Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/93

 CHAPTER V

The Gathering of the Storm. Events in Central India, 1814-16

It was not long before Lord Hastings became impressed with the lawlessness which prevailed in Central India, and early in 1814 he made strong representations to the home authorities on the subject; but meanwhile he neglected no precaution calculated to maintain peace in British territory, and with this object he considered two courses which seemed to be open to him. A subsidiary treaty with the Bhonsla Rájá of Nágpur presented the best advantages, as thereby a secure central position would be acquired, communications between Bundelkhand and Haidarábád strengthened, and a great length of frontier defended. But the old negotiations which had been begun with that ruler in 1812, on being revived, failed in 1814, and nothing more for the present was to be expected in that quarter. The other plan was to connect the north and the south by a line of friendly native states, of which Bhopál was the most important; and here circumstances contributed to render the realisation of this course probable.