A History of the Mahrattas v1.c19.41

v1.c19.41

A.D. 1712.—Just at this time, in the month of January, Sivajee, the son of Tara Bye, died of the small-pox. This prince was an idiot, but his death occasioned a considerable change at Kolapoor. Ramchundur Punt seized the opportunity to remove Tara Bye from the administration, and to place Sumbhajee, the son of Rajis Bye, the young widow of Raja Ram, in her stead; a measure which had the sanction of Hindoo usage and was therefore supported by common consent. Tara Bye and Bhowanee Bye, her son’s widow, said to have been pregnant at the time of her husband’s death, were put into confinement, and Ramchundur Punt, unfettered by Tara Bye, began to exert himself with renovated vigour.