A History of the Mahrattas v1.c25.13

v1.c25.13

The arrangements before and consequent to the Raja’s death had, as already adverted to, prevented the Mahrattas from seizing an opportunity of enlarging their conquest in the Deccan, afforded by the absence of so great an army in the Carnatic. A negotiation with Ballajee Rao had been opened by Ghazee-ud-deen, the eldest son of Nizam Ool Moolk, through Mulhar Rao Holkar. The Peishwa agreed to support his pretensions, and wrote to the Emperor, Ahmed Shah, requesting that Ghazee-ud-deen might be appointed viceroy, assigning as a reason, that the whole Deccan, from the absence of the army and the disorders in the Carnatic, would soon be overrun by independent plunderers.¹ In the meantime, the Peishwa having prepared his troops moved towards Aurangabad, but before quitting Poona he prevailed on the Punt Suchew to give him the fort of Singurh in exchange for Toong and Tikona, and in order to sooth Tara Bye, whose great age had not rendered her less active and intriguing, he incautiously removed his own troops from the fort of Satara, and, having placed in it the Gurhkurees and old retainers, who had great respect for the widow of Raja Ram, gave up the entire management to her. The Raja was kept with a separate establishment in the town of Satara, but perfectly at large, and a splendid provision was assigned to him and his officers ; the expense of which amounted to the annual sum of sixty-five lacks of rupees.¹