Dec. 1861.] 



The Nagpore Bhonslas. 



219 



a howdah of a yellow colour with three Sirdars, ordering them to 

 cut off his head in case of his own defeat or death. Their names 

 were Lutchmun Rao Ghatkay, Lutchmun Rao Patunkur and 

 Tookojee Nulloray. A "battle took place, Moodhajee was on 

 horse back and approached Sabajee's elephant. Sabajee threw a 

 javelin at him without effect. Moodhajee shot his brother with a 

 pistol loaded with two bullets through the head, and Sabajee sank 

 and died instantaneously in the howdah ; Moodhajee immediately 

 mounted his brother's elephant. That on which Raghojee was 

 seated was in the rear of it and on Sabajee's death Patunkur drew 

 his sword to execute Sabajee's last orders. Tookojee Nulloray res- 

 trained his hand ; Patunkur was wounded in the struggle ; and 

 Moodhajee had him trampled to death by an elephant. The army 

 detained Sabajee's corpse for three days as a pledge for their pay. 

 On this Sabajee's two wives, daughters of two brothers of the 

 Mohittea clan of Kenikotah, Yasodah Baee and Ahalyah Baee, 

 being informed, they desired the army to come to Nagpoor with 

 the body and supplicated the Chiefs to receive their pay from 

 Moodhajee, or whoever ascended the Musnud but to release the 

 body ; the army accordingly gave up the body. It had on a stuff- 

 ed jacket ; but as it was much swelled they were obliged to cut 

 it open : both his wives burnt themselves with him near the temple 

 of the great Raghojee in Nagpoor. A Jharjee or plain sepulchral 

 monument was erected on the spot. When the news of Sabajee's 

 death reached Dhounsa, the Nabob of Ellichpoor, he marched to- 

 wards Nagpoor. The female servants of the palace were sent off 

 to Chanda, and the ladies to Gawilghur. With the latter went 

 Vincajee Bhonsla being then about 8 years of age : Raghojee, 

 Moodhajee and Chimnajee pitched their camp on the outside of 

 the city. Dhounsa came to Nagpoor which was deserted except 

 by the poor, and having remained encamped there for three days, 

 during which matters were amicably settled between him and 

 Moodhajee, he returned to Nurnalla. Dhounsa demanded 

 that an illegitimate son of Sabajee's, named Hybut Rao, or more 

 commonly called Dadajee, should be given to him to take care of, 

 as being the son of a person with whom he had exchanged tur- 

 bans. But Dadajee Was kept in prison at Gawilghur, and 

 Dhounsa went away without knowing where he was. He re- 



