Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/127

Rh Hislop. The latter was pushing to Ujjain, and the two divisions effected a junction there on the 12th December, the Gujarat corps being meanwhile ordered up to the same place, in order to prevent the Pindárís from retreating southwards through the province of Khándesh, which had been left open by the counter-march of General Smith upon Poona.

Lord Hastings and the Central Division were left (5th November) on the Sind river, holding Sindhia in check, and ready to intercept the flying Pindárís should they move northwards. An unexpected misfortune now occurred. Cholera had been prevalent in Calcutta during the summer of 1817, and having spread along the banks of the Ganges and Jumna, suddenly appeared in a most violent form in the British camp, where raging for ten days, it decimated the ranks and impaired the efficiency of the troops. On the 10th a move was made to Erich on the Braitwa river, and the new camp being healthy, the epidemic was partially arrested, and towards the end of the month the embarrassments occasioned to military operations were fortunately lessened. Daulat Ráo seizing the opportunity, determined to shake off British control, and offering Kárím and Wasil his protection, invited them to join him at Gwalior. The moment was critical; for, added to Sindhia's hostility, there was Holkar's activity, an uncertainty as to Amír Khán's intentions, and some fear that the Gúrkhas might cause trouble. Lord Hastings hearing at this moment of the Peshwá's revolt and of the