A History of the Mahrattas v1.c21.13

v1.c21.13

After an interchange of presents,¹ when Bajee Rao and Nizam Ool Moolk met for the first time, the armies retired upon the conclusion of the treaty.² Its final ratification was of consequence to both parties, but especially to Bajee Rao, who was then negotiating with Sur Boolund Khan, in hopes of obtaining the cession of the Chouth and Surdeshmookhee of Guzerat. Sur Boolund Khan, who had at first exerted himself to check Mahratta incursions, was induced to listen to the terms proposed by Bajee Rao, in order to save the country from total ruin. He had repeatedly applied to court for a supply of money, as it was at first impossible to raise any revenue of consequence from the districts in their exhausted state, but his demands were entirely neglected. He had endeavoured to conciliate Peelajee and Kantajee by grants of Chouth, but they collected all the revenue and afforded no protection to the country. Chimnajee Appa arrived with a large army, exacted a heavy contribution from Pitlaud, and plundered Dholka; but he promised, on the 'part of his brother, that if the Chouth and Surdeshmookhee were yielded, the districts should be effectually secured from the depredations of all other freebooters. Sur Boolund Khan at length agreed to the Peishwa’s proposals, and granted deeds in the year 1729 to Sham Rao, the wukeel of Bajee Rao, the minister of the Raja Shao, ceding the Surdeshmookhee, or ten per cent. of the whole revenue both on the land and customs, with the exception of the port of Surat and the district around it; together with the Chouth, or one fourth of the whole collections on the land and customs, excepting Surat, and five per cent. on the revenues of the city of Ahmedabad.¹