.CAPTIVITY OF SHAO. 129 



ment in Hindostan, the Mahrattas acquired again a decided 

 preponderance among the native states of India. Only- 

 Mysore, in the height of its greatness, for a short time dis- 

 puted their supremacy ; but when that throne was first 

 shaken, and then subverted, the foreign power by which this 

 triumph had been achieved became the only rival to the 

 Mahrattas ; and the question soon arose, which of the two 

 was to rule the southern peninsula. Before coming to the 

 grand struggle, however, some internal movements of this 

 government, and some previous transactions with the Eng- 

 lish presidencies, will demand our notice. 



Sevajee had ruled with nearly absolute power over his 

 rude followers, and the reverence cherished for his name 

 enabled him to transmit the Mahratta sceptre to his pos- 

 terity. But princes born to a throne were little likely to 

 possess the active and daring hardihood necessary for 

 treading in the steps of such a progenitor. Indulging in 

 ease and voluptuousness, they gradually intrusted the ardu- 

 ous concerns of government and war to their ministers and 

 generals. Then followed a consequence almost inevitable 

 in oriental systems : the minister, or still more the general, 

 in whose hands the actual administration was lodged, and 

 who had the disposal of all favours and offices, soon became 

 the depositary of the real power, whom the sovereign would 

 have sought in vain to displace, being in fact his master and 

 that of the kingdom. Yet a certain reverence attached to 

 the original race, and the recollections connected with the 

 history of its founder would have made it unsafe actually 

 to depose the legitimate rajah. It was much easier and 

 safer to maintain him in ease and luxury, as a splendid page- 

 ant, deprived of all real authority ; which was in truth 

 exercised in his name by the individual who presided in the 

 council or army. 



This consummation, which always took place in two or 

 three generations, was, in the case now before us, precipi- 

 tated by a remarkable accident. At the capture of Rarer, 

 in 1690, by the troops of Aurengzebe, the grandson of Se- 

 vajee and his mother fell into the hands of the conquerors. 

 They were carried to the Mogul country, where Begum 

 Sahib, the emperor's daughter, took an interest in the young 

 and illustrious captive, and obtained permission to educate 

 him under her own eye. Aurengzebe, in visiting his 



