174 PINDAREE WAR. 



the English, had motives connected with the internal state 

 of his dominions, which made him desirous, for the present 

 at least, to claim on that ground the fulfilment of the treaty 

 of Bassein. 



Sir George Barlow was succeeded in 1807 by Lord Minto, 

 a prudent and intelligent nobleman, who endeavoured in his 

 general system to maintain the pacific policy recommended 

 by the company, without shrinking from vigorous and even 

 hostile demonstrations, when the conduct of the native 

 powers appeared to render these necessary. The great 

 6tates during his administration retained their position 

 nearly unaltered ; but animosities continued to ferment 

 which were destined to burst into a violent tempest, and to 

 involve India afresh in a sanguinary war. 



CHAPTER V. 



Pindaree War, and Conquest of the Mahratlas. 



Progress of the Pindarees— Their Character— Ameer Khan— Arrange- 

 ments with the Peishwa— Trimbuckjee— He murders the Guzerat 

 Minister— Is delivered up to the English— Escapes— Concessions re- 

 quired from the Peishwa— Marquis of Hastings arrives in India— Rup- 

 ture with Nepaul— Death of General Gillespie— Successes of Ochter- 

 lony— Negotiations— Renewal of the War— Final Treaty— Alliance 

 formed with Berar— Irruptions of the Pindarees— Opening of the Cam- 

 paign against them— Treaties with Sindia and Ameer Khan— The 

 Cholera attacks the Grand Army— Rise and Diffusion of that Malady 

 in India— Alarming Accounts from Poonah— Operations against the 

 Pindarees— The Adherents of Holkar join them— Battle of Mehidpoor 

 —treaty— Final Catastrophe of the Pindaree Chiefs— Movements of 

 the Peishwa— He attacks the English— His Repulse and continued 

 Flight— Repeated Defeats— Surrender— Intrigues at Nagpore— The 

 Rajah attacks the English— Issue of the Contest— His Escape— Sub- 

 sequent Transactions— Contest with Bhurtpore— Coralusion. 



In the aspect which India at this period exhibited, the most 

 remarkable feature consisted in the marauding habits of the 

 people by whom so large a portion of it was occupied. A 

 new power which rose without any basis to rest upon, 

 without country or territory to claim for its own, and 

 without any regular place in the political system, was chiefly 



