CESSION TO THE MAHRATTAS.

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CHAPTER XI.

Cession of the English Purgunnas in Guzerat to the Mahrattas and Mahdajee Sindia, at the Peace in 1783-Sorrow of the Inhabitants of Baroche, and their behaviour on giving it up to the Mahratta Governor-Noble behaviour of the Inhabitants of Dhuboy on the report of its being restored to the MahrattasPresent of Hindoo Images brought to England-Events of the day on which Dhuboy was to have been delivered up to the Mahratta Pundit-Paper presented by the Elders of Dhuboy, stating their Happiness under the English Government, and their Misery at its being withdrawn-Divination of the Gracia Soothsayers-Departure from Dhuboy-Attack of the Gracias on my Escort-My narrow Escape from the Ambuscade-Poisons among the Ancients-Another Scheme of the Gracias frustrated.

I Now enter upon the painful subject of my last letter from India; it was written from Bombay at the end of the year 1783, when I had taken a final leave of Baroche, Dhuboy, and all the interesting scenes in Guzerat. They then no longer belonged to the English: the British flag, the security of liberty and property in that delightful province, no more waved on her ramparts, and the peasants on her luxuriant plains Ill-fated were abandoned to Mahratta despotism. people, who only experienced the mildness of our

laws, and tasted the sweets of freedom, to find the of slavery more bitter!

cup

I shall not discuss the oriental politics at that period. The East India Company had been engaged for several years in an expensive war with the Mahrattas, and Hyder Ally Khan, the two most formidable powers in Hindostan. In the beginning of 1783 the Supreme Government of Bengal concluded a treaty of peace with the Peshwa of the Mahrattas, through the mediation of Mhadajee Sindia, one of the great sirdars, or chieftains, of the empire.

By this treaty, among the purgunnas in Guzerat ceded to the Mahrattas, were those of Dhuboy, Zinore, and the other districts under my jurisdiction; which I was directed to surrender to such officer as might be deputed by the Mahratta state to receive them, agreeably to the terms of the treaty.*

At the same time the Chief and Council of Baroche were ordered by the Governor and Council at Bombay to deliver up that important city and its valuable purgunna, to Bascar Row, agent for Mhadajee Sindia; to whom it had been presented by the Governor-General and Supreme Council of Bengal, " in testimony of the sense which they entertained of the generous conduct manifested by the said Mhadajee Sindia, to the government of Bombay, at Wargaum, in January 1779; and of his humane treatment and release of the English gentlemen, who had been delivered as hostages on that occasion." These were the reasons assigned by the

* All the possessions of Mhadajee Sindia, Holcar, &c. in the province of Malwa, have since the year 1818 become British dependencies.-NOTE OF THE EDITOR.

CESSION OF BAROCHE.

339

Bengal government for making this valuable present to Mhadajee Sindia.

The inhabitants of Baroche, accustomed to the lenity of British jurisdiction, execrated the approaching change, and dreaded the arrival of Bascar Row, which had been delayed in consequence of a mistaken renewal of hostilities on the Malabar coast; the people of Baroche, in the mean time, indulged a vain hope that the intended cession would not take place. No prayers, no ceremonies, no sacrifices, were left unperformed by the different castes, and religious professions, to implore the continuance of the British Government. It is with extreme satisfaction I recollect the unfeigned sorrow which pervaded all ranks of society when the fatal day was fixed for our departure. Baroche, before its conquest by the English, had belonged to the Moguls, and was governed by a Mahomedan nabob; the inhabitants well knew the difference that awaited them. Of all oriental despots, the arbitrary power of the Mahratta falls perhaps with the most oppressive weight; they extort money by every kind of vexatious cruelty, without supporting commerce, agriculture, and the usual sources of wealth and prosperity in well-governed states. The Mahomedans, although equally fond of money, spend it with more liberality, encourage useful and ornamental works, and patronize art and science.

On the ninth of July, 1783, the day appointed for the cession of Baroche to Mhadajee Sindia, the chief and council received his agent, Bascar Row, with proper ceremony in the durbar, and there delivered to him the keys of the city-gates. We immediately repaired to the water side, to cross the Nerbudda in our

340

FEELINGS OF THE INHABITANTS.

way to Surat, and were silently followed by the principal inhabitants of the city. While embarking on the Company's yacht, a dark cloud passed over us, and a shower of rain fell; our afflicted friends, no longer able to keep silence, and forgetting the impending terrors of a Mahratta despot, pathetically exclaimed, "These drops are the tears of Heaven for the fate of Baroche!"

I oppose this fact to a thousand unfounded prejudices, and unsupported calumnies, against the English, which were once so easily credited in Europe. Among the many who occupy eminent stations in India, some no doubt deserve censure. The characters of all who fill similar situations at home are not immaculate: the temptations of wealth and power sometimes subdue the strongest minds; but the hour approaches when they cease to charm, and when a "conscience void of offence" will be the only comfort. Whether the European or Indian peculator is now amenable to human laws or not, a secret monitor corrodes every present joy, and an unerring Judge hereafter will avenge the breach of His own laws, established in truth and equity! The general opprobrium was unjust on a set of men, whose prevailing characteristics were philanthropy, generosity, and benevolence.

The sympathizing tear which accompanied the drops from heaven on our leaving Baroche, was a public testimony that the natives preferred the British to an Asiatic government.

When it was publicly known that Dhuboy and its dependent purgunnas were to be given up to the Mahratta government, and the day approached which was fixed for my departure, a deputation from the

OFFER OF PRESENTS.

341

Brahmins and principal inhabitants visited me at the durbar, and sincerely condoled with me on the change of affairs. They offered presents, and were so hurt at my refusing any thing tendered for my acceptance, that I was at length induced to mention a gift which I could receive without conscientious scruples, if they could bestow it, which from delicacy alone I had not before asked. Expressing some surprise, and at the same time manifesting the greatest desire to oblige me, I told them, that as Dhuboy contained many remains of Hindoo antiquity, in broken columns, mutilated images, and remnants of basso-relievo scattered among dilapidated buildings in the city, I requested they would allow me to select a few of the smallest specimens from the exterior fragments, which I would bring with me to Europe, and erect a temple for their reception in my own garden. Their astonishment increased at this communication, and was followed by a solemn silence. They expressed no apprehension of my ridiculing their religion, but seemed anxious to know why a Christian wished to possess Hindoo idols. I found a little difficulty in convincing them of the general curiosity of Europeans, the gratification it would be to shew them those specimens of oriental sculpture, and the delightful association of my own ideas, when I should behold in my own country the precious relics transported from a distant spot endeared by a thousand tender recollections.

Their tears flowed when they requested to retire for a few hours, during which they would assemble the recluse religious Brahmins, and in a conclave consider the first request of the kind which they had ever heard of. They returned the next morning with counte