A History of the Mahrattas v1.c27.48

v1.c27.48

Sewdasheo Rao did not approve of his being readmitted by Ballajee Rao; and Nizam Ally having dismissed the corps of Ibrahim Khan Gardee,¹ as a conciliatory concession to Sulabut Jung, they were immediately entertained by Sewdasheo Rao. Ibrahim Khan was the kinsman of Muzuffir Khan; but the latter, who had just returned from an expedition against a Koolee Raja near Surat, probably suspected that this measure was a prelude to his own supersession. The assassin he engaged, who was one of his own corps, attempted to strike the blow in a Durbar tent, pitched on the spot where the British troops are now cantoned, and where Sewdasheo Rao was seated for the transaction of public business. He would have effected his purpose; but Nagoojee Goozur, an active Sillidar, who stood behind the Bhow, seized the assassin's arm, and the point of the dagger caused but a slight wound in his back. The man was put to the torture, and confessed that he was employed by Muzuffir Khan. The latter, on being sent for, did not deny the fact; and, without further inquiry, he was instantly led out to execution, and put to death with the criminal he had hired.² A Purvoe in the employ of Muzuffir Khan, being also implicated, was thrown into a hill-fort, and never after heard of; the usual fate of state prisoners sent to hill-forts by the Mahratta Government.