A History of the Mahrattas v2.c47.8

v2.c47.8

The obloquy of such a violent and partial proceeding did not attach to Bajee Rao; his appearance and misfortunes continued to attract sympathy, and the control by which the supposed goodness of his natural disposition was repressed became a theme of general regret. Mr. Uhtoff, however, the acting Resident at Poona, seems at this early period to have discovered much of his real character; and it soon appeared that the opinion entertained of Bajee Rao’s goodness and wisdom was in fact but a proof of his dissimulation and cunning. To trust none, and to deceive all, was the game he invariably played, and like all who have ever done so, he never failed to lose. His attention was naturally directed to become independent of Sindia and of Nana Furnuwees; he imagined he should soon be able to induce or compel the former to return to Hindoostan, but he concluded that the thraldom of the minister would be perpetual. His first object therefore was to endeavour to effect the ruin of Nana Furnuwees. Amrut Rao, Govind Rao Kallay, and some others were privy to the design; but Bajee Rao’s chief instrument was Ghatgay, now distinguished by his family title of Shirzee Rao, whose daughter, though promised, was not yet given in marriage to Doulut Rao Sindia. No person had more influence with that chieftain, and Bajee Rao persuaded Shirzee Rao that his views of becoming minister to his future son-in-law would always be obstructed whilst Nana Furnuwees had a vestige of power. It was therefore determined to place him in confinement. (Dec. 31.) On the 31st December, Nana Furnuwees, after some precaution, was induced to return a formal visit of ceremony, which Sindia had paid him a few days before, when he was seized by Michel Filoze, the Neapolitan, who accompanied Mahadajee Sindia to the Deccan in 1792, and who now commanded eight battalions in the service of Doulut Rao. Filoze had on his word of honour guaranteed the safe return of the old minister to his home, and his perfidious conduct excited just indignation, particularly amongst the European officers in the service of the native states; a set of men, who, though mere soldiers of fortune, had become as distinguished for good faith as daring enterprise, and their general character had induced Nana to accept Filoze’s word in preference to any other pledge he might have obtained.¹ Aba Shelookur, Bujaba Seroolkur, Naroo Punt Wydh, and several other persons of distinction, who accompanied Nana Furnuwees, were seized at the same time; the rest of his retinue, amounting to about a thousand persons, were stripped, maimed, some of them killed, and the whole dispersed. Parties of soldiers were immediately sent by Shirzee Rao Ghatgay² to plunder, not only the house of Nana, but the houses of all his adherents; many of whom barricaded their doors and defended themselves from the tops and windows. The city of Poona was like a town taken by storm; the firing continued the whole of the night and the ensuing day. The roads in every direction were stopped, all was uproar, plunder, and bloodshed; the alarm was universal, and in the words of a spectator, ‘friends marched together in groups, with their shields on their arms, and their swords in their hands.’³