BERAR — THE PEISHWA. 177 



into jaghircs, which, like the European fiefs in the middle 

 ages, were held on the mere tenure of homage and military 

 service. To make the resemblance more complete, the 

 jaghiredars, during the recent period of public confusion, 

 had secured for themselves a condition of almost complete 

 independence. The company felt considerable difficulty 

 when applied to for aid against these chiefs, with many of 

 whom, during the late exigences, they had formed alliances ; 

 but, notwithstanding, they agreed to enforce over them the 

 authority of the peishwa, not as an absolute sovereign but as 

 their liege lord. As these proud chiefs, however, were little 

 inclined to own even this imperfect obligation, they imposed 

 on the prince the frequent necessity of calling upon his 

 allies to support his claims, and of declaring their possessions 

 forfeited. Thus, in a few years, principally through the aid 

 or fear of the English, he had reduced most of these re- 

 tainers, and enriched his treasury by extensive confiscation. 

 Having completely recovered his power and provided the 

 necessary funds, he resolved at once to shake off the 

 British yoke, and to re-establish his influence over the great 

 feudatories of the Mahratta state. For this purpose he 

 availed himself of the services of Trimbuckjee Daingiia, a 

 bold, able, but very dissolute minister, raised from the lowest 

 ranks, and entirely devoted to his master's purposes. The 

 British resident from the first viewed with umbrage the eleva- 

 tion of this personage, and was soon brought into direct 

 collision with him. The peishwa, among his other plans of 

 aggrandizement, had revived certain ancient claims on the 

 guickwar or sovereign of Guzerat, with whom also the com- 

 pany had formed a subsidiary alliance. As the negotiations 

 on this subject became extremely intricate, it was agreed 

 that Gungadhur Sastree, the prime minister of that state, 

 should repair to the court of Poonah, and endeavour to 

 place them on an intelligible basis ; having, however, pre- 

 viously obtained a safe-conduct from the English. From 

 being supposed favourable to their interests, as well as from 

 some personal causes, he incurred the enmity of Trimbuck- 

 jee and the peishwa. To gratify this feeling, they prevailed 

 upon him to accompany them to Punderpoor, where a re- 

 ligious festival of peculiar solemnity was to be celebrated. 

 After their arrival Gungadhur, though indisposed, was in- 

 duced to repair to the temple with a few unarmed attendants. 



