220 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
which it had hitherto been supported ; and it enabled 
him to extend his own possessions by gradual en- 
croachments upon those of his neighbours, who either 
wanted the courage or the means to resist his aggres- 
sions. 
Three years after the memorable battle of Pani- 
put, where the predominance of his military genius 
was fully established, the Mahrattas, having collected 
together a considerable army, descended the ghauts 
into the plains, under the command of Visagee Krish- 
na, to whom Mahadajee professed a doubtful obedi- 
ence. It was evident that he was not sincere in this 
profession, since he had already openly manifested his 
determination to establish himself as an independent 
sovereign. He had succeeded to all the important 
conquests which had been assigned to his father for 
the necessary maintenance of troops, by which means 
he was enabled to levy contributions upon the most 
wealthy Rajahs of Hindostan and to add whole dis- 
tricts from the dominions of those who were too weak 
to resist his rapidly increasing power. All these acts 
of unjustifiable rapine were committed in the name of 
the Paishwa, and though that prince had but a nomi- 
nal participation in the plunder, his commands were 
made the pretext for exactions and conquests, from 
which even his own territories were not exempt. The 
military achievements of Mahadajee, though signal, 
were, perhaps, less remarkable than the results which 
he exhibited of a well-directed policy, standing among 
the native powers of India as an oracle of political 
wisdom, while he had signalized himself not less as 
a brave and consummate general. 
