Page:The Earl of Auckland.djvu/40

34 In another Maráthá State, that of Indore, things were falling into such wild confusion in 1837, that Lord Auckland had to use stem language towards the reigning sovereign, Hari Ráo Holkar. If he did not speedily mend his ways the British Government would have to place his country under the management of their own officers. The threat worked wonders in a comparatively short time. A capable Minister took his place at the helm of State, and in a few months several noteworthy reforms were accomplished. The work of retrenchment went briskly forward; corrupt officers of revenue were weeded out; remissions were granted to those who had suffered from excessive demands; and an improved system of assessment was introduced. Ere long the arrears of pay for the civil and military services were all cleared off. Lord Auckland himself wrote to congratulate Holkar on the happy results which had flowed from his previous warning.

With the Muhammadan Nawáb of Karnúl in southern India Lord Auckland's Government had to interfere by force, in 1838, when that half-crazy tyrant filled up the measure of his offences by plotting treason against the British power. His fortified capital was stormed by troops from Madras; and vast quantities of warlike stores wore found within the citadel or hidden away in his Zanána. The fugitive Nawilb soon afterwards yielded himself a prisoner,