STATE 
until the year 1804, when the 
Nipaulesecommenced that system 
of gradual encroachment below 
the hills, which terminated in 
their occupation of nearly the 
whole district of Bootwul. The 
Tuppah of Sheoraj was occupied 
by the Nipaulese antecedently to 
the cession; but it is no less 
certain, that it was a part of 
the territory of the Vizier, and, 
together with the rest of the low 
lands skirting the hills in the dis- 
trict of Goruckpore, included in 
the cession. 
The Nipaulese pretended ta 
found their claim to Bootwul and 
Sheroraj, and to the cther por- 
tions on the lands below the bills, 
‘on the circumstance of their hav- 
ing formed the Terraice, or low 
lands of the hill countries of Bul- 
pah, Goolmee, Pentaneh, Kam- 
chee,&c. which the Nipaulese have 
conquered. Admitting that the 
low lands were possessed by the 
chiefs of the neighbouring hill 
principalities, the admission does. 
not affect the question, since it 
was perfectly ascertained,that fora 
considerable period before the 
Goorkah conquest, they formed 
a part of the dominions of Oude, 
and the conquest therefore of the 
independent hill principalities 
cannot give to the conquering 
power any just claim to other 
lands, which though in the oc- 
cupation of the same chiefs, were 
held independent tenures from 
another State. 
The system of gradua!, and at 
times, almost imperceptible en- 
croachment, pursued by the Ni- 
paulese, prevented the British 
government from having re- 
course to such measures as would 
have re-established its authority 
PA PERS. 
349 
in the usurped lands. The re- 
monstrance and discussions which 
followed the first usurpation in 
that quarter, continued with fre- 
quent interruption, for a_period 
of some years, during which the 
Nipaulese extended their en- 
croachments. At length a pro- 
position was made by the Rajah 
of Nipaul, that commissioners 
should be appointed to treat on 
the spot, and decide the respec- 
tive claims of the parties, under 
the express condition that both 
governments would abide by the 
issue of it. The proposition was 
acceded to: Major Bradshaw pro- 
ceeded to Bootwul, and met two 
commissioners from Catmandhoo : 
after much delay and procrasti- 
nation, the proceedings were 
brought to a close; the most irre- 
fragable proofs both oral and 
documentary, established the right 
of the British government to the 
whole of the low lands. The Ni- 
paulese commissioners, unable to 
reject the force of this evidence. 
and restrained by the order of 
their court, from admitting the 
right of the British government. 
pretended that they were not au- 
thorized to come toa decision, and 
preferred the case to the Rajah’s go- 
vernment for orders. The British 
governmentthen applied tothe Ra- 
jah to give up the lands, in conse- 
quence of the result of the inves- 
tigation, which he refused. In 
this state the affair necessarily re- 
mained until the ensuing season, 
1813—14. In the mean while, 
Major Bradshaw proceeded, as 
soon as the state of the country 
admitted of his marching to the 
frontier of Betteah, where he was 
to be met by commissioners from 
Nipaul, empowered to adjust, 
