Page:History of the French in India.djvu/508

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482 CHANDRANAGAR AND THE DA KHAN. chap, being entirely swallowed up, he determined to agree to a XI ^_ , the demands of Salabat Jang. After some discussion, it 1755. w &s arranged that the Raja of Maisur should acknow- ledge himself a tributary of the Mughal, through his agent, the Subadar of the Dakhan, and that he should pay to that officer, as arrears of tribute, fifty-two lakhs of rupees. Salabat Jang, on his side, engaged to rid Maisur of its Maratha invaders. To carry out his part of the contract, his treasury being empty, Dev Raj was compelled to strip the Hindu temples of their orna- ments, and to give up all the jewels of the royal family. Even then he collected but one-third of the amount demanded ; for the remainder he induced the Subadar to accept bills.* Bussy, on his side, persuaded Balaji to retire with the booty he had collected. The army then quitted Seringapatam, in April, and returned to Haidarabad in the July following. For the remainder of that year peace and quietness reigned in the Dakhan. Whilst de Leyrit was occupied in endeavouring to maintain in the manner we have de- scribed, and not wholly unsuccessfully, French influence in the Karnatik, Moracin in the Sirkars, and Bussy at Haidarabad, found their position easier than at the beginning of the year they had dared to anticipate. This was no doubt owing to the success that had attended the French arms against Maisur. In a letter! to Dupleix, alluding to Bussy's conduct on this occasion, de Leyrit had written as follows : — " The position of M. Bussy in the Dakhan is as brilliant as ever. It may even be affirmed that since the expedition to Maisur his influence has increased. He escorted Salabat Jang into that country, and he managed matters so well between him and the Raja of Maisur, who was also our ally, that even whilst extorting fifty-two lakhs of rupees from the •These hills were never paid; prison. — Wilks. the bankers who were securities for f Dated 16th October, 1755. them mostly languished and died in