136 Lieut. -Colonel Bhiggs' Translation of the 



Madiiu Rao resolved to resist this plan, and employed his emissaries in 

 his imcle's camp to counteraclj his schemes ; and Naro Sankar Raja 

 Behadur, one of Ragoba's principal dependents, was gained over to the 

 side of his nephew. 



Ragoba's irritability of temper frequently disgusted his chiefs ; and his 

 liberality and profusion, though it secured the affection of his troops, 

 usually involved him in pecuniary difficulties, as has been before 

 shewn ; but his situation was particularly embarrassing on the occa- 

 sion of his return from Malwa. Having exhausted all the available 

 resources in that quarter, he brought an army, with its pay in arrear to the 

 amount of twenty-five lacs of rupees (£250,000), to the Deccan, and several 

 of his chief officers disgusted : the project of claiming a division of the 

 authority of the state was therefore more easily formed than carried into effect. 



In the month of July Madhu Rao reached Poona, and Ragoba was on 

 his march to the south, as appears by the following letter from Naro Hari 

 (an officer in Candeish) to the Peshwa Madhu Rao. 



« 24th of July 1767. 

 " I arrived at Raweri near Burhanpur, and waited there in order to join 

 " his Highness Dada Sahib (Ragoba), on his return from Hindustan ; but 

 " he took the route of Sindwa, by whicli he entered Candeish. I was therefore 

 " unable to join him before he reached Nere, on the Panzur river, from 

 " whence his Highness proceeded by the route of Mulhere, Tengora, and 

 " Dhuruss to Nasuck. Upon my informing him that I had collected and 

 " paid the revenues of the Batti claims to your Highness, Dada Sahib 

 " (Ragoba) became very angry with me, and said, • never mind, you will 

 " ' have to pay them to me at last.' " 



Naro Sankar Raja Behadur, in his own hand, to Madhu Rao Bulal. 



" 22dof July 1767. 



" I have seen Gangadhar Pant, who was sent here by your Highness, 

 " and received many kind assurances of your favour from him. God 

 " knows how much I am delighted : it is highly gratifying to me and worthy 

 " of yourself, to recollect your old servant. I am entirely devoted to your 

 " Highness's interests, and am only desirous of proving it. I have com- 

 " municated unreservedly to Chimnaji Mankes'war, who will represent 

 '« what I have said to your Highness. You may rely also on what Gan- 

 '« gadhar Pant will report, as quite true : as God is my witness." 



