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146 obliged afterwards to conduct his own military operations, as on no one else could he place any reliance.

He now directed his steps northwards to Khándesh, receiving near Násik the remnants of Holkar's forces and some few Pindárís, who having been defeated escaped pursuit; he was making for Burhámpur, in the hopes of reaching Sindhia, when he heard of the approach of Sir T. Hislop; thereupon he turned south, but, afraid of meeting Smith's division, he again altered his course and marched to the east (middle of March), in order to join the Bhonsla Rájá, whose subjects were represented to him as ripe for insurrection, and whose territories would therefore offer the best asylum in his present distress. This determination was brought about by affairs at Nágpur, and to these we must now briefly refer.

Apá Sáhib was no sooner restored to liberty early in January, as has already been recorded, than he sought for means to throw off the yoke which his perfidy had imposed upon him. His power of directing secret hostilities was still considerable, despite the diminution of his public authority, and it was soon ascertained that an Arab force was being collected at Chándá, and a depôt established there, for future operations against the British Government; added to this, he treacherously ordered his feudatories and Killadars to prosecute the war which he had engaged to relinquish, and to hold the forts which he had bound himself to surrender. Evidence of his duplicity