Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan, Volume 1.djvu/282

274 force, and at Beder, a very strong and ancient city 60 miles north-west of Gol-condab, were met by the Morattoes. Meanwhile Ghazi-o-din Khan entered Aurengabad without opposition. He had brought with him from Delhi a French surgeon named DeVolton, who had long been principal physician to the Great Mogul. This man, Ghazi-o-din Khan sent forward to Pondicherry, as an envoy empowered by the Great Mogul to offer Mr. Dupleix many advantages, if he would withdraw the French troops from the service of Salabad-jing: and as a proof of this commission, De Volton was furnished with a blank paper, to which the great seal of the empire was affixed. Salabad-jing receiving intelligence of these intentions, set about to frustrate them by a method which could not fail of success, as it could not naturally be suspected; for he prevailed on his mother, who was at Aurengabad, to poison his brother, who, however was not her son; which she effected by sending him a plate of victuals, prepared, as she too truly assured him, with her own hands. On his death the greatest part of his army returned to their homes; but some joined the Morattoes at Beder.

Whatsoever apprehensions Salabad-jing might have, that Scheabeddin the son of Ghazi-o-din Khan at Delhi, would obtain the Soubahship of the Decan, and revenge the murder of his father; he affected to fear nothing from him, either as an enemy or a competitor: and asserting with more confidence than ever, that he himself was the real Soubah, sent immediately on Ghazi-o-din Khan's death, an embassador of his own to Pondicherry, who likewise pretended to come from the great Mogul, with a patent, as Salabad-jing had promised, confirming Mr. Dupleix Nabob of the countries to the south of the Kristna. The man was received with great pomp and respect, and the patent published throughout the province with much ostentation. But still this title, specious as it might be, furnished Mr. Dupleix with no money, which in the wars of Indostan is of more service than any title whatsoever; for the revenues which Salabad-jing received at Aurengabad were continually exhausted by the great army he was obliged to maintain, and the charge of Mr. Bussy's troops alone amounted to 400,000 pounds a year, The distress was as great at