A History of the Mahrattas v2.c51.2

v2.c51.2

The moderation at first shown by Holkar after his victory was a mere cloak to allure Bajee Rao to return to his capital. Being in distress for funds to pay his troops, Holkar, in order to satisfy the most urgent of their demands, was obliged to levy a contribution from the city of Poona, but for that purpose he employed two of Bajee Rao’s ministers, Chintoo Punt Deshmookh and Wyjunath Punt Mama, who, without being apprised of their master’s intention, had been sent by him to negotiate with Holkar, a few hours previous to his retreat from Singurh to the Concan. Such was their influence with the inhabitants that a very considerable cess was promptly raised, in the vain hope of buying exemption from future pillage by their readiness to comply with a measure which, sanctioned by these men, had something of the character of regular authority.