While Nizam-el-mulk was engrossed by his expedition against Badji-räo, Rago-dji-bhosselah, Mucasdar of the Province of Barar, and a son of Radja Sah8’s uncle, having had some difference with Shudjah-qhan the Ilah-abadian, Deputy Governor in that province on the part of Nizam-el-mulk, fell upon him, gave a defeat to his troops, and killed him in battle; and as Nadyr-shah’s expedition into Hindostan had given such a wound to the vitals of that Empire, that it could never recover from it, Badji-räo, emboldened by such a state of things, took possession of all the Djaghirs and appanages which an infinity of Monsobdars held in Decan, either from the Emperor himself or from Nizam-el-mulk; and thus stood the state of things during the remainder of that Viceroy’s life. But Nassyr-djung, his son and successor, having thought proper, after Nadyr-shah’s departure, to send a message to Badji-räo, with a remonstrance on that subject, the remonstrance had its effect; all those Djaghiry lands were released, and they returned to their owners. But this conde­scension did not prevent the Marhatta from assembling in the year 1152, an army of fifty thousand horse, with which he sur­rounded Nassyr-djung in Aoreng-abad, with an intention to make an end of him, and he encamped for that purpose on the south side of that city, but close to its walls. Nassyr-djung, who had no more than ten thousand horse, disdained to be shut up within walls, and coming out, he left Badji-räo and his army behind, wheeled round his rear, and pushed forward, resolved to plunder P8nah, which he conjectured to be totally unattended to. Badji-räo threw himself in his way, but he beat him over and over, until he crossed the Ganga of Decan*, from whence he ravaged the whole country. This conduct having convinced Badji-räo that nothing was to be done with people that had adopted his own system of warfare, he sent a message to Nassyr-djung, requesting the honour of a conference with him; which request being agreed to, he was received with the highest marks of dis­tinction, and had the Districts of Carcon and Hindaïa bestowed on him as a Djaghir. Badji-rao satisfied with having concluded a peace, so much to his own advantage, marched on to Malva, and he was already arrived at the Nerbedda, when he fell sick, and departed this life. It was in the year 1153. His son, Bala­dji-räo succeeded him in all his dignities and offices. In this year, likewise, Nizam-el-mulk, having been dismissed by the Emperor to his own Government of Decan, he set out for that country, and on his arrival at Burhanpoor, Baladji-rāo, who was then on his march for Malva, came and paid him a respectful visit. Nizam-el-mulk, after his arrival at Aoreng-abad, had several opportunities of observing the restless temper of the Marhattas, who moved several times during the eight years he lived there, but were chastised and beaten as often, and as often was a peace con­cluded. A peace was likewise concluded between Nassyr-djung, his successor, and Sah8 Radja, and it was observed on both sides; and although the former perished by a conspiracy in the Carnatic, Mighty changes in that Monar­chy, where the name of Mon­arch remains in one family, whilst the power passes to another. and the latter died in the year 1163, yet Baladji-räo observed the same, and was succeeded by Seda-sy8, surnamed Bahö8, and brother to Baladji-räo’s uncle, who became the sole disposer of all the affairs of the Marhatta Empire; and it was in his time that a mighty change took place in the Government of that Monarchy.

So late as the reign of Sah8 Radja, the throne remained in the possession of the family of Bhosselah; but after his demise, matters took a different turn, and it was observed, that the Regent, so far from putting a Prince of that family at the head of affairs, kept the Government in his own hands, and under the modest title of “Precursor,” he in fact remained the absolute master and sole disposer of the administration, civil and military, neglecting and even setting aside entirely every one of those who had pre­viously been in power. We have already mentioned what influence and authority that new family had acquired, both in Decan and Hindostan, after the demise of Radja Sah8. Nor can that account, no more than this compendium, appear the least doubtful; for it is extracted from the historical works of the illustrious Poet Mir-gh8lam-aaly, the Belgramite, who having spent his life in the Court of Decan, where his influence rendered him a man of importance, had access to all records, knew minutely every transaction of Decan relative to those countries, and was perfectly acquainted with the general history of the Marhatta Empire, as also with the particular origin and rise of the family of Radja Sah8, as well as of the Brahmanical family of Cöucan. The digression, therefore, into which we have launched, was with a view to oblige and inform the lovers of Insatiable ambition of the Marhat­tas. history; nor will it prove foreign to our work to say, that both these two Marhatta families seem to aim at no less than the depriving all mankind of subsistence, in order to draw it to them­selves. They leave neither Zemindary or patvary*, nor any subordinate authority, nor any hereditary command, anywhere in their dominions, or wherever they can extend their power; making it a point to tear up by the roots all such people as have any personal authority; suffering no other power to exist than their own, and seeming to be intent on becoming masters of the whole surface of the earth. But how to believe that the Almighty Cherisher of both the believer and unbeliever, of the Mussulman and Hindoo, would suffer this earth to be engrossed by one single race, or nation, He whose providence has appointed the several parts of it to afford endlessly a subsistence to a variety of tribes and races. If any thing can give a proper idea of the delicacy Their sin­gular penuri­ous way of life. of feeling, and of the noble notions of that singular people, it is probably some authentic particulars which we know of Baladji-räo’s way of living. This man, who had become absolute in Hindo­stan as well as in Decan, was fond of bread made of Badjrah*, and had no kind of relish for that made of wheat. He lived on raw Bringelas*, on unripe mangoes, and on raw red pepper, upon which delicacies he used to feed heartily. Let the reader guess the taste of the whole nation by this specimen of its Chiefs. As the Brahmans are beggars by origin, and it is a standing obligation amongst them, both to ask and to receive alms, the whole race has accustomed itself from generation to generation to such kinds of dainties and beggary with its concomitants, want of taste, and want of delicacy, stick close to all individuals, and is become a part of their nature, and although they have come to command Kingdoms, and to rule over Empires, they are still the beggars they have been. Go to any of them, from the lowest clerk to the highest man in the office, and to the Minister of State, and the first words which you shall hear from them are always these: “What have you brought for me?—Have you brought any thing for me?” And should any man go empty handed to them, they would strip him of his turbant and coat, and then recommend him devoutly to God Almighty.

“I see nowhere but a variety of beggar’s platters.

Were a beggar to become a King, he would turn all mankind into beggars.”

The cause of this want of taste and delicacy, as well as of the little improvement which their manners and tempers seem to be susceptible of, may be traced in that coarse fare in which the rich as well as the poor seem to delight. They live chiefly upon pulse, that species particularly called T8vur*; nor do they give it that preparation called Bagar in India, and which is done by frying it with some butter, but they throw their butter over the pulse already boiled, so that the butter being raw, does not correct its taste; and this too is in so small a quantity, that it amounts to its not being there at all. Then their sauces and fare are stuffed with immense quantities of gin­ger, turmeric, and red pepper; and as to the last, they eat quantities of it, raw, whilst they are taking their meals. This way of living being transmitted from generation to generation, becomes so far customary and familiar, as to give them a peculiar constitution. Hence their distempers in general happen to be of the billious and melancholy kind; and hence the physicians of India, who adapt their remedies to the diseases, have it in practice to give them warm stimulating medicines, appropriating their prescriptions to the constitutions of their patients. After having given this succinct account of a nation that cuts so great a figure in our history, I must protest that I have said nothing Their sin­gular temper and customs. but what I have myself observed as a matter of fact; and that I am not influenced by either jealousy or partiality. It is a singularity amongst these people, that, although Gent8s or Hind8s*, they never use in their letters, diplomas, and records, any other epoch than the Mohammedan one, of the Hedjrah, writing the date in Arabic words, but in Marhatta characters.