Even before heading towards Tiruchirappalli, Raghuji had written to Dumas demanding payment of tribute but his letters had gone unanswered. Dumas now replied to Raghuji saying the French had never agreed to pay a tribute to the Marathas in the past, and therefore, none was outstanding. Raghuji replied that Dumas had kept all the Nawab’s treasures in his city and sheltered the families – all of which should be handed over. Otherwise, he wrote, the French would be treated like the Portuguese at Vasai. Raghuji’s letter to Dumas said, “Our sovereign – persuaded that you were deserving of his friendship, that the French were people of their word, who would never fail in their engagements towards him, made over to you a considerable territory. You agreed to pay an annual tribute, which you never have paid. At last, after a considerable time, the army of the Marathas has arrived in these districts. It has beaten the Muslims, puffed up with pride, and forced them to pay tribute. We need not tell you this news. We now have orders from the Maharaj to take possession of the fortresses of Tiruchirappalli and Jinji, and to put garrisons in them. We also have orders to collect tribute due from the European towns on the sea-coast. I am obliged to obey these orders.
“When we consider your conduct, and the manner in which the King has favoured you, in allowing you to establish yourselves in his territory, I cannot hinder myself from saying that you are wrong in not paying this tribute. We had consideration for you, and you have acted against us. You have given refuge to the Mughals in your town. Was that well done? again, Chanda Saheb has left under your protection, the treasure chests of Tiruchirappalli and of Tanjore – the precious stones, elephants, horses, and other things of which he possessed himself in those kingdoms, as well as his family. Was that, too, well done? If you wish that we should be friends, you must give up the treasure, these jewels, these horses, these elephants, as well as the wife and son of Chanda Saheb. I send my cavalry to whom you can make them over. If you decline to do so, we shall be compelled to force you to do it, as well as to the payment of the tribute which you have kept back for forty years.
“You know how we have treated the town of Vasai. My army is very numerous, and it wants money for its expenses. If you do not act in conformity with my demands, I shall know how to draw from you wherewith to pay my whole army. It will be better for you to terminate the matter quickly. I rely upon your sending me, in conformity with this letter, the wife and son of Chanda Saheb, with his elephants, horses, jewels, and treasure.”
Dumas was blunt in his reply. He reiterated that the tribute was never paid in the past, and he added that unlike Vasai it would be French and not Portuguese soldiers who would defend Pondicherry. About Chanda Saheb’s family, he wrote, “Your Lordship writes to me to hand over to the horsemen the woman (Chanda Saheb’s wife), her son and the treasures she brought with her. Your Lordship is brave and noble-hearted. What would you think of me if I thus debased myself? Chanda Saheb’s wife is under the protection of my master, the King of France, and all Frenchmen in India are ready to lose their lives rather than surrender her to you.”
Raghuji had sent his envoys to Pondicherry, and Dumas took Raghuji’s enjvoys for a tour of the fort. He showed them the perfect state of their fortifications, and his capability of standing a long siege. The number of mines at regular intervals along the ramparts were shown and a demonstration by exploding one of the mines was also arranged. They were also told that all the treasures, Indian as well as French, were no longer in the city but had been shifted to French ships off the coast, ready to sail at the first provocation. Then, after the tour, Dumas gave the envoys a farewell gift for Raghuji. This was nothing but ten bottles of wine, possibly Moselle wine, but labelled as Nancy Cordials.
The envoys returned and reported on the strong defences of Pondicherry and presented Raghuji the bottles of wine. The wine was duly sampled not just by Raghuji but also his ‘mistress’, who enjoyed it exceedingly and insisted that he ask for more. Through his envoys, Raghuji then tried to discreetly obtain the wine, even offering to pay a hundred rupees for a bottle. In the words of a French chronicler L’Abbe Guyon, “At last Raghuji, no longer able to stand the ill humour of his mistress, decided on taking a step, to which he personally objected and considered to be unworthy of his great name. He made a personal demand for more bottles of that delicious drink… Dumas sent him thirty bottles of different beverages as a present. Raghuji was glad, and gladder still was his mistress who forgot her ill humour. Raghuji sent Dumas a passport for two delegates to come to the Maratha camp in order to negotiate a treaty of peace.”
To be continued…
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