Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/75

Rh their resources, and drain the garrisons of all available troops, to fill up the gaps occasioned by the disasters, and to supply the unexpected requirements which so serious a mountain campaign had entailed. Reinforcements were sent without stint to the eastern theatre of operations; but notwithstanding every effort made by Lord Hastings to urge an advance towards Khátmándu, the commanders remained inactive and could not be induced to enter the hills. 12,000 men were also pushed as rapidly as possible to the western divisions, where operations were prudently and energetically pursued, and there eventually victory dawned once more upon the British standards.

Meanwhile the worst effect had been produced in Central India by the war; the Maráthá princes began to realise that the English had suffered a severe repulse; they imagined that the moment was approaching when they could assume the offensive; communications to this end were going on between the native courts, and between the latter and the Gúrkhas; Amír Khán, the Pathán chief, showed signs of activity, and Ranjít Singh, the celebrated ruler of the Sikhs, was collecting an army at Lahore. Before the war, the Governor-General, having determined that the Pindárís should not repeat their raids into territory under his rule or protection, had already made effective provision against such a calamity; but at this juncture these precautions had to be redoubled, and a warlike attitude assumed in other directions as well as towards the north. The dangers that menaced the British