POONAH. 
143 
Were the above revenue realised, it would be more than suffi- 
cient for the maintenance of the Paishwa, as Chief of the Mahratta 
empire; but this is far from being the case, though it is impossible 
to know exactly what portion of it reaches his treasury. The actual 
expense of collection is very great ; the hill forts are numerous, and 
the garrisons large, which must be regularly paid ; provisions are 
sent in kind for the use of his family ; and, what is a still greater 
expense, he is obliged to connive at many abuses to conciliate the 
chief natives who are about his person. Yet there is no doubt that 
he receives double the sum he ever did before ; and it is probable, 
that by following the suggestions of the able and upright officer who 
manages the British affairs at his court, he will shortly be in afflu- 
ence, and have a full treasury, to which he may recur in cases of 
emergency. At present, should only a lac or two of rupees be want- 
ing, he must borrow it, or procure it by harsher means. This is 
entirely owing to mismanagement, for were the above provinces 
under the British Government, they would yield twice the sum 
at which they are estimated, without any additional burthen to the 
inhabitants. 
Nothing can have been more prudent and conciliatory, than the 
conduct of the British since the connection between the two powers. 
No object has been pressed hastily or warmly, and every oppor- 
tunity has been seized to oblige his Highness. By the treaty of 
Bassein he had been induced, at the particular request of the Com- 
pany, to accommodate them by a grant of a small slip of sea- 
coast in Guzerat, valued at ten lac per annum ; yet on a represen- 
tation being made that the district of Olpar had formerly been in 
the possession of a Sirdar, to whom he was particularly attached, 
