A History of the Mahrattas v1.c24.17

v1.c24.17

On the death of Bajee Rao the government of Malwa, being considered disposable, was conferred on Azim Oolah Khan; but this appointment proved merely nominal. One of the first acts of the new Peishwa was to forward petitions to Delhi respecting various promises made to his predecessor. These applications were transmitted through Jey Sing and Nizam Ool Moolk. A supply of ready money was what Ballajee most earnestly craved, and fifteen lacks of rupees, as a free gift, were granted by the Emperor. Proposals for an agreement² were then drawn up, in the joint names of the Peishwa and Chimnajee Appa, wherein they request that they may receive the government of Malwa; after which they promise to pay their respects personally to the Emperor; to prevent every other Mahratta officer from crossing the Nerbuddah; to send a body of five hundred horse under an officer of rank to remain in attendance on the Emperor's person; and to ask no more than the gift of money already bestowed. They agree to send four thousand horse for service, who will punish refractory Zumeendars, as far as their numbers may enable them; and they faithfully promise not to sequestrate the rent-free lands or jagheers assigned for charitable or religious purposes. It does not appear that any notice was taken of the application, but Ballajee, whose disposition was naturally conciliatory, was anxious to have the government of Malwa conferred as a right, according to treaty with his father; and with this view, when Nizam Ool Moolk was marching to the Deccan in order to suppress Nasir Jung's disobedience (a subject to which we shall presently advert), Ballajee paid him a respectful visit near the Nerbuddah, and sent a body of his troops to join him.³ At this period he sustained a great loss in the death of his uncle, Chimnajee Appa, which happened in the end of January, 1741. Eleven days previously to the event Kundojee Mankur, under Chimnajee’s direction, had reduced Rewadunda,¹ the last place remaining to the Portuguese between Goa and Damaun. Chimnajee Appa, from his successes against a European nation, has a greater reputation among the Mahrattas, as an officer, than he perhaps deserved. Impressed, from obvious circumstances, with an idea, which however true in most instances, it was dangerous for his countrymen to entertain, he believed that the strength of an army lay in its infantry and guns. To this opinion of the father may probably be traced a prepossession on the part of the son, Sewdasheo Chimnajee Bhow,² then a boy of ten years old, which, strengthened by other circumstances, may have led to the injudicious conduct of that campaign, which twenty years afterwards terminated so fatally on the plains of Panniput.