Holkar and other chiefs of the Mahratta army, who had been often defeated by the Sultán’s troops, and whose women and wealth had been so often pillaged and violated by them, now reduced to extremities, detailed the bravery and enterprize of the Sultán’s army in their letters to Poona, and strenuously advocated the conclusion of peace. When the chief of Poona, (the Paishwa) and his minister consulted with their chief officers,* on this measure, the latter said, our best policy apparently is, that we should also send embassadors with rarities and presents to the Sultán, and thereby wash the dust of enmity from off his offended mind with the pure water of conciliation, and refresh and revive the garden of our territories with the flowing stream of amity and concord; for this reason that the impression and effect of an association with the Mussulman King, would be the source of order and strength to our state, and even if it were not so, that the character for courage and prowess of that great man the Sultán, was so well known, that should he turn the reins of his operations to our quarter, he would inevitably conquer the whole of our country, and the hereditary possessions of the Mahratta empire, would be taken out of the hands of their race. As these words of advice took effect on the hearts of the chiefs and as they had also heard that a body of French troops had arrived to the aid of the Sultán, the offer of negotiation on his part was considered by them as a most fortunate occurrence, and they accepted the embassadors and presents and the dust of enmity existing on both sides was washed off by the water of friendship, and they also despatched an embassador with presents of rarities, honorary dresses, gold, jewels, fine horses and elephants to the presence of the conquering Sultán.
They requested, however, that the Talookas of Nargoonda, Nolegoonda, and Jalihul should be presented to them as gifts. The Sultán, the asylum of the world, from policy and according to the verse,— “be generous, be generous that the stranger may become thy slave,”— agreed to their request, and forwarded the Sunnuds of those three Talookas to them. It is not to be omitted here, that as the chief of Poona (the Paishwa) gave the Sultán’s embassadors the district of Kuslupoor in Jageer, so that in return, the Sultán gave him these three Talookas.
The forts and towns in that neighbourhood which by the neglect and villany of traitors, had fallen into the possession of the troops of the enemy, were now restored to the Sirkar Khodádád— included in these negotiations was the petition of Hurri Punt for the pardon of all the offences, great and small, of Hukím Khán, which was obtained by his mediation, and the Souba of Sanore was again restored to him as before. When the Sultán’s mind on the score of peace was fully satisfied and at rest, he returned victorious to the town of Sanore. Hurri Punt Phirkia who had placed the ring of obedience in the ear of his existence, and who was the origin and founder of the peace, had the Talooka of Gujindur Gurh, with its dependencies, and several towns of Kunchun Gurh, presented to him in Jageer to furnish his Paun and Betel nut expenses.* The Sultán then marched on by the route of Gopul and Bahadúr Bundah, and crossing the river (Tungbhudra) encamped on the tank of the Duroojee Muhl, which lies two kose to the eastward of Anagoondi, and in order to complete the repairs of this tank, halted there some time. During this period, the Poligars of Rai Droog and Hurpun Hulli, accompanied by a number of their dependents, entered the Sultán’s camp in the hope of being admitted to an audience. The Sultán, however, bore a violent hatred to these chiefs for this reason, that whenever they were summoned, they declined to attend, owing to their ill will towards him, and therefore, all wish to accept their services, or admit them, was totally rejected from his mind.
He at night, therefore, despatched his Kushoons and making prisoners of them and their dependents, put them in irons and sent them prisoners to Bangalore,* and all their territory, wealth and property of all kinds were seized, and their districts and forts assigned to able civil officers, and brave military governors, a brother of the chief of Hurpun Hulli, however, who was residing in some town of that district in ill health, when he saw the torrent of the Sultán’s anger and the waters of calamity surrounding him, fled at night with his wife, family and dependents, and leaving the latter at Dumul proceeded to Mirch, and he, therefore, escaped with his life and property. The Sultán after this marched and entered his capital, Seringaputtun.