A History of the Mahrattas v2.c42.5

v2.c42.5

Tippoo considered this letter as a treaty of offensive alliance against him. He was now at less pains to conceal his intended invasion of Travancore, and his unsuccessful attack on the lines,¹ which he headed in person, was of course considered to be a declaration of war. Nana Furnuwees no sooner heard of it than he made specific proposals to the Governor-General, through Mr. Malet, in name both of his own master and of Nizam Ally; which with slight modifications were accepted. A preliminary agreement was settled on the 29th March, and a treaty, offensive and defensive, was concluded at Poona on the 1st June, between Mr. Malet on the part of the Company and Nana Furnuwees on the part both of the Peishwa and Nizam Ally; by which, these native powers stipulated that an army of 25,000 horse should attack Tippoo’s northern possessions before and during the rains, and reduce as much as possible of his territory. That after the rains, they should act against Tippoo with their utmost means, and in case the Governor-General should require the aid of 10,000 horse to co-operate with the English army, that number was also to be furnished within one month from the time of their being demanded, but maintained at the expense of the Company’s Government. Both states were to be allowed two battalions, and their expense was to be defrayed by the Peishwa and Nizam Ally respectively, at the same rate as they cost the Company. All conquests were to be equally shared, unless the English, by being first in the field, had reduced any part of the enemy’s territory before the allied forces entered on the campaign, in which case the allies were to have no claim to any part of such acquisition. The Polygars and Zumeendars, formerly dependent on the Peishwa and Nizam Ally, or those who had been unjustly deprived of their lands by Hyder and Tippoo, were to be re-instated in their territory on paying a nuzur at the time of their re-establishment, which should be equally divided among the confederates, but afterwards they were to be tributary to Nizam Ally and the Peishwa, respectively. It was also stipulated that, if after the conclusion of peace Tippoo should attack any of the contracting parties, the others became bound to unite against him.¹