465 
seldom equalled, this immense fabric fell to ruin, until in 1788 
Gholaum Kaudir, a Rohilla chief, for the last time plundered 
Delhi, with a cruelty surpassing even the atrocities of Timur and 
Nadir Shah. After robbing the palace of every valuable left Ivy 
the latter fifty years before, Gholaum Kaudir concluded the tra- 
gedy by plucking out the eyes of the aged emperor, and consign- 
ing him to poverty and wretchedness. This monster of barbarity 
surpassed the tyrant whose portrait, drawn by himself, has been 
thus transmitted by Orme. A dervise had the boldness to present 
a writing to the Persian conqueror conceived in these words: “ If 
44 thou art a god, act as a god; if thou art a prophet, conduct us 
44 in the way of salvation; if thou art a king, render the people 
44 happy, and do not destroy them!” To this the barbarian re- 
plied, 44 I am no god, to act as a god; nor a prophet, to shew the 
44 way of salvation; nor a king to render the people happy: but I 
44 am he whom God sends to the nations which he has determined 
54 to visit with his wrath !” 
During the rivalship between Aurungzebe’s sons, which even- 
tually ruined the Mogul empire, sultan Aazim liberated Saojee, the 
captive son of the Mahratta sovereign Sambojce, murdered by his 
father, and sent him into the Deccan to recover his patrimony. 
On his arrival, Tarrabhye, pretending he was an impostor, dis- 
allowed his claims, and rejected his admission ; in this emergency 
Saojee being joined by several powerful Mahratta chieftains, and 
especially by Pursojee Bhosla, from whom are descended the Nag- 
pore rajahs, he overcame all opposition, and triumphantly ascended 
the throne in Sattara. Tarrabhye, with her son and adherents, re- 
tired into the strong hold of Pannella. 
3 o 
