Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/109

Rh mentioned that the court of the young Holkar, Malhár Ráo, was in confusion, owing to the contests going on between his father's widow, Tulsí Bái, and Amír Khán (who acted through his relation and agent, Gafur Khán); these two parties came to an open rupture in the winter of 1816-1817, but neither side gained any very great advantage over the other. Owing to these complications, the British Government had had very few communications with Holkar since 1808. Dáulat Ráo Sindhia was one of the most powerful of the Maráthá princes, and his hostility was specially to be feared; after having been foiled in his schemes against Bhopál and the Bhonsla Rájá by the action of Lord Hastings, he endeavoured to assist the Peshwá in his plan of consolidating Maráthá influences, and he favoured the Pindárís by promising to support them and by directly inciting them to ravage the Company's territory; but his power was temporarily reduced by internal dissensions and by disorganization among his troops. It was well understood that both Sindhia and Holkar were too much interested in maintaining the predatory system not to support it to the utmost extent of their means, should their internal difficulties be arranged and their circumstances enable them to take the offensive. No anxiety was felt for the attitude of the Gáekwár's government, and it was hoped that Bhopál and many of the Rájput chiefs would be favourably disposed to British plans; but there was some uneasiness with regard to the Nizám, for his subjects were restless