the Betwah river, the epidemic had visibly expended its violence.[1]
When the rains were over, the Pindarries, seeing themselves completely inclosed by the advancing corps of the British, made no attempt at resistance, and studied only how to escape. One party succeeded in penetrating into the rear of our army in Bundlecund, where they began to commit serious ravages, and were not dispersed without some difficulty. Cheetoo, with nearly 8,000 men, effected a march westward into the territory of Mewar, where he was assured of support from several quarters, and had the strong mountain fort of Kumulneer as a refuge for his family. Kurreem attempted to push his way to Gwalior; but his body of Pindarries were driven off in another direction by General Marshall, and subsequently surprised by General Donkin, who gave them a complete overthrow, capturing the wife of Kurreem, with all his state-elephants and kettle-drums. His army, therefore, no longer attempted to preserve any appearance of regularity, but broke into detachments, and sought for safety by fleeing in various directions. The greater number endeavoured to reach the corps of Cheetoo; and, accordingly, the final destruction of that warrior appeared all that was now necessary to finish the Pindarrie contest, when there started up another head of the Hydra which the English were labouring to vanquish.[2]
The councils of the house of Holkar had been involved for some time in the utmost confusion. Jeswunt Rao, who had raised that family to power, became deranged after the unfortunate issue of the war with the British, and died in 1811. His heir, Mulhar Rao, was a mere boy; and the administration, during his minority, was agitated by the most violent dissensions. The chief parties were, on one side Toolsee Bhye, widow of the late Holkar, who had been invested with the office of regent, and, on the other, the Patan chiefs, who were
