1879.] W. Irvine—The Bangash Nawdbs of Furrukhabad. 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 Apé Sendhiéd named Tantiad Gangadhar, their Diwan.* 
The two messengers then departed. 
But, unknown to the Wazir, the two Mahratta leaders had instructed 
Tantiad 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. 
TAntid 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 Gangddhar 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 Yeswent (Bombay ed., pp. 338, 
840). By the usage of the Dakhin, Yeswent would be his father’s name. Grant Duff 
does not give him the epithet of Tantia, 
Q 
