Page:The Earl of Auckland.djvu/37

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THE NATIVE STATES OF INDIA
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winning their armed support for a combined attack on the British Power which had crushed the Maráthá League, and taken to itself the whole of the Peshwá's dominions. For the same purpose he corresponded with his scheming countryman Apa Sáhib, the banished ex-Rájá of Berár, who had taken refuge with the Rájput ruler of Jodhpur. He also made disloyal overtures to the Native officers and men of a Sepoy regiment in Bombay.

These, and other vagaries of the Sátára Rájá were reported from time to time to the Bombay Government, whose warnings and remonstrances seem to have made no way against the sinister influence of certain European agents at the Rájá's court. In 1839, the new Governor, Sir James Carnac, an old and capable servant of the Company, resolved to give the royal culprit one last chance for his throne. The proofs of his treason were in Carnac's hands. If the Rájá would only confess his fault and promise to behave better, all should be forgiven him. With Lord Auckland's concurrence, Carnac proceeded in August, 1839, to Sátára. But the Rájá would confess nothing, and rejected the few easy conditions on which he might have made his peace with the paramount power. After three futile interviews and the Rájá's final answer to the Resident, Colonel Ovans, nothing remained for Carnac but to carry out the instructions he had received from Simla. Under a proclamation issued by Lord Auckland, the recalcitrant Rájá was formally deposed and carried off as State prisoner to