NEPAUL WAR RENEWED. 185 



they determined to open a negotiation. The terms de- 

 manded by Lord Hastings were high, including the cession 

 of all the provinces conquered in the west, and also of the 

 Teraee or Tarryani, the border of jungle which extends 

 along the base of the mountains. This last article formed 

 the chief obstacle to the treaty, not so much on account of 

 the actual value of the territory, as because most of the 

 principal chiefs at court had assignments of land in it 

 from which they derived their income. The marquis, con- 

 sidering the point to be of little consequence, had made up 

 his mind, and given directions that it should not stand in the 

 way of the treaty. Unluckily, the Nepaulese ambassadors 

 had agreed to the terms and signed them, but when trans- 

 mitted for ratification, the court was induced, on the above 

 grounds, to refuse its consent. In such circumstances, 

 there appeared no longer room for the intended concession ; 

 and no option was left but the renewal of war. This was 

 attended with considerable inconvenience, since, in confi- 

 dent expectation of peace, the preparations had not only 

 been relaxed, but even part of the military stores sold off; 

 however, extraordinary exertions were made, and the army 

 in January, 1816, was again ready to take the field. 



The enemy had intrenched themselves in the strong pass 

 of Chereea-ghatee, which formed the entrance into their 

 mountain-territory ; but General Ochterlony, by a skilful 

 though laborious march, turned this position, and pene- 

 trated to Muckwanpoor, in the vicinity of which they had 

 erected several forts and stockades. Two successive 

 defeats convinced them of the vanity of their attempt 

 to contend with British troops ; they made overtures for 

 a fresh negotiation, in which all the points in dispute were 

 yielded ; and in March a definitive treaty was concluded. 

 The governor-general was then with a good grace able to 

 grant, as a matter of favour, most of the districts for the 

 possession of which they had been so extremely solicitous. 



The contest with Nepaul having been brought to a suc- 

 cessful termination, the Marquis of Hastings turned his 

 views to that new system of policy which he was desirous, 

 to establish with regard to the central powers of India. It 

 consisted partly in the renewal and extension of subsidiary 

 alliances with the native princes, partly in the extirpation 

 cf the predatory states which had arisen in the heart of the 



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