A History of the Mahrattas v1.c20.54

v1.c20.54

At what time this consent was obtained, or in what year the original commission was issued, is not ascertained. The form of obtaining the Raja’s authority on all such occasions was rigidly observed by the Peishwas, at a stage when their supremacy was very far advanced; because, by virtue of that authority and their station as Mookh (or chief) Purdhan, even when their usurpation became complete, it suited the Bramin character, of acting as nominal servants and real masters, to rule the Mahratta chiefs as the delegate of their Prince.