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lie would procure brahminical absolution from his vow, he should 
have the government of a district with five castles, and a jaghire 
of twelve lacs of rupees per annum, provided some of the great 
chieftains would become surety for his future conduct; to which 
they readily assented: but, unmindful of his solemn protestations, 
the prince, actuated by suspicion and jealousy, again treated his 
uncle with unrelenting rigour. 
Such was the state of affairs in the month of August 1773, 
when, to the astonishment of all the powers in India, Narrain Row 
was assassinated in his palace. The accounts of this catastrophe 
are variously related: the peshwa family and a large part of the 
nation accused Ragobah of the murder; some of the Mahratta 
chiefs, and numerous partizans, asserted his innocence. When we 
consider his ambitious character, and his peculiar situation at the 
time, it is difficult to exculpate him. When the murder was com- 
mitted, Ragobah was confined in a small room near Narrain Row's 
private apartment: Sobal Sing, who commanded the peshwa’s 
body-guard, had also the immediate charge of Ragobalfs person, 
which afforded them frequent opportunities for private conversa- 
tion. He is supposed, by large promises, to have been prevailed 
upon, with another officer, named Esoof Khan, to perpetrate the 
horrid deed. 
Seizing the opportunity when Narrain Row had retired from 
the public durbar, Sobal Sing entered officially, as if to receive 
orders, but instead of the respect due to his prince, Narrain Row 
was surprized by his abusive language and insolent behaviour: 
when beginning to expostulate, on a signal from Sobal Sing, Esoof 
