A History of the Mahrattas v2.c50.8

v2.c50.8

Govind Rao Gaekwar left a large family; four legitimate and seven illegitimate sons, besides daughters. His eldest son Anund Rao was acknowledged by the principal officers as successor; but being a prince of weak intellect, different parties attempted to take the lead in the administration. Kanhojee Rao, the eldest illegitimate son of Govind Rao, a bold ambitious young man, was, in consequence of his turbulent behaviour, placed in confinement previous to his father's death, but having afterwards contrived to effect his release by professions of attachment to his brother, and his influence with some of the soldiery, he soon usurped not only the office of minister, but the entire powers of the state, and continued to rule for some months. At the end of that time, he was deposed by a party headed by Rowjee Appajee, a Purvoe, who had been the principal minister of the late Govind Rao; and both these persons, Rowjee the minister in power and Kanhojee the deposed authority, made offers to the Bombay Government, in order to engage its support. Rowjee promised to confirm the cessions of the late Govind Rao, and Kanhojee offered to add the district of Chickly to the grant. Rowjee was supported by his brother Babajee, who commanded the cavalry of the state, and by the greater part of a large body of Arab mercenaries, who composed the garrison of the town. The Arabs, whose numbers amounted to about seven thousand, though in some respects bound by unity of interests, were with their chiefs divided among themselves into parties under the influence of two Soucars or Bankers,¹ the one named Mungul Parikh, the other Samul Becher, both men of great wealth acquired by exorbitant