A History of the Mahrattas v2.c46.15

v2.c46.15

Balloba Tattya, on hearing of the step which Bajee Rao had taken, was incensed at his conduct, but determined to counteract the schemes of Nana Furnuwees. He therefore persuaded Sindia, then on the banks of the Godavery, to march on Poona with his whole force. Nana Furnuwees was dismayed; Pureshram Bhow advised him to stand firm, to collect the troops, and to give battle; but Nana, deficient in personal courage, was also sensible of the superiority of Sindia’s army; he could not trust Bajee Rao, and he was terrified lest he should fall a prisoner into the hands of Balloba Tattya, by whom he believed he should be put to death. Having therefore left Pureshram Bhow with Bajee Rao at Poona, he told the latter that, as Sindia was advancing with intentions hostile only towards himself, he thought the best means of averting ruinous civil dissensions was for him to retire from business and withdraw from the capital. He accordingly repaired first to Poorundhur, and afterwards to Satara. Sindia arrived in the neighbourhood of Poona, and had a friendly interview with Bajee Rao; but Balloba Tattya, although he affected to meet him with cordiality, could not forget his behaviour, especially after he had seen Amrut Rao, whom he removed from Sewneree to Jamgaom, but did not restore him to liberty.¹ After considering various plans, Balloba Tattya at last resolved to set aside Bajee Rao, and to raise both a minister and a Peishwa of his own; for which purpose he proposed to Pureshram Bhow, through Byhroo Punt Mendlee, that Mahdoo Rao’s widow should adopt Chimnajee Appa as her son; that Bajee Rao should be placed in confinement, and that Pureshram Bhow should conduct the administration. Pureshram Bhow had begun to despise Nana Furnuwees for his pusillanimous conduct, but he still so far respected his wisdom as to ask his opinion. Nana advised him to accept what was proposed, but to take care that Bajee Rao came into his own custody. To this last essential part of the advice no attention was paid by Pureshram Bhow. Balloba Tattya pretended to be partly influenced in the measure he now pursued, by the hope of rendering it in some degree acceptable to Nana Furnuwees, lest the latter, in the present state of Doulut Rao’s inexperience, should form some confederacy by means of the other chiefs against the house of Sindia. Balloba accordingly as soon as Nana’s assent had been obtained made overtures for a reconciliation, to which the latter made no objection.