ARRIVAL OF LORD HASTINGS. 181 



eracy, and cease to hold direct communication with any of 

 the native powers. These severe conditions the peishwa 

 sought by every effort to mitigate or elude ; but as the resi- 

 dent remained inflexible, a treaty to this effect was signed on 

 the 13th June, 1817. 



In carrying on the narrative of the transactions at Foo- 

 nah, we have been led beyond the commencement of the ad- 

 ministration of the Marquis of Hastings, who arrived in the 

 end of the year 1813. The company, in appointing to this 

 high station so eminent a military character, seemed to in- 

 timate a conviction that the pacific or merely defensive policy 

 on which they had for some time acted could not be much 

 longer maintained. Lord Hastings, in fact, soon indicated 

 a disposition to resume the more active scheme of govern- 

 ment so ably pursued by the Marquis Wellesley. He ap- 

 peared resolved to suppress the growing power of the pre- 

 datory associations, to renew the alliances with the Rajpoot 

 and other minor chiefs, and generally to establish the con- 

 trol of the English over the Indian states. His attention, 

 however, was for a time drawn off by movements in a new 

 and somewhat unexpected quarter. 



The extensive region which slopes downward from the 

 summit of the Himmalch to the plain of Hindostan has- 

 always been occupied by fierce and warlike tribes. Being,' 

 however, as formerly described, broken into a number of 

 narrow valleys separated by steep and lofty ridges, it had 

 been parcelled out among various independent chiefs, never 

 before united in such a way as to prove dangerous to the 

 central kingdoms. Lately, however, the Gorkhas, a rude 

 but brave race of men, led by a warlike commander, had 

 'conquered the valleys of Nepaul, the finest which intersect 

 the magnificent range of the Himmalch. Thither they 

 transferred the seat of their government, and having by a 

 skilful policy conciliated the neighbouring princes, had made 

 this acquisition a step to farther conquest. They accord- 

 ingly proceeded to subdue different chiefs, till their territory 

 extended above 800 miles in length, and comprehended 

 nearly the whole mountain-region of Northern India. They 

 then cast a longing eye over the wide plain that spreads be- 

 neath, covered with all the riches of tropical cultivation, 

 and capable of affording an ample revenue. Being gene- 

 rally superior to the native troops both in courage and discr- 



Vor,. II.— Q 



