HISTORY OF EUROPE. 



233 



southward : Intelligence being receiv- 

 ed, that the Berar rajah had passed 

 the hills which form the frontier of 

 the province of Candeish, and was 

 proceeding towards the river God- 

 avery. On the 29th, general Wei- 

 lesley arrived at Aurunaabad, where 

 }ie learned that the Bhoonsla had 

 gradually advanced to the castVvard, 

 and was at that moment at Lackec- 

 gaun, about 20 niik'S north from 

 Pulteim. The rajah finding him- 

 self thus hotly pursued, endeavour- 

 ed by various stratagems, to elude 

 the vigilance of the British com- 

 mander. Between the nights of the 

 29th, and 30th of October, he 

 changed iiis camp five times. ^V'ith 

 -I further view to distraft general 

 \N'cIles]e3''s attention, he detached a 

 body of 3,000 horse, to intercept a 

 valuable convoy of supplies for the 

 British army, which was distant only 

 a few days march. But his design 

 was seen througii, and frustrated by 

 tlie sagacity ai\d ai'^tivily of the 

 British commander, who still conti- 

 nued to watch and harass the army 

 of the rajah, coiiliding in the 

 strength of the party under M'hose 

 escort t!ie convoj' was placed, and 

 the skill and bravery of its com- 

 mander. JS'or was he disappointed ; 

 the convoy was attacked by tlie ra- 

 jah's cavalry at Amber, but captain 

 Ba}nes, who commanded the Hritisii 

 detachment, repulsed it with consi- 

 derable loss, secured the whole of 

 the supplies, and conducted tliem in 

 triumpli, a low dajs afterwards, to 

 the British camp. This success 

 still furtiier encreased the rajah's 

 ^Hbrts to avoid a general engage- 

 ment, by every moans that activi- 

 ty and local knowledge could fur- 

 iiith. 



In the mean while, Sciiidiah, who 

 «aw all his projed'ls subverted, his 



French establishment and alliance 

 utterly destroyed, his provinces 

 conquered, his fortresses in the Dec- 

 can captured, and even his capital 

 threatened by the victorious British, 

 found that his best policy was to ne- 

 gociate. Accordingly, on the 11th 

 of November, he sent an ambassa- 

 dor to general Wellesley's camp at 

 Jaum, to propose a treaity of peace. 



That officer, w ell aware that to 

 gain time, (the usual objedl of Mah- 

 ratta subterfngc,) was his purpose, 

 yet anxious to evince the sincere 

 w ish of the British government for 

 the restoration of ti'anquillity, re- 

 ceived him with every demonstrati- 

 on of respect and satisfaction. After 

 various conferences on the Tid of 

 November, a cessation of arms was 

 agreed upon, between Scindiah and 

 the British force in the Deccan, and 

 province of Guzerat. The princi- 

 pal condition of this truce was, that 

 the army of the former should oc- 

 cupy a position 40 miles to the left 

 of Elichpore, and that the British 

 force should not advance farther 

 into the territories of Scindiah. 



Wiiile these negotiations were on 

 foot, the Berar prince had moved 

 towards his own dominions, and ge- 

 neral Wellcslcy had dcscendi'd the 

 mountains by Bajoorah, in order to 

 co-operate with colonel Stevenson 

 in tiie reduction of the strong fo*-- 

 tress ofCiawil Ghur^on which ser- 

 vice that officer had been detached 

 after the fall of Asseer Gliur. On 

 the 28th of November, general Wel- 

 lesley came up with tlie greater part 

 of the Blioop.sla's infantry, strength- 

 ened by a considerable body of 

 Scindiah 's regular horse : And as 

 tlu! latter had not fulfilled the cou- 

 diiions of the truce, he liad himself 

 demanded with such eagerness, ge- 

 neral NV'elLsU'y resolved, notwith- 



sta«iding 



