Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/85

Rh territory, but not where the authority of Nepál had always been acknowledged. Lord Hastings being aware of the importance of these plains to the Gúrkhas, now drafted a treaty by which the cession of the Tarái from the Kálí to the Gandak river was insisted upon, and of the remainder, only so much as the British troops occupied, offering at the same time an annual subsidy of two lakhs of rupees, as a compensation for the loss incurred. He was the more anxious to come to terms with the Rájá of Khátmándu, since extension of territory had formed no part of his object, and the war had only been undertaken in order to put an end for ever to Nepalese aggressions and to secure permanently and securely the northern frontiers of the Empire. This draft treaty was declared to be final and to contain the utmost concessions that could be granted; it was then delivered to the Gúrkha envoy, who, not venturing to sign it of his own authority, returned with it to his court and promised to bring back an answer; he reappeared on the 28th November, and signed the draft treaty at Segauli on that date.

Meanwhile Lord Hastings had taken into account the protracted nature of these negotiations and had observed the repugnance which the clause relating to the Tarái had excited in the minds of the Gúrkhas; desiring moreover that all future causes of misunderstanding should be avoided, and in order to cement a friendship with a brave people whose good will he hoped to obtain, he still endeavoured to make them