A History of the Mahrattas v2.c59.38

v2.c59.38

The various claims of each of these classes being considered, the first, or old hereditary Jagheerdars, had the whole of their lands restored. Of the second class, the Punt Suchew² was the only one of the Purdhans to whom the Peishwa had left a vestige of power: he was one of the first who joined the British cause after the proclamation of Satara, and his territory, valued at three lacks of rupees of annual revenue, and which includes the spot where Sivajee first established himself, was immediately placed in his own hands. The Pritee Needhee³ took the first opportunity of escaping from the Peishwa’s camp, and the lands held in his name, which were assigned for his maintenance, but never committed to his own management, were given up. The Raja of Akulkote⁴ was one of those Jagheerdars who, from the first, would have resisted Bajee Rao’s authority, had he not been overawed by the subsidiary force; he joined the war with reluctance, quitted the Peishwa early, and his Jagheer was immediately relinquished. Of the third class of the Jagheerdars, the Putwurdhuns were the most conspicuous. Gunput Rao Putwurdhun of Tasgaom,¹ one of the surviving sons of Pureshram Bhow, never joined the Peishwa, and took an early opportunity, before the Satara proclamation, of assuring Mr. Elphinstone of his determination not to do so; his lands were confirmed to him. The other members of this powerful family left Bajee Rao about the end of February: a like favourable consideration was shown to them. Appa Dessaye Nepankur did not join the Peishwa till late; he never acted with vigour against the British troops, and on one occasion behaved remarkably well to some prisoners. He, as well as the Putwurdhuns and Rastia, maintained a communication with Mr. Elphinstone throughout the war; but as he did not quit the Peishwa’s standard until a late period, he lost a part of his Jagheer by the restoration of Chickooree and Menowlee to Kolapoor; and he likewise lost considerably by revenues within the territory of the Nizam; but for these last he was at a subsequent period partly compensated, and the rest of his Jagheer was restored.² Mahdoo Rao Rastia had less reason than any other Jagheerdar for those ideas of honour which induced many of them to adhere to the falling fortunes of him whom they considered the chief of the Hindoos. He quitted Bajee Rao after the affair of Sewnee, and thus lost the claim of fidelity to the Peishwa, or of gratitude to the British Government. All Jagheers granted under the Mahratta governments are for personal support or the maintenance of troops; and each chief has a certain portion of his Jagheer allotted for the former purpose. To such persons as had forfeited all claim, like Rastia, and even to those who rather feared persecution than expected favour, their personal estates were, in every instance, restored. The Pritee Needhee, the Punt Suchew, the Raja of Akulkote, the Duflays, and the Nimbalkurs, were, at their own request, placed under the Raja’s government, and their lands guaranteed to them. To all the great Jagheerdars the same powers were permitted, within their own territory, as had always existed; and even towards those chiefs who had lost their lands, great delicacy, and as little interference as possible, were enjoined. The equitable and enlightened law, which levels all distinctions, would have been intolerable to men’s minds in the existing state of the Mahratta country, and would have been as little relished by the lower as by the higher classes of society.