A History of the Mahrattas v1.c21.2

v1.c21.2

Since the battle of Shukurkhera, Nizam Ool Moolk had fixed his eye on Hyderabad, the ancient capital of the Kootub Shahee kings, as fittest for the seat of government of the independent sovereignty which he himself had founded; and it was very desirable to remove the Mahratta collectors from that quarter, on any terms. Although Nizam Ool Moolk had confirmed the imperial grants in Shao’s favour, a great deal of what was yielded was not actually given up; numerous points remained unadjusted; Shao’s part of the agreement to prevent plundering was not fulfilled, and constant discussions were the consequence. A new authority for a part of the old Mahratta territory was granted by Nizam Ool Moolk, which particularly specified the fixed personal Jagheers that Shao agreed to exempt from sequestration. Jagheer assignments in the old territory about Poona, which the Nizam had given to Rumbhajee Nimbalkur, one of the disaffected officers who had joined him, were exchanged for new grants to the eastward about Kurmulla; a measure on the part of Nizam Ool Moolk particularly conciliatory to Shao. After this a settlement was concluded¹ through the Pritee Needhee, by which Shao agreed to relinquish the Chouth and Surdeshmookhee in the neighbourhood of Hyderabad; an equivalent in money was to be paid for the former, and for the latter Shao received some Jagheer territory near Indapoor, of which district he was an hereditary Deshmookh²; a Jagheer in Berar was conferred on the Pritee Needhee. Nizam Ool Moolk had thus effected his first object by negotiation, but the exchange met with the decided disapprobation of Bajee Rao, who was ever an enemy to consolidation of the nature in question; and disputes ran so high between him and the Pritee Needhee, that Nizam Ool Moolk, encouraged by appearances and the support and alliance of Chunder Seyn Jadow, Rao Rumbha, Nimbalkur³ Jagheerdar of Barsee, and Sumbhajee, Raja of Kolapoor, resolved to complete the design he had formed. With this view, he proposed to espouse the cause of Sumbhajee, and to endeavour to create a complete division in Shao's government, by reviving the former feuds between Shao and Sumbhajee. His connection with Dhabaray and Peelajee Gaekwar; his hopes of finding, through the Raja Geerdhur, employment for the Peishwa's officers in Malwa; and the boasted superiority of his own troops, were strong inducements for making the attempt.