503 . SURYEY OP THE GANGES, 



refused to treat with a person, who, like Amer Sinh, has risen from an 

 inferior station, and was of a lower cast ; but declared himself ready to 

 accept of the mediation of Rudravir^ whom he considered an equal, 

 RuDRAViR Sa'a, taking the responsibihty on himself, accordingly offered 

 terms, which were accepted ; viz, that the siege should be raised, and 

 Sansa'r Chand be reinstated in all his possessions, on paying a sum of 

 three lacs of rupees to the Gurc'hdlL The treaty, however, was condi- 

 tional ; and the ratification postponed, until an answer should be received 

 from Js^'apdl. The state of politics at that soort was not likely to prove 

 favourable to the arrangements of R'udravir; for, since the accession of 

 the present Raja, Ghur Ban Judh Bicrama Sa'hi, a boy about nine or tea 

 years of age, the councils and entire management of the state are en-^ 

 trusted to, or rather have been usurped by BhIm Sink Tapah, a man of 

 low origin,, and wiiose obje6i: it is to raise a strong party of his own cast,, 

 to oppose the interests of the CAawi?r^5', who- are Rajputs and uncles to.' 

 ^be reigning prince. The Tapahs are Castas, or cultivators of land, aoci 

 are formidable from their number. To this cast Amer Sinh belongs; 

 and the degrading language held to him by Sansar Chand, induced him 

 to make an unfavourable report of the treaty, by saying the distresses of 

 the garrison had caused the Cdngra 'R-a]2l to accept of the terms ; and he 

 pledged himself to reduce the fort to an unconditional surrender, in- 

 the course of three or four months. The removal of Hast! Dhal and 

 RuDRAViR from their appointments, was the consequence of this treaty ; 

 %vhich, though the ostensible, was probably not the real cause of their 

 supersession. They were succeeded by the Tapah Serddrs, who now 

 hold the government. These intrigues have created a jealousy, which 

 may be prod u(5i:ve of serious consequences; it is confidently reported 



