nature of the position of the Marathas in Orissa after the treaty of 1751 between Raghuji Bhonsle I and Nawāb 'Alīwardī Khān. Owing to the appointment of Mīr Ḥabībullah Khān and later on of Mīr Muṣliḥuddīn Khān as Nāib Nāẓims, the English thought that the Nawāb's authority was being continued. So they speak of another Maratha invasion in 1753. In that year the Resident at Balasore writes on the 1st February that "Weavers at Balasore complain of the great scarcity of rice and provisions of all kinds occasioned by the devastation of the Mahrattas, who, 600 in number, after plundering Balasore had gone to the Nellegreen (Nilgiri ?) hills; several weavers have brought their looms into the factory; and the few who remain declare they shall be obliged to quit the place. Desires he will send him 1500 or 2000 maunds of rice on the Honorable Company's account." Even after the appointment of Śivarām Bhaṭṭa Sāṭhe as the Maratha ṣūbahdār of Katak in 1756 and the separate treaty entered with Jānuji Bhonsle by Nawāb Mīr Ja'afar 'Alī Khān in 1760 the English factors in Orissa thought that the Marathas would not retain Orissa permanently.