A History of the Mahrattas v1.c20.62

v1.c20.62

A.D. 1725.—Peelajee’s treachery was rewarded by an equal share of the Chouth with Kantajee, and both in conjunction proceeded to levy their assignments. But the division of the money led to perpetual disputes; Peelajee, as the agent of Dhabaray Senaputtee, considered himself the superior authority in Guzerat, and Kantajee, as an officer of the Rajas, despised his pretensions. For some time these differences only produced heavier impositions on the towns and villages; until, on their approach to Cambay, where they began as usual to burn the suburbs for the purpose of intimidation, the inhabitants, aware of their dissensions, affecting to consider Kantajee the superior, sent a messenger to Peelajee hinting this circumstance and offering him 20,000 rupees to leave the place. Peelajee, exasperated by the insult, confined the messenger, Kantajee insisted on his being released, and both flew to arms to assert their prerogative. After a severe conflict within sight of the walls, Peelajee was discomfited and retired to Mahtur, a village near Kaira. The contribution from Cambay was levied by the victor, and five thousand rupees demanded from the English factory, where the agents pleaded exemption, in consequence of privilege of trade from the ‘Shao Raja,’ but at which ‘the armed villains,’ as Mr. Innes, the chief of the factory, in bitterness of heart terms them, ‘only laughed.’