130 MAHKATTA WAR. 



daughter, saw and contracted a fondness for the youth, 

 whom, instead of his proper name of Sevajee, he used to 

 address by that of Shao, which alluded, in an ironical 

 manner, to the thievish vocation of his ancestors. He mar- 

 ried him successively to the daughters of two considerable 

 chiefs of his own nation, and celebrated his nuptials by rich 

 presents, among which was the sword of his father, taken 

 in his capital, and distinguished in the East under the name 

 of Bhowanee. 



After the death of Aurengzebe, Shao remained with that 

 emperor's son Azim, who, wishing to excite divisions in 

 the Mahratta nation, then carrying on a furious predatory 

 warfare against the Moguls, sent home the young prince. 

 During his absence the regency had been held by his cousin 

 Rajah Ramah, and afterward by the widow of that officer, 

 Tara Bye, who felt exceedingly inclined to continue in the 

 exercise of her high functions ; but the people retained 

 sueh an attachment to the direct -line of Sevajee that she 

 was obliged to give way, and Shao, in March, 1708, was 

 seated on the throne of his ancestors. During a long reign 

 he displayed come ability, and did not absolutely sink from 

 his place as a sovereign ; yet the debilitating influence of 

 hereditary succession was heightened by his education in the 

 heart of the Mogul seraglio. He soon discovered a lively 

 taste for pleasure, and a disposition to devolve on others 

 the burdensome cares of government. Fortunately for him- 

 self, or at least for the greatness of the state, he placed his 

 chief confidence in Ballajee Wishwanath. This future head 

 of the MahraMa confederacy occupied originally an inferior 

 situation in the revenue ; and at his first rise had so little of 

 the adventurous character of his tribe, that he could not sit 

 upon horseback without a man on each side to support him. 

 His consummate talents and address, however, 6oon raised 

 him to high consideration with Shao, whose object was rather 

 to re-establish order, and cement his power by a conciliatory 

 system, than to lead his countrymen in theii predatory cam- 

 paigns. By a most able negotiation, this minister extricated 

 his master from a quarrel with Angria, and induced that 

 powerful chief to own his supremacy. Shao was so highly 

 pleased with him on thil occasion, that he raised him to the 

 dignity of pas/urn, usually translated general ; but which, 

 embracing as it did all the branches of administration, seema 



