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 Chap. VI.]

TRANSACTIONS IN THE DECCAN.

Vil

The now claimant.

the ICistna, and continued their march northward in the direction of Golconda. a.d 1752, But a serious obstruction was to be removed before they could reacli it. Gliazi- u-din, the eldest son of Nizam-ul-iloolk, had never, as was falsely alleged, renounced his claim to the soubahship, and was now taking active steps to secure it. With this view he had formed an alliance with the Peisliwa Balajee Bajee Rao, who stood ready with 25,000 Mahrattas to dispute Salabut Jung's further progress. Negotiation was attempted, and the Peishwa, aware that his ])resence was urgently rec^uired at Sattarah, made no scruple of changing sides. The obstacle being thus removed, Salabut Jung, accompanied by Bussy, more as his protector than his protdg^, made a triumpliant entrance into Golconda. Ghazi-u-din had, in the meantime, set out from Delhi, and an-ived at Aurun- gabad, which now vied with it in importance, and was re- garded as the capital of the Deccan. As negotiation could not here avail, another device equally characteristic wa.s adopted, and Ghazi-u-din was cut off by poison. The deatli of the chief was, as usual, fol lowed by the dispersion of hi.s army, and Salabut Jung, mnv left without a rivd, took his seat on the iiiusnud at Au- rungabad, amid general re- joicings. At such a season Bussy could obtain anything he chose to ask; and, besides receiving large pecuniary presents to himself and his officers, an-anged for the future payment of his troops at a very extravagant rate. Dupleix also displayed the extent of his authority by disposing of the nabob- ship of Arcot, as if it had been his own absolute property. First, he pro- claimed himself nabob, next he laid aside the title and conferred it on Reza Sahib, Chunda Sahib's son ; and when his exhausted treasury required to be supplied, he set aside this appointment also, and made an attempt to dispose of it for money to Mortiz Ali. This man, who had already sealed his infamy by two atrocious miu-ders, grasped eagerly at the honour, and after advancing a sum of about £80,000, was formally installed at Pondicherry. While there, however, having become acquainted ^^th the views which Dupleix had upon his treasures, he repented of his bargain, and. without explaining his intentions, made a precipitate return to his fortress at Vellore.

Though greatly hampered by the state of his pecuniary resom'ces, Dupleix contended manfully with fortune, and was soon able to throw serious obstacles in Mahomed All's way. In this he was greatly aided by the misconduct of Vol. 1. 61

.i'KUS(iAB.i>. — Krom Grinillay's Scenery, &c., of India.

The French influence with Sala- but Jung.