Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/258

250 The army then crossed the Kristna, between which and Gol-condah were posted 25000 Morattoes, employed by Gazy-o-din Khan, the eldest brother of Salabat-jing, and generalissimo of the empire, to oppose their passage towards the city. They were commanded by Balagerow, the principal general of the Sahah Rajah, or king of all the Morattoe nations. A negotiation ensued, and the Morattoes, having hitherto received nothing from Gazy-o-din Khan, who was at Delhi, were easily persuaded, with some ready money, not only to retire, but also to make an alliance with the prince they were sent to oppose.

Nothing more remained to obstruct the passage of the army, which entered Gol-condah in the procession of an eastern triumph on the 2d of April. Salabat-jing was acknowledged Soubah without opposition, and went through the ceremony of sitting on the Musnud or throne in public, and of receiving homage not only from his own immediate officers, but also from most of the governors of the neighbouring countries.

The services which the French battalion had rendered were now amply rewarded. A present supposed to be 100,000 pounds sterling was given to the commander in chief, the other officers likewise received gratuities, and that of an ensign, amounted to 50,000 rupees. The monthly pay of a captain, besides the carriage of his baggage furnished at Salabat-jing's expence, was settled at 1000 rupees, of a lieutenant at 500, of an ensign at 300, of a serjeant at 90, and of a common soldier at 60 rupees. The policy of Mr. Dupleix, in taking possession of Masulipatnam, was now manifested by the facility with which the army at Gol-condah was supplied with recruits of men, stores, and ammunition from that port.

In the mean time, Gazy-o-din Khan had obtained from the ministry at Delhi a commission for the Soubahship of the Decan, and the rumour of an army marching by his orders towards Brampore, determined Salabat-jing to proceed immediately to Aurengabad. He left Gol-condah in the beginning of May, and during the route, intelligence was received that several principal, men in the city had declared against him, and Shanavaze-Khan, who had been the prime minister of Nazir-jing, and had ever since his reconciliation with the French