A History of the Mahrattas v2.c47.15

v2.c47.15

Sindia espoused the daughter of Ghatgay in March; the marriage expenses were great; and the monthly pay of Sindia's army at Poona was upwards of twenty lacks of rupees. His pecuniary distress soon became urgent; he pressed Bajee Rao for the payment of the two crores of rupees which he had secretly promised, and was answered that he had not the means of raising it himself, but if Sindia would create Ghatgay his Dewan, the latter might, assisted by information from Ballajee Koonjur, levy it upon the rich inhabitants of Poona. To this Sindia agreed; and such was the secret means by which Shirzee Rao Ghatgay became minister to his son-in-law, and by which Bajee Rao Rugonath let loose upon his subjects the violence and extortion of a monster, whose name will be remembered, whilst Poona exists, with horror and execration. To obtain the object of his mission, Ghatgay first proceeded to the palace of Bajee Rao, where the ex-ministers, late of the party of Nana Furnuwees, were confined. Those respectable persons were dragged forth and scourged, until they gave up their property. Merchants, bankers, and all persons in the city supposed to possess wealth, were next seized and tortured. Several of them died of the consequences, and Gungadhur Punt Bhanoo, one of the relations of Nana Furnuwees, expired whilst tied on a heated gun: one of the many modes of torture invented by Shirzee Rao Ghatgay.