A History of the Mahrattas v2.c35.25

v2.c35.25

Rugoba, on hearing of the terms stipulated for him by the treaty, declared that he would rather maintain the war himself than submit to them. He pretended to have received overtures from Bhowan Rao, Pritee Needhee, and Dhonsa,¹ one of the officers of Nizam Ally. Mahadajee Sindia had always sent the most friendly assurances to Rugoba, to which he was induced partly from enmity to Sukaram Bappoo, but principally in order to preserve his own consequence and place himself as umpire between the Bramin factions; a situation to which Mahadajee Sindia with remarkable political sagacity early aspired. After the terms of the treaty were promulgated he continued an intercourse with Rugoba, not avowed, but sufficiently known to alarm the ministers; Rugoba, however, whatever he might pretend, was not deceived by these professions; none of his Indian allies afforded him any substantial aid, excepting Hyder, who sent him eighty thousand rupees as a present.²