of desertion and dismay, are beginning to assume an aspect of prosperity. Sir John Malcolm, in speaking of Soandwarrah, observes: that country, instead of being desolate, presénts this year [1820] an increase of as many ploughs as any part of the province; and of the twelve hundred mounted robbers, who in 1817 found shelter in its fortresses, from whence they plundered the adjoining districts, there is not one who now follows a predatory life."

In giving a general and cursory view of the several Rajpoot states, our principal object has been to contrast their late forlorn condition with the happy situation in which they are now placed by their treaties of alliance with the British Government. We have consequently omitted to notice any thing peculiarly characteristic of any one of them, where the cause of such peculiarity appeared to be contingent or temporary. We cannot, however, dismiss this portion of our sketch without adverting to one remarkable anomaly. The Iprincipality of Kotah, though equally exposed with its sister states to the arbitrary exactions of the Mahrattas, from the moment when the latter acquired an ascendancy in this quarter of India, had nevertheless obtained an exemption from plunder for many years immediately preceding the late arrangements. Zalim Singh, nominally the minister of the Rajah, but virtually the sovereign of Kotah, has long been remarkable as a man of extraordinary talent, and of equal prudence and address. By ingratiating himself with those Mahratta chiefs whose vicinity more immediately threatened his districts, by keeping on friendly terms with all, and even rendering himself essential to their interests by his pecuniary contracts with them, he actually raised the territories he governed from a state of deplorable wretchedness to one of vigour and prosperity. Such, however, was the sense he entertained of the instability of his power, situated as he was in the centre of a lawless

region, that he embraced with the utmost eagerness the proffered terms of British protection, and proved a most valuable ally in the progress of the campaign, which terminated in the suppression of that power which next to the Pindarries had been most active in the desolation of Malwa.-It is time that we direct our attention to the state to which we are alluding.

The present possessions of HOLCAR are so mingled with those of Ameer Khan, Guffoor Khan, and many of the small governments of which we have been speaking, that it would be impossible to define them with any degree of accuracy without becoming tedious. We must therefore content ourselves with observing that they are principally bounded to the east by the territories of Scindia, to the north and west by the Rajpoot states and the province of Guzzerat, and to the south by the dominions of the Nizam and the British territories newly conquered from the Peishwah. Holcar was so completely subdued by the British arms, that there was no difficulty in obtaining the ratification of the treaty which has effectually deprived him of all future means of annoyance. He was compelled to make restitution to many of the Rajpoot states whose territories he had sequestered, and was of course debarred from all future interference. He is obliged also to subsidize a British force to be constantly stationed in his territories. The internal government of the State is left, however, to the Holcar Durbar. Holcar himself is in a state of derangement; a regency is therefore appointed consisting of certain members of his family. The rapacity exercised by this government has not so much been owing to the disposition of the Durbar itself, as to the lawless and turbulent spirit of the army and its chiefs, and the impossibility either of supporting or disbanding them. An unrestrained license of plunder has, of necessity, therefore, been granted by the government. In point of fact, the govern

ment is obliged to us for having restored order, and rendered it independent of those restless spirits who were necessarily a terror to it. The state is now improving rapidly in cultivation and every useful art; but the watchful attention of British superintendence will long be essential to subdue every tendency to disorder in a country, which, for many years, has been a constant scene of anarchy.

AMEER KHAN was persuaded at the very commencement of the contest, to come to terms with the British power. Such, however, was the turbulence of his own troops that he found it impossible to disband them. They were taken, therefore, into British pay; since which time our old enemy, Ameer Khan, has been peaceably residing in the district, or rather Jahgire, secured to him by his treaty. The capital of this district is Seronge.

GUFFOOR KHAN, another Patan leader under the Holcar government, has been received on similar terms. The Jahgire of this chieftain is situated to the east of the Chumbul, in the neighbourhood of Mehudpore: it is a small district, but has greatly improved in resources since 1817. Guffoor Khan, instead of being a marauding chief, maintains, at the present time, a wellmounted corps of six hundred horse, which is placed, at the disposal of the British Government, to assist in the maintenance of peace and order in the province of Malwa.

Before we take leave of this interesting portion of our empire (for such it may be strictly termed), it is right that we should point out the principal military stations which have been established in it since 1817. They consist of three, viz., Nusserabad, Neemuch, and Mhow; which places have been selected as central spots in what have hitherto been the most disturbed quarters. A better fort than Nusserabad could not have been fixed upon for preserving order amongst the Rajpoot states, for it is situated in the very centre of them, and where, in

general language, they may be said to converge to a point. Nusserabad is in the immediate neighbourhood of Ajmeer, which was formerly a city of great consequence. In our treaties with the Rajpoots we obtained the cession in perpetuity of the city of Ajmeer, and a small district immediately round it. Neemuch, which is situated amongst the petty Rajpoot states of Banswarrah, &c. &c., is certainly a most important station, where there is almost an infinity of contending claims to be examined and adjusted. The situation of Mhow is equally important to check the restless temper of the Mahrattas, and effectually to prevent any fresh organization of the Pindarree system.

The only remaining state which demands our notice, as under the surveillance of the Presidency of Bengal, is the largest in point of extent that has yet been mentioned, though much contracted by the issue of the late war. The dominions of the BooSLAH or Rajah of NAGPORE, form nearly an equilateral triangle. They are separated from the territories of the Nizam by the rivers Godavery and Wurdah, and from the British possessions on the South-East by a line drawn from a few miles North-West of Ruttunpore to the confluence of the Godavery and a tributary stream in latitude 17° 30'. Another line drawn a little to the South of Mandlah, separates it again from the British districts in Berar on the North.

This state has been rather peculiarly situated for several years, for after the deposition of Appah Saheb, the late Booslah, it was discovered that there was no individual of sufficient rank and influence that was capable of carrying on the government of the country under the new Rajah. As a temporary arrangement therefore, Mr. Jenkins, the British resident, was obliged to vest the most important offices in the hands of British agents. This system, is not to continue longer than is absolutely necessary, but extensive as are