A History of the Mahrattas v1.c27.54

v1.c27.54

Nizam Ally renewed his negotiations, and sent his seal of state as minister to Sewdasheo Rao, signifying that he left it to his generosity to make the terms. A treaty was accordingly concluded, by which the forts of Doulutabad, Sewneree, Asseergurh, and Beejapoor, were given up to the Mahrattas, the possession of Ahmednugur was confirmed, and districts yielded, which included the province of Beejapoor and a part of Beder ; together with the province of Aurungabad, excepting the city and two of its pergunnas, Hursoul and Sittarah. The annual revenue of these cessions¹ amounted to upwards of sixty-two lacks of rupees ; and, according to an obvious policy invariably observed by the Peishwas, forty-one lacks were given over as military Jagheer to his officers, who always shared in the advantage, or disadvantage, by territory acquired or lost. The Moghul possessions in the Deccan were now confined to an insulated space, which must, it seemed, be soon wholly overwhelmed. A compactness and power would thus be ensured to the Peishwa’s dominions, which promised to preserve the Bramin ascendancy, and spread the authority of Hindoos over the vast empire where they had for many centuries been a conquered people in their native land. The pre-eminence to which the Mahrattas had attained was animating and glorious ; their right to tribute was acknowledged on the banks of the Coleroon, and the Deccan horse had quenched their thirst from the waters of the Indus. The Mahratta people felt