History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.220

v2.c41.220

Stray correspondence continued till the death of Jānuji. On the 8th June, 1770, a letter was written to Sambhājī by the new Governor Mr. Cartier requesting him to correspond with him in the same manner as he did with Mr. Verelst.³ On the 24th of January Sambhājī Gaṇesh informed that one Mr. Cartier was proceeding to Nilgiri for survey, and requested him to help him.⁴ A long letter was received from Jānuji Bhonsle on the 29th January in which he recapitulates his grievances regarding *chauth*. Udepuri Gosāin had informed him that matters had not improved in any way. He complains that one thousand horse is being maintained at Katak where things were in a deadlock for want of money and requests the Governor to begin the payment of the Bengal *qists* immediately.⁵ A letter was written to Sambhājī Gaṇesh on the 5th February complaining against Anku Rāy Nāib *Faujdār* of Balasore, Mr. Marriot had informed the Governor that Anku Rāy had stopped the importation of rice and other grain into the Barabati fort and oppressed the *muṭasaddīs* there.⁶ The same person was informed on the 19th of March that two companies of Sepoys had gone to Orissa to survey the land and assurance is given to him that they will not harm any one.¹ To this letter Sambhājī Gaṇesh replied in a letter received on the 20th of the same month stating that he has permitted English troops under Major Achmuty to march through the province and that they were conducted through the Rajghat pass by a guide sent by him. Sambhājī expresses surprise on hearing from the nāib of Balasore that four Englishmen with a small party have arrived without intimation on the frontiers of Nilgiri.² A remonstrance was addressed to the Rājā of Kanika about the seizure of a ship by his people, the sarang of which fled and gave information to Mr. Marriot of Balasore. Mr. Marriot addressed the ṣūbahdār of Katak and the Rājā but without result. A ship arrived from Kanika was believed to be the captured ship and was detained.³ A long reply was sent to Jānujī Bhonsle on the 9th or 13th of May which begins with the deputation of Zain-ul-’Abidīn Khān to Nagpur, the receipt of the treaties signed by Nawāb Saifuddaulah and the English chiefs and recapitulating the good offices of the English to Jānujī Bhonsle. The Governor lays stress on the fact that he helped to exterminate Śivarām Bhaṭṭa Sāṭhe by sending troops to Orissa. The English refusal to help Jānujī in his war with the Peshwa Mādhav Rāo I in the war of 1769 is camouflaged by stating that the English were ready to help Jānujī, but as his letter arrived in May, the monsoon approached and they feared that the war would be over by the time their troops could arrive.¹ A curious case is recorded about the Raja of Sambalpur. The latter had entrusted a broken watch and Rs. 100/- for repairs to Mr. Alleyn and the latter gave it to one Bahāl Rāi who was going to Calcutta. Bahāl died after his arrival in Calcutta and the watch could not be found among his effects. A letter was written to Lakhmanjī Jāchak asking him to explain these facts to the Rājā of Sambalpur. We do not know who this Lakhmanjī Jāchak was and whether he was any way related to Rāgmānjī Jāchak or Raghunathjī Jāchak of our previous paging.²