Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/153

Rh the very prince who formed such an important factor in the new arrangements which the Governor-General had determined to adopt.

Fortune, however, soon placed the Rájá of Sátára in British hands. General Smith tracked Bájí Ráo with a light column, and having fortunately come upon him unexpectedly at Ashti, on the 20th, he immediately attacked him with a body of horse. The Peshwá, as usual when danger was near, consulted his personal safety by galloping off from the field, and left his general, Gokla, to cover his retreat and the removal of the baggage. A sharp cavalry action ensued, in which the enemy was not only put to flight and his camp taken, but Gokla was killed and Núr Náráyan recovered. This reverse was a serious blow to the fugitive, and many of his adherents wavered in their allegiance and deserted his standard; but next to the loss of the Sátara Rájá, the death of his general was the worst disaster he experienced. Gokla had been a firm supporter of British interests in the past, and had done good service in the second Maráthá war at the beginning of the century; he was deeply indebted to the Supreme Government not only for his position at the Peshwá's court, but also for his life and possessions, frequently threatened by that capricious prince; by the latter, indeed, he had been treated with the most degrading contumely, but nevertheless he became in the end his devoted follower and ardent defender. By his death, Bájí Ráo lost an enterprising and energetic military leader, and was