2G6 Capt. Franklin's Memoir on Bundelkhund. 



ambitious views, commenced by reducing the petty states, and gradually 

 established himself at Punna with the assumed title of Rdjd. His next 

 attempt was on the Soorgee R(yd, who held possess ons in the vicinity of 

 Terowa and GUtrd, and he reduced him by means of the treachery of his 

 own Dewan. He now became so formidable that repeated attempts were 

 made by the Muhammedan governor of Allaliabad to reduce his power, ail 

 of which be contrived to defeat, and finally he gav6 the Muhanimedans a 

 signal overthrow in the hills near Punna, and immediately appropriated their 

 districts of Calpi, Raliat, and Pmmdri. The Muhammedan government 

 was now effectually roused by his ambitious views, and Ahmed Khan 

 HuNGisH, the Pathan chief of Furukhabad, was sent against him with a 

 force too powerful for him to resist. He was accordingly defeated in his 

 turn and deprived of almost all his possessions. 



In this dilemma he applied to the Peshwa, Sewai BajirAo, for assistance, 

 offering large sums of money, and a promise of a third part of his territory at 

 his death, on condition, that his sons should be maintained in possession of the 

 remainder ; and, his offer being accepted, a body of IVlahratta troops was 

 dispatched to liis aid, by wiiose means his opponents were defeated, and the 

 Muhammedan government was at that period too much distracted with 

 other matters to renew its attack. C hhatrasal, therefore, peaceably, 

 governed his extensive possessions during the remainder of his life, and 

 bequeathed them in three divisions, as follow : a share of forty-five lacs of 

 rupees to his eldest son, Hridaya Sah ; a share of thirty-six lacs of rupees 

 to his youngest son, Jagat Raj, and the remaining share of thirty six lacs 

 of rupees to the Peshwa. 



By this arrangement the Peshwa became possessor of a large portion of 

 Bundelkhund, which was the earliest territorial acquisition of the Mahrattas 

 in Hindustan, and which, in after times, was transferred to the British. 

 The other portions, after a long series of domestic troubles and civil wars, 

 were parcelled out into a multitude of divisions, which eventually gave rise 

 to the numerous petty states now existing; but in order to exhibit their 

 origin, it will be necessary to follow the history of each of the parties con- 

 cerned in the tripartite division. 



After the death of Raja ChhatrasAl, his sons, Hridaya Sah and Jagat 

 Raj, endeavoured to evade the performance of their father's will with respect 

 to the Peshwa ; and a Mahratta foice, under Mulhar Rao Hollar, being 

 sent against them, they were compelled to execute the conditions of it ; and 



