A.D. 1719.
in ravines. The Mahrattas, true to their mode of warfare, had possessed themselves of every possible outlet, and almost every man of the detachment perished by the sword or was made prisoner. The whole of the Mahratta confederacy was now in motion, and Hosen, fearing that he might be involved in an interminable and inglorious warfare, at the very time when his presence was imperatively required at Delhi, hastily concluded a peace with Saho, which confirmed him in the possession of a larger extent of territory than the Mahrattas had ever possessed before, and sanctioned the levying not only of the chout, but of the sirdesmuki, or an additional tenth of the whole remaining revenue throughout the Deccan. The only return which Saho made for these concessions was an agreement to guarantee the country from future depredations, to furnish a contingent of 15,000 for the maintenance of the public tranquillity, and to pay an annual tribute of ten lacs of rupees (£100.000).
Defeat and murder of by the Seyeds. Farokshir, while aware that his own intrigues had in a manner compelled Hosen to conclude this disgraceful treaty, refused to ratify it. The quarrels Farokshir which ensued hastened the crisis. Farokshir, had he possessed any degree of steadiness and energy, might easily have found in the chiefs who envied or hated the Seyeds, a combination powerful enough to free him from their galling yoke. His father-in-law, Ajit Sing, Rajah of Marwar, Jei Sing, Rajah of Amber, Sirbuland Khan, governor of Behar, and Nizam-ul-Moolk, who, considering himself exiled at Moradabad, was pining for higher employment, were all ready to have lent their aid. Instead of taking proper measures to court it, he only alienated them by the preference shown to unworthy favourites; and hence, when the period for a decisive trial arrived, found himself almost totally abandoned. Alarmed at the dangers by which he was beset, he now consulted only his fears, and endeavoured, by abject submission, to obtain at least a respite. Even this was denied; and after some attempts at a rescue, by a few partisans who still adhered to him in the capital, the Seyeds dragged him forth from his hidingplace in the seraglio, and caused him to be privately put to death in Feb. 1719.
Mahomed Shah placed on the throne.The brothers, Hosen Ali and Abdallah Khan, were now absolute masters of the government, and might at once have put an end for ever to the Mogul dynasty. This was probably for themselves the safest course which they could have adopted; but its boldness deterred them, and they set up first one young prince of the blood and then another. By a singular fatality both died, it is said, not by violence, but naturally, within six months. A third was found of more robust constitution, and mounted the throne with the title of Mahomed Shah. The Seyeds evidently contemplated a continuance of their arbitrary rule; but symptoms of opposition were soon manifested in various quarters, and were rather encouraged than repressed by a timid and vacillating policy on the part of the government. It would indeed seem from the timid measures of the brothers, that they were conscious of having fallen greatly in public opinion, and felt the ground slipping from beneath their feet. With some of the earlier
