ACCESSION OF NARAIN RAO 269

Raghunath Rao's feet, and asked forgiveness for the faults of bygone days. Raghunath Rao grieved deeply on account of his youth. He applied himself zealously to the cure of the invalid, and whenever he found a trace, in any quarter or direction, of austere Brahmans and skilful Pandits, he sent for them to administer med- icines for his recovery. At length, when the sick man began to despair of living, he imitated the example of his deceased father, and placed his younger brother, whose name was Narain Rao, under the charge of Ra- ghunath Rao, and having performed the duty of recom- mending him to his care, yielded up his soul in the year 1186 A. H. (1772 A. D.). The duration of his reign was twelve years. Narain Rao, after being seated on the throne of sovereignty, owing to his tender age committed vari- ous acts that produced an ill-feeling among his adher- ents, both great and small, at Poona; more especially in Raghunath Rao, on whom he inflicted unbecoming indignities. Although Madhu Rao had not behaved towards his uncle with the respect due to such a relative, yet, except that he would not grant him permission to leave Poona, he had treated him with no other incivil- ity; but used always, till the day of his death, to show him the attention due from an inferior to a superior; and supplied him with wealth and property far exceed- ing the limits of his wants. In short, Raghunath Rao, having begun to form plans for taking Narain Rao prisoner, first disclosed his secret to Sakha Ram Bapu, who was Madhu Rao's prime minister, and having