PROM AGRA TO OUJEIN. 'Q 



the Ea^ia. Sindiah at firft put a garrifon into the 

 fort, but loon after, delivered it over to the liana, in 

 purfuance of their previous agreement. 



After remaining here fome time, Sixdiau deter- 

 mined, inftead of returning to Matra, to proceed far- 

 ther fouthward. A variety of motives has been al^igncd 

 for this journey, which terminated in his death, and 

 probably contributed to accelerate that event. The 

 meafure was liable to ftrong objections ; and no dif- 

 fuafives were fpnred, on the part of Raxa Khan, one 

 of Sindiah's oldeft counfellors, and molt faithful fer- 

 vants ; perhaps the only one who followed his for- 

 tunes frbm pure perfonal attachment ; confcious of 

 which, the prince always honoured liim with the ap- 

 pellation of brother. Tlie recent conqucfis in Jlin- 

 dujfa7i were ftill in a very unfettled Itate ; the Iripu- 

 lated tribute from the Rajahs of Jayavagar and Joiulh- 

 y)oo/- was yet unpaid, and thofe chiefs would gladly 

 have feized any opportimity of evading the performance 

 of their compact ; in which attempt, they might ex- 

 pe6f to be well fupported by their warlike Rajpoots^ 

 who burned with impatience to fhake olf the galling 

 yoke of the JMa/'irattas. The northern and weftern 

 frontiers lay expofed to the annual incurlions of the. 

 Sikjis, who might be encouraged, by the abfence of 

 the ^chief, to aCls of greater audacity. Laftly, the 

 jealoufy entertained, by the Poo;/^ government, of the 

 great acceliion of power, which had accrued to Six- 

 diah, from the conquell of liindvjian., was no fecret ; 

 and the auxiliaries, that under the command of Hol- 

 car and Ali Bahadur, were lent him, by that 

 court, when he was prefled by a combination of the 

 Rajpoot^ Mogid^ and Afghan forces, were now be- 

 come, at lealt fufpicious friends, if not fecret and 

 domeftic foes, envious of his exaltation, and willing 

 to embrace any occalion of aggrandizing themfelves, 

 at his expence. 



Ox the other hand, he probably conceived, that 

 ^'hile the tranquillity of his poflellions in Hirulvjian 



would 



