A History of the Mahrattas v1.c22.38

v1.c22.38

All these concessions were evaded by the Emperor, excepting the last; to that he acceded, on Bajee Rao’s agreeing to pay a fee of six lacks of rupees. This grant was precisely similar to that of the Surdeshmookhee, but coinciding with the proportion of the emoluments of Deshmookh and Deshpandya : those of the Surdeshmookhee being ten, the Surdeshpandeegheeree was five per cent. This grant, however, fell upon the Deccan ; it was a stroke levelled at Nizam Ool Moolk by Khan Dowran, and had the immediate effect of rousing the Nizam’s jealousy, whilst encouragement from the Moghul faction and pressing invitations from Mohummud Shah to repair to Delhi and save the empire at length induced Nizam Ool Moolk to think of turning the scale against his predatory allies. In the meantime negotiations produced no cessation of activity on the part of Bajee Rao, and his demands were so exorbitant that it was determined, after protracted consultations, to assemble a vast army, by the mere display of which it seemed as if they expected to annihilate the Mahrattas. The plains in the neighbourhood of the capital were accordingly covered with tents, and the preparations were as splendid as the operations proved feeble. The Peishwa, on hearing that Khan Dowran and Kummur-ud-deen Khan, each at the head of a great army, had advanced towards Muttra, deposited his heavy baggage with his ally Juggut Raj in Bundelcund, and advanced to a position on the banks of the Jumna, forty miles south of Agra. He had attacked the Raja of Budawur for refusing to settle his claims, and levied contributions in every direction. Mulhar Rao Holkar, Peelajee Jadow, and Wittoojee Bolay committed great depredations in the Dooab, until driven across the Jumna by Sadut Khan, who marched from Oude and unexpectedly assailed the Mahrattas. He wrote an exaggerated account of his success to court, stating that he had wounded Mulhar Rao Holkar, killed Wittoojee Bolay, and driven the whole Mahratta army across the Chumbul; that two thousand were killed, and two thousand were drowned in the Jumna. On Sadut Khan’s arrival at Agra, Bajee Rao quitted his ground on the banks of the Jumna and moved to a more open country in a north-east direction, his former position being confined by the Chumbul on his left flank, and his camp intersected by deep ravines; very unfavourable to his mode of fighting.¹