Kharak Singh and Shamsher Singh, through whose brains the fumes of arrogance had spread, in consequence of their control over the whole train of European artillery, with wilful and headstrong insolence seated Raghunáth Ráo on the throne of sovereignty, without the concurrence of the other chiefs; and the said Ráo continued to live for two months at Púná after the manner of rightful rulers. After Naráin Ráo had been put to death, a certain degree of shame and remorse came over the Púná chiefs, and the dread of their own overthrow entered their minds. Sakhá Rám Bápú consequently, in unison with Trimbak Ráo, commonly called Mátamádharí Balhah,* and others, deemed it advisable to persuade Raghunáth Ráo that he should go forth from Púná, and employ himself in settling the kingdom. The said Ráo accordingly acted upon their suggestion, and marched out of Púná, attended by the Mahratta chiefs. As soon as he had got to the distance of two or three stages from the city, the wily chiefs, by alleging some excuse, obtained leave from Raghunáth Ráo to return, and repaired from the camp to the city. They then summoned to them in private all the commanders of the army, both great and small; when they came to the unanimous decision, that it was incompatible with justice to acquiesce in Raghunáth Ráo's being invested with the supreme authority, and that it would be better, as Naráin Ráo's wife was six months advanced in pregnancy, providing she gave birth to a male child, to invest that infant with the sovereignty, and conduct the affairs of government agreeably to the details of prudence. As soon as they had unanimously settled the question after this fashion, a few of the chiefs took up a position in the outskirts of the city of Púná, by way of protection, and formed a sturdy barrier against the Magog of turbulence. Raghunáth Ráo, having become aware of the designs of the conspirators, remained with a slender party in his encampment. Having brooded over his troubles, he saw no remedy left but that of forsaking the country, and was consequently forced to retire towards the Carnatic. His object was to collect a sufficient force round him, with which he might return to Púná and resume hostilities. However, owing to the vulgar report that attributed Naráin Ráo's murder to him, every blade of grass that sprung from the ground was ready to plunge a dagger into his blood. For this reason, he found it impossible either to stay or reside in the Carnatic, so he hastened away to Surat.
The direst confusion had found its way into the kingdom, in consequence of the report of Naráin Ráo's death. At that critical juncture the pretender Bháo, who was confined in a stronghold in the Kokan territory, lying adjacent to the salt ocean, seized the opportunity of escaping by fraud and stratagem out of his prison, and having induced a party of men to place themselves under his orders, took possession of some of the forts and districts of that country. He was just on the point of waging open war, had not Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur set out in the interim from Púná to the Kokan territory for the purpose of coercing him. On reaching his destination, he engaged in hostilities with the aforesaid Bháo, whereupon the latter's associates took to flight, and departed each by his own road. As Bháo was thus left alone, he went on board a ship in utter consternation with a view to save his life from that vortex of perdition; but death granted him no respite, and he fell alive into the hands of the heroes who accompanied Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur. The latter brought him along with him to Púná, and removed the dust of uncertainty from the mirror of every mind. Ultimately he caused the ill-fated wretch to be bound to a camel's foot, and paraded round the whole town; after which he put him to death.
The Peshwá Sáhib, the rightful heir of Naráin Ráo, at the time of his father's murder, was dwelling in his mother's womb. * * When she had completed the time of her pregnancy, a child, in the year 1188 A.H. (1774 A.D.), shed a grace over the bosom of its nurse, and bestowed comfort on the illustrious chiefs. * * He was invested with the appellation of Sawái Mádhú Ráo.
Raghunáth Ráo, having reached Surat, turned towards the leaders of the English army, who dwelt on the borders of the sea, and offered to take upon himself the responsibility of showing the way over the various routes into the Dakhin, and to subjugate that kingdom so teeming with difficulties. As the commanders of the English army were possessed of adequate means for making an invasion, and had their heads inflamed with the intoxication of boldness and intrepidity, they took Raghunáth Ráo along with them, and moving away from Surat with their valiant troops experienced in war, and their lion-hearted forces active as tigers, they set out to conquer and annex the Dakhin territories.
