Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/272

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266
The War of Coromandel.
Book VIII.

and Shanavaze Khan immediately changed the garrisons, and placed one of his own dependants in the command of all the forts, with the unwilling compliance of Salabadjing, and the approbation of the Emperor's Duan, Mahomed Hussein, whom Shanavaze Khan had lately gained over to his views. He found in the fort a great treasure belonging to Seid Lascar Khan, of which 700,000 rupees were publicly avowed, and more suspected. In the end of September a body of 6000 Morratoes from Poni, under the command of Vizvazrow, the eldest son of Balagerow, arrived near Aurengabad, with pretensions of which we are ignorant: their march had been expected, and gave Shanavaze Khan a pretence to call up Nizamally from Berar with the troops of his government, who arrived at the same time as Vizvazrow; the Morratoe chiefs dependant on the Subahship, and several others, had been likewise summoned, and were come up, so that the whole force under the standard of the Subah was near 40,000 horse, besides the foot. The Morratoes, notwithstanding their inferiority, proceeded to hostilities, but confined them to skirmishes, in which they were always repulsed by the artillery of the French detachment; nevertheless Nizamally assumed the merit of these successes, and working at the same time by his emissaries amongst Salabadjing's troops, instigated them to clamour, and insult him in his palace for the arrears of their pay, of which 22 months were due. During this tumult Shanavaze Khan, as if afraid of the resentment of Salabadjing, took refuge in the fort of Doltabad.

Salabadjing was terrified, without money, and, by the means of Shanavaze Khan, without credit; and Nizamally taking the advantage he had prepared, proffered to interfere and appease the troops, provided he was intrusted, whilst necessary, with the administration of the government, and the disposal of the great seal of the Subahship. This instrument ratifies all treaties, confirms all governments, authenticates all grants and boons of consequence, and warrants all assignments of the revenue: it therefore always remains at least in the dwelling of the prince, and generally under his own eye, excepting at Delhi, where it is usually confided to the Vizier. Salabadjing being without resource, consented: and Nizamally immediately became