A History of the Mahrattas v1.c21.11

v1.c21.11

body to his left, and proceeded with great speed to Guzerat, where he not only plundered, but taking advantage of Nizam Ool Moolk’s notorious duplicity and the enmity subsisting between him and Sur Boolund Khan, he caused it to be believed by the latter that the Nizam was the supporter of his invasion; a rumour which gained strength by accounts of the approach of the latter towards Surat. Nizam Ool Moolk, after being misled, losing some time at Burhanpoor, and fruitlessly following the Peishwa, at last perceived his error, retraced his steps to the Deccan, and determined to destroy Poona. But he had not reached Ahmednugur, when Bajee Rao, having passed the Karsarbharee Ghaut, totally destroyed the districts of Gandapoor and Byzapoor, which, from former tenure, or the late exchanges, were wholly Jagheer. Nizam Ool Moolk recrossed the Godavery, when the Peishwa, after some days skirmishing, drew him into a situation favourable to his purpose, set fire to the grass, destroyed the forage, and effectually straitened his supplies. The Mahrattas suffered severely by the fire of the artillery, but they cut off such detached parties as they could overpower, and drove off the draught cattle. At last in some broken ground, around which for several miles there was no water, the Mahrattas completely surrounded the Nizam’s army, and so effectually impeded his march, that night closed before he could extricate himself from his embarrassing situation. Nizam Ool Moolk had foreseen that this species of warfare would be practised, and in entering upon the campaign expected that the part of light troops should be performed by his associates. He had reproached them with their want of vigour, and recommended their adopting the same system against their countrymen as Bajee Rao was practising. But Chunder Seyn Jadow represented that most of his troops were Moghuls; and Sumbhajee acknowledged, not only that his numbers were inadequate, but that he suspected his Carcoons were in league with the enemy. There is something explanatory of the nature of the alliance and characteristic of the Mahratta; in Sumbhajee’s requesting, at the conclusion of an interview, to say a word in private to Nizam Ool Moolk, and then begging of him, ‘not to give the money, on account of the subsidy, to his Carcoons, as they would defraud the troops’; whilst the Bramins, by another representation equally private, represent, ‘that Sumbhajee would spend the whole on dancing girls; dissipate it in drinking and debauchery; and leave them to starvation, and the troops to revolt.'