A History of the Mahrattas v2.c32.110

v2.c32.110

There is a well-known Poona anecdote which, though oftener told of Mahdoo Rao, was one from which the latter used to say his brother would become an enterprising officer. While spectators of an elephant fight at the Gooltekree, a small hill in the environs of the city, one of the animals, when enraged, came full speed towards the spot where they sat. Most of the attendants and all the principal people, whose fears overcame their politeness for the Peishwa, hurried off, and Narrain Rao jumped up to run with the rest. Mahdoo Rao caught his arm; ‘Brother,’ said he, ‘what will the Ukhbars⁴ say of you.’ He instantly sat down with composure, and the danger, which became imminent, was averted by the extraordinary bravery of a Mahratta Sillidar named Appajee Rao Pahtunkur, who, drawing his dagger, sprang in front of the Peishwa and turned the animal aside by wounding him in the trunk.