History of Orissa from the Earliest Times to the British Period v2.c41.312.4

v2.c41.312.4

Anderson opened negotiations with Mānojirām *Phaḍnis* and Hirderām, *Diwān* of Katak, who represented the *Ṣubahdār*, Rājārām Pandit. Eventually the Maratha officers in Katak promised not to interfere with Colonel Pearce's troops in their march through Orissa. Chimnājī returned to the open country and permitted Colonel Pearce's army to pass and even helped it in every way. Gupte's *Bakhar* states Hastings promised to pay a blackmail of thirty lakhs of rupees at once and thirteen lakhs of rupees every year for the passage of Colonel Pearce's army through Orissa. The Marathas referred to the stoppage of the *chauth* and Hastings directed Anderson to flirt with them. Chimnājī was not on good terms with his brother Raghujī and Hastings tried to gain him over by hinting at hopes of British co-operation in case he made a bid for the throne.¹ But Chimnājī was a mere boy of seventeen and British envoys could not approach him except through his ministers and the intrigue started by Hastings failed. He had paid three lakhs of rupees secretly and promised to pay twleve lakhs more in addition, in return for which Chimnājī was to promise either to return with his army or not to employ it against the British. The negotiations are amply described by Wills, and need not be quoted here. The Maratha ministers refused bribes and finally the Nagpur envoys met Hastings at Calcutta on the 26th of March, 1781.