A History of the Mahrattas v2.c48.9

v2.c48.9

In Poona the mimic tombs of Husein, which are carried in the final procession, are still thrown into the river at the Sangam, close to the site of the old Residency. In Bombay (see Edwardes, Byways of Bombay, ch. vi) the disorder attending the processions grew so great and ended so frequently in serious rioting, that the procesthe bier is thrown into the water; he was attended by M. Drugeon,¹ a Frenchman, at the head of two brigades of infantry, on pretence of preserving order and protecting this concluding ceremony; but they suddenly opened a fire from twenty-five guns upon the unsuspecting troops of Amrut Rao, advanced, charged, and dispersed them with this powerful body of infantry, and afterwards totally pillaged their camp. The Byes were at the time residing in the hamlet of Wittulwaree, so that this outrage was a direct attack on the Peishwa’s brother, and open war between the Peishwa and Sindia was supposed to be declared. Khassee Rao Holkar joined Amrut Rao, the Mankurees repaired to his standard, and the Peishwa negotiated an offensive and defensive alliance with Nizam Ally through his resident envoys, then at Poona. The articles agreed to between Nizam Ally and Nana Furnuwees, by the treaty of Mhar, were to be confirmed by the Peishwa, the Chouth of Beder was to be remitted, and an additional tract of territory, yielding eight lacks of rupees, was to be ceded to Nizam Ally in perpetuity, as the price of his assistance against Sindia. Nizam Ally also agreed to support the Peishwa against any future encroachment of the ex-minister, Nana Furnuwees; but in case of his being liberated by Sindia, it was stipulated that Bajee Rao should allow him an annual pension of one lack of rupees. Rughoojee Bhonslay, if he chose to accede to it, was to be considered a party to this treaty and was to receive the whole of Gurrah Mundelah from Bajee Rao.