A History of the Mahrattas v2.c46.34

v2.c46.34

¹ Mr. Tone, who was at Poona during the progress of these intrigues, published three letters from the 18th June to the 19th December, giving an account of the extraordinary affairs by which he was surrounded. I depend on better materials, but I have examined attentively all which that intelligent gentleman wrote respecting the Mahrattas. What he saw may be relied upon;—as to what he heard, I am less surprised that he should have fallen into error, than that he should have obtained information so nearly correct. He describes Mannajee Phakray, as ‘an officer of high military reputation, and so disfigured with wounds, as to have scarcely the appearance of a human creature.’ ‘Mannajee,’ say the old Sillidars of the present day, ‘was the last of the Mahrattas, and was worthy to wear a bangle on his horse’s leg, for he never showed his back to a foe.’ Mr. Tone’s description of Bajee Rao at this period, except that Bajee Rao was not so old as he supposes, coincides with that of his own countrymen. ‘Bajee Rao,’ says Mr. Tone, ‘is about twenty-five years of age, light complexioned, and rather above the middle size, his person is graceful, and his manner strongly impressive; his countenance is manly, sensible, and majestic.’