mm] 



Description of the Valley of Sondur, 



137 



According to Captain Duff the British Government approved of 

 the transaction and promised, at the time the transfer was made, to 

 put the Peshwa in possession of Sondur, but various causes prevented 

 the fulfilment of the engagement unlil October 1817. Previous to this 

 however, in 1815, the Pe^^z^^a made an insidious attempt to take pos- 

 session of the jaghire, under pretext of a pilgrimage to the celebrated 

 shrine of Comarswami, attended by a vast train of followers. He was 

 escorted through the Company's territory by a regiment of native iii- 

 fantry under command of Lieut. Col. Steele. 



The present chief, Siva Row son of Kundi Row, who had been 

 thrown into prison by the Peshwa at Poona and subsequently fell at 

 the battle of Ashta in 181 8j was at this time in quiet possession of the. 

 valley ; and, perfectly aware of Baji Row's intentions, had prepared for 

 his reception by arming and barricading all the passes leading into the 

 valley.. 



The Peshwa was not permitted to enter, but compelled to pursue a . 

 circuitous route and ascend the cordon of hills on the southern , extre° - 

 mity, of which the temple is situated by a steep path leading from 

 Antapur in the taluk of Bellary. Bap /^oitf after a hasty visit to the 

 temple returned to Poona. 



Two years after this the great Mahratta confederacy against the 

 British power was entered intoj in which the Peshwa, Scindia, Holkar, 

 and the Bhonslah- of Nagpur played such prominent parts. Shortly 

 previous to this, the Pe^Aw^a repeatedly urged the British Resident at 

 Poona, the Hon'ble Mr. Elphihstone, in conformity with the stipula- 

 tions of the treaty of Bassein, to assist him with troops in the reduc- 

 tion of several small rebellious states and particularly that of Sondur, 

 This no doubt was part of a plot concocted by the weak Peshwa (who 

 had, for some time past, entertained smouldering feelings of deep 

 hatred against the British Government and its representative, which 

 soon burst forth into an undisguised flame), to weaken either the mili- 

 tary force ; or, in event of non-compliance, to throw upon the British 

 authorities the odium of breaking the conditions of the treaty and 

 being the guilty causes of the meditated rupture. 



Colonel, afterwards Sir T. Munro, who was at this time with the 

 reserve of Brigadier General Pritzler's force at Darwar, was instruct- 

 ed accordingly by Mr. Elphinstone to march to Sondur and compel 

 itB chief to obedience. Crossing the Tumbuddra at Humpsagur he 



* Duff's History of the Mahrattas, voi. iii. p. 4il, 



