186 PINDAREE WAR. 



empire. In the former view, overtures from Bhopal, when 

 threatened by Sindia and the Rajah of Berar, were at first 

 well received ; but, amid the distractions occasioned by the 

 Nepaul contest, it became necessary that they should be 

 courteously evaded. A negotiation was opened with the 

 Rajpoot prince of Jyepore, who had made heavy complaints 

 of having in 1806 been deserted by the English, and ex- 

 posed to the depredations of the Holkar family and other 

 plundering tribes. The treaty for some time proceeded with 

 promptitude ; but, the very knowledge that he was about 

 to be supported by the English having overawed his ene- 

 mies and averted the present danger, the deep-rooted jeal- 

 ousy always cherished by the native sovereigns respecting 

 the admission of foreign troops soon revived. A powerful 

 party exclaimed against the ministers by whom the treaty 

 was conducted as betrayers of their country ; and they 

 thought it expedient, by advancing conditions that were in- 

 admissible, to prevent its final conclusion. 



This disappointment was compensated by a more fortunate 

 occurrence in another quarter. Raghojee Bhonslay, rajah of 

 Berar, died, leaving a son, Pursajee, so infirm both in mind 

 and body, as to be incapable of maintaining even the sem- 

 blance of royalty. In these circumstances, Appa Saheb, 

 his cousin, and also presumptive heir, assumed the autho- 

 rity of regent, to which he seemed to possess a legitimate 

 claim. Another chief, however, Dhurmajee Bhonsla, hav- 

 ing formed a powerful party, rendered it doubtful whether 

 Appa would be able to maintain himself without foreign 

 aid. The latter, therefore, made overtures to the British 

 fir a subsidiary alliance, coupled with the condition of sup- 

 porting him in the administration. This, in the present 

 temper of the councils of Calcutta, was most readily granted. 

 The stipulated force was to consist of six battalions of in- 

 fantry and one regiment of cavalry, partly attached to the 

 regent's person ; for the maintenance of which the annual 

 amount of seven and a half lacks of rupees was to be re- 

 ceived in money-payments, instead of the invidious mode 

 of territorial cession. This treaty, according to Mr. Prinsep, 

 was viewed at Calcutta with the highest exultation, as an 

 arrangement by which the state of Berar was finally de- 

 tached from the Mahratta confederacy, and fixed in the 

 British interests ; and not as what it really was, namely, a 



