Page:History of the French in India.djvu/510

 484 CHANDKANAGAR AND THE DAKHAtf. chap, steadily refused to acknowledge the supremacy of ', Salabat Jang, relying on the friendship of the Marathas. 1756. At the same time, Murari Rao, the Maratha, had occu- pied the state of Guti, and maintained it against his superior, the Peshwa, relying upon the protection of Salabat Jang. But in 1756, the Subadar and the Peshwa, being on good terms, resolved each to renounce the protection of the dependents of the other, and to compel them to submission to lawful authority. In accordance with these views, the armies of both nations, Bussy accompanying the Subadar, moved against Savanur. Murari Rao showed on this occasion that he united to the capacity of a warrior the spirit of a statesman. Knowing that an attack on Guti would inevitably follow the reduction of Savanur, he resolved to make common cause with the Nawwab, and to defend his own posses- sions behind the walls of the chief city of his Muham- madan ally. He accordingly threw himself into Savanur. But he no sooner beheld Bussy and his French, backed up by the army of Salabat Jang, with that of the Peshwa ready to follow, than he recognised the futility of resistance. Having made his own terms with the Nawwab, he secretly opened negotiations with Bussy. It happened that for his services before TrichinapalH he had received from the French authorities a bond which the policy of Godeheu had deprived them of the power of redeeming. In his communication to Bussy, he now proposed to give up this bond, on condition that Bussy would use his good offices to obtain for him from the Peshwa the cession in perpetuity of the district of Guti, in subordination, however, to the chief of the Marathas — the Nawwab of Savanur at the same time acknowledging the supremacy of the Subadar. Bussy, who had received from Salabat Jang full powers to treat, accepted these conditions, and did effectually carry them out — he, according to the secret agreement, receiving