A History of the Mahrattas v2.c55.13

v2.c55.13

The management of his Jagheer was in the hands of his mother, who was assisted by Bulwunt Rao Furnuwees, the Mootaliq already mentioned. The Pritee Needhee wished to assume the control himself, and he was assured by his mother that he should be placed in authority; but being deceived by false hopes for a period of years, he at last determined on asserting his rights by force. Bajee Rao saw their differences with satisfaction, as he wished for a favourable opportunity of stripping the Pritee Needhee of his possessions; but this extreme measure he at first would not venture upon, as he apprehended that the Pritee Needhee might be supported by the Putwurdhuns. Pretending, therefore, to be anxious to mediate between the parties, he decided in favour of Bulwunt Rao Furnuwees ; in which he was supposed to have been influenced by the good conduct of the Mootaliq in suppressing the depredations of Futih Sing Manay. In order to support Bulwunt Rao, he sent a body of his troops under Bappoo Gokla to enforce submission, and the Pritee Needhee was placed in confinement by his mother in the Gurhee of Mussoor.¹ Gokla returned to Poona, the country was tranquillized, the adherents of Pureshram sought safety in concealment, and it was generally supposed that the Pritee Needhee would remain a prisoner for life. But Pureshram Sree Newass had a friend from whom no one expected his succour. His wife, one of the most respectable ladies in the country, perceiving the weakness and violence of her husband’s character, had several years before endeavoured to bring him into his mother’s views, which so exasperated the Pritee Needhee, that he never afterwards would live with her. He chose as his mistress a Telin, or wife of an oil-seller, with whom he cohabited, and to the great scandal of his cast as a Bramin made no secret of the connexion. The Telin, after the Pritee Needhee was confined, had the address to obtain possession of the fort of Wassota,² situated in a most inaccessible part of the Syhadree mountains, where having collected some followers, she headed the party, attacked Mussoor and rescued the prisoner. As soon as the Pritee Needhee found himself at liberty, he hoisted his standard, declared himself the servant of the Raja of Satara, and bound by no tie to obey the Punt Purdhan. The inhabitants of the tract between the Neera and Warna, in which the Pritee Needhee’s districts were situated, being prone to insurrection, the standard of rebellion soon found supporters, and some of the old retainers of the Pritee Needhee’s family joined him. The temporary power thus obtained by the assemblage of a body of troops was, however, exceedingly abused. He committed great cruelties on such of the adherents of his mother and of Bulwunt Rao as fell into his hands; and he rendered himself odious to the peasantry by a system of plunder and extortion, worthy of the lowest Pindhara. Had the Pritee Needhee possessed moderation and ability equal to his spirit, there were materials for a rebellion in that quarter, which Bajee Rao, unassisted by British troops, could never have suppressed; but, before he had made adequate preparations for resistance, Gokla once more came against him; the few faithful Sillidars who accompanied him recommended his retiring to the hills and raising the Ramoosees, until like Chitoor Sing he could attack with effect. Regardless, however, of this advice, he waited for Gokla near Wussuntgurh, a few of his men stood by him, but most of them fled at the first charge.