Having traversed the intervening stages at a resolute pace, they arrived at Núrghát, which is situated at a distance of twenty kos from Púná. The Mahratta chieftains also sallied forth from Púná with a vast body of retainers, and opposed their advance with the utmost perseverance at Núrghát; whereupon a tremendous contest and a frightful slaughter ensued, until the combatants on both sides had neither the power nor the inclination left to assail each other any more. At length, by the intervention of the obscurity of night, the tumult of war subsided, and the world-consuming fire of guns and matchlocks, whose flames arose to the highest heavens, hid its face in the ashes of night; so that the soldiery on either side were obliged to retire to their respective quarters. During that night, the prudent belligerents made up their minds to a peace; and in the morning, the chiefs of the rival forces obtained an interview and enjoyed a conference. The English leaders, after negociating a truce and consolidating the basis of friendship, delivered up Raghunáth Ráo, who had been the instigator of this conflict and the originator of this hostile movement, to the Mahratta chiefs, on condition of their granting him a jágír, and treating him with kindness and consideration. They then turned away from that quarter with all their troops and followers, and repaired to their usual place of abode.
The Mahratta chiefs had formed the fixed determination in their minds of taking vengeance on the ill-fated Raghunáth Ráo; but Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur, prompted by his manly and generous feelings, diverted them from their headlong and cruel purposes, so that the matter was managed mercifully and kindly, and the Ráo in question, having been presented with a jágír, received permission to remain at large. The unfortunate wretch, however, departed from the pleasant vale of existence to the desert of non-entity, without reaching his destination, for the career of the wicked never ends well.
When the fourth year from the birth of Sawái Mádhú Ráo, surnamed the Peshwá Sáhib, had elapsed, and security and repose had settled on the minds of high and low throughout the territories of the Dakhin, Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur, who was distinguished among all the Púná chiefs for his gallantry and daring, sagacity and intelligence, having satisfied his mind as to the settlement of that kingdom, set out to conquer Gohad. He succeeded in taking prisoner Ráná Chattar Singh, who was in the citadel, after a siege attended with hard fighting, and took possession of the surrounding districts, along with the fortress of Gwálior, which is a mountain stronghold.
About the same time, a mutual feeling of envy and hatred had become firmly implanted in the minds of Mirzá Muhammad Shafí' Khán and Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání,—who had been the chief officers of State to the late Amíru-l umará Mirzá Najaf Khán Bahádur, and after his death had been partners in the government of the province of Ágra,—owing to their each craving after an increase of power and dignity, which is ever a hindrance to the existence of friendship and good feeling among equals and contemporaries. At last, Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání seized the opportunity, during an interview, of putting Muhammad Shafí' Khán to death; and on this account, Afrásiyáb Khán, who was the Imperial Mír-i átish, and one of Amíru-l umará Mirzá Najaf Khán Bahádur's protegés, becoming alarmed, demanded succour of Mahájí Sindhia Bahádur. The latter had firmly resolved in his mind on repairing to the sublime threshold, but had not yet fulfilled the duty of paying his respects, when, under the influence of Sindhia Bahádur's destiny, Afrásiyáb Khán was killed by the hand of an assassin.
Sindhia Bahádur's army having overshadowed the metropolis by its arrival, he brought Muhammad Beg Khán Hamadání, after a siege, completely under his subjection, and in the year 1199 A.H. traversed the streets of the metropolis. When he obtained the good fortune of saluting the threshold * * of His Majesty, the shadow of God, the Emperor Sháh 'Álam, * * he was loaded with princely favours, and distinguished by royal marks of regard, so that he became the chief of the supporters of government, and His Majesty's most staunch and influential adherent. * *
As Mádhú Ráo, the Peshwá Sáhib, at the present auspicious
period, pursues, in contradistinction to his uncle, the path
of obedience to the monarch of Islám, and Mahájí Sindhia
Bahádur is one of those who are constantly attached to the ever-