218 



The Nagpore Bhonslas. 



[No. 12, NEW SERTESc 



Darya Baee, Janojee's senior wife, had at this time come from 

 Gawilghur to Ellichpoor on the occasion of the marriage of the 

 Nabob's sister. At this place she heard of Janojee's death. Im- 

 mediately on hearing it she came to Nagpoor with all the family 

 from Gawilghur. The Peishwa sent the usual mourning clothes, 

 and Raghojee and Moodhajee returned to Nagpoor. 



The Baee procured the Khilut of investiture from the Peishwa 

 for Sabajee, and he was seated on the Musnud. Sabajee had full 

 authority for one year, whilst Moodhajee remained at Chanda, 

 when a disagreement arose between Darya Baee and the former, 

 and the Baee wished to give the Raj to Raghojee who was then 

 15 or 16 years of age. To proceed, Darya Baee and Sabajee both 

 went to Bhooranpoor and the latter plundered the former with the 

 assistance of some of the Nizam's troops. Open hostilities then 

 began ; the Baee returned to Nagpoor and Sabajee went to Nur- 

 nalla to Zuffer-ood-Dowlah, alias Dhounsa, the Nabob of Ellich- 

 pore, and exchanged turbans with him. He asked his assistance 

 and offered to eat and drink with the Mussulmans to obtain his 

 object ; but Dhounsa told him that there was no occasion for his 

 doing so, promised his assistance and told him to go to his own 

 place with his mind at ease, and to call for him whenever he had 

 occasion for his services. On this Sabajee came and fixed his 

 residence in Berar. The Baee carried on the government for two 

 years and a half by the hands of two brothers Deenajee Narrain 

 and Appajee Punt. At the same time that Sabajee came into 

 Berar from Nurnalla, Moodhajee also arrived from Chanda ; they 

 were separated by about ten marches. The Baee called for 

 Moodhajee, saying that she would agree to settle the sovereignty 

 on his son Raghojee. Sabajee at once wrote to the Baee and to 

 the Peishwa in these terms : — " Why did you first give me the 

 Raj and now try to take it away ?" The Baee and Moodhajee 

 were united, and Sabajee prepared for battle. The Baee heard 

 that Sabajee's force was very strong, and sent Raghojee and Bala 

 Baee his sister to pacify Sabajee, but in vain, for he detained them 

 both and advanced to Paunchgaon. Moodhajee marched with his 

 army from Nagpoor to meet him ; but his forces were very un- 

 equal in number to Sabajee's. Sabajee was mounted on an ele- 

 phant in a howdah, he seated his nephew Raghojee on another in 



