1879.] W. Irvine — The Bang ash, Nawabs of Furrulchabdcl. 121 



They said he was aware of the state of both his own troops and of the 

 Mahratta army, that they had become dispirited and hopeless from the 

 difficulty of the task before them. Further, that owing to the effects of 

 the hill water, death came on them unawares. ' As life is dear to all, a com- 

 plete panic had arisen, and should the men hear that Ahmad Shah was 

 coming, they would begin to desert. It was for the Wazir to decide and 

 for them to obey. The Wazir was thrown into great perplexity, and after 

 a considerable pause he said he threw the responsibility of deciding upon 

 them. The Mahrattas advised him to sheathe the sword and send off 'Ali 

 Kuli Khan to Ahmad Khan with a message. He should say that, by the 

 Emperor's orders, the Wazir drew back his hand from war ; Ahmad Khan 

 too should therefore respect the Emperor's word and make terms. Ahmad 

 Khan should be allowed to retain the ancient territory, which had belonged 

 to his father and brother, on condition of presenting a fine (nazrdna) of 

 30,00,000 rupees. As security for the payment of this fine, he should be 

 required to make over half the territory, till the whole of the money was 

 paid. These proposals were agreed to by the Wazir, and he requested the 

 Mahrattas to name one of their trusted agents to go with 'Ali Kuli Khan. 

 Mulhar Rao and Apa Sendhia named Tantia Gangadhar, their Diwan.* 

 The two messengers then departed. 



But, unknown to the Wazir, the two Mahratta leaders had instructed 

 Tantia to inform Ahmad Khan, at a fitting opportunity, that they wished 

 him to accept without quibble the terms to be named by 'Ali Kuli Khan. 

 The aspect of affairs made this desirable, but they were still his well-wishers 

 and they hoped he would depute his son to hold an interview with the 

 Wazir. On reaching Ahmad Khan's camp, 'Ali Kuli Khan proposed that 

 they should visit the Nawab together. Gangadhar excused himself and 

 said he would pay his respects the following day. 'Ali Kuli Khan went on 

 to Ahmad Khan. After some ordinary conversation, business was begun, 

 and 'Ali Kuli Khan delivered his message, mentioning that Gangadhar, the 

 representative of the Mahrattas, would pay the Nawab a visit the next day. 

 Tantia visited the Nawab the following day, and the Rohela commanders 

 were sent for. Mulla Sardar Khan was of opinion that the matter should 

 be left in the hands-of Mulhar Rao and Apa Sendhia. To this the Nawab 

 consented, 'Ali Kuli Khan and Tantia Gangadhar were sent for, and Ahmad 

 Khan said to them that out of a desire to satisfy those two Mahratta chiefs, 

 he agreed to make over half his territory, till such time as the sum of thir- 

 ty lakhs of rupees, the fine imposed by the Emperor, should be realized. 



* Apparently the same as Grant Duff's Gangadhar Yesivent (Bombay ed., pp. 33S, 

 340). By the usage of the Dakhin, Yeswent would be his father's name. Grant Duff 

 does not give him the epithet of Tantia, 



