A History of the Mahrattas v1.c21.35

v1.c21.35

The cession of Chouth and Surdeshmookhee from the province of Guzerat was highly disapproved at the imperial court, although no attempt had been made to assist Sur Boolund Khan, or to avert the calamity and disgrace which that officer foretold must be the consequence of neglecting his applications for assistance. Sur Boolund Khan was superseded by Abhee Sing, Raja of Joudpoor, who proceeded with the army to take possession of his new government. Sur Boolund Khan opposed him for a considerable time, but at last an accommodation took place, and the latter went off towards Delhi, where he was afterwards extremely ill-used and unworthily disgraced. Although an enemy of Nizam Ool Moolk, the disrespect and indignity with which Sur Boolund Khan was treated is given as the reason for the intimate connection which was now cemented between the former and Bajee Rao. The Mahomedan historian ¹ is partly right; but selfish not generous motives furnish the real interpretation of Nizam Ool Moolk’s consideration for Sur Boolund Khan. Perceiving Bajee Rao’s complete ascendancy, the appointment of the Hindoo prince Abhee Sing to supersede Sur Boolund Khan, the imbecility of the Emperor, and the treachery as well as depraved venality of his courtiers; knowing also that he had rendered himself in the highest degree obnoxious, Nizam Ool Moolk had good grounds for apprehending that the Peishwa might be able to obtain the viceroyalty of the Deccan. The plan, however, which he adopted under these circumstances, belongs to the higher order of politics, and seems to have been framed for the purpose of diverting the Mahrattas from the destruction of the resources of his own country, and of making his own power a balance between that of the Emperor and the Peishwa.