History of Aurangzib, Based on Original Sources v5.c74.s5.10

v5.c74.s5.10

On Rajaram's arrival in the Karnatak, Martin hastened to send the same Germain to Jinji to be one of the first to welcome him. "The young prince showed himself amiable and gave the French a *farman* confirming its predecessors." [Kaep. 269]. Even before the death of Harji Rajah, Martin had been negotiating with the Jinji Court to counteract the effect of the pecuniary offers made by the Dutch to the Marathas in order to secure an order expelling the French factory. After Rajaram's coming, the French and Dutch agents continued to intrigue against each other among the Maratha ministers,—the Dutch offering a large bribe for a proclamation condemning the French. The Jinji ministers encouraged the game, "thinking only how to get the maximum amount of money out of the one or the other." In June 1690, the Dutch retired with failure, the French having lent Rajaram 6,000 *chakram* at 18 per cent interest. The turn of the Dutch, however, came in 1693, when they at last secured Rajaram's permission and seized Pondicherry.