NEPAL. 287 widow, who, notwithstanding all his attention, and rich offerings at the different temples, soon afterwards expired. In his affliction he became quite frantic, and perpetrated atrocities, thic bare mention of which still causes the Nepalesc to shudder. Amongst various enormities, he directed the sacred temple of Bhawani to be demo lished, and the golden idol, which was a venerated object of worship, to be ground to dust ; and when the soldiers to whom he had issued the orders demurred at such an act of sacrilege, he commanded boiling oil to be poured on their naked bodies. None were exempt from his rage. Even the chief members of the Government were scourged without mercy, and otherwise tortured. A conspiracy was at last formed against the tyrant, who, finding himself abandoned, fed during the night, and ultimately reached Benarcs in May isoo. The presence of the Rají on British territory seemed to afford a good opportunity for bringing about that closer connection with Nepál which had long been the aim of the Government of India. treaty of alliance was accordingly concluded by Captain W. D. Knox, who was appointed as British ambassador, and proceeded to Khatmandu in that capacity in 1802. The terms of the treaty were favourable to British interests; the Nepalese being anxious to secure the influence of such powerful neighbours against the faction of the abdicated Rájá, who still contended for his restoration. But whatever advantages were attained by this treaty, were ultinately rendered nugatory by the jealous opposition of the subordinate officers amongst the Nepálese, who were probably instigated by their chiefs, the latter being entirely unable to fulfil the obligations into which they had entered. The Residency at Khatmandu was withdrawn in 1904. About this time the abdicated monarch, Ran Bahadur Shah, by the able management of his queen, whom he had always ill-treated, was restored to his former authority. But as he continued to rule with his former barbarity, his reign was of short duration. In 1805 a second conspiracy was formed against him, and he was assassinated. His death was succeeded by the most violent conflicts between the rival parties in the State. which did not terminate until nearly the whole of the nobles at Khatmandu had perished. The surviving adherents of the late Rájá having at length secured the person of his son, seized the reins of government, putting to death such of the opposite party as remained. During all these intestine commotions, it is remarkable that the Gúrkhas still continued to extend their conquests on every side. To the west of Khatmandu, they found the hill chiefs distracted by mutual jealousies, and by no means in a condition to form a league for mutual defence. The Gurkha armies very soon made themselves inasters, without the aid of artillery, of every hill fort, from the Ganges to the
