Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/145

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OVERTHROW OF THE MARÁTHÁ POWERS
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the jungle much infested by tigers, and disappeared; a few days later his horse was found browsing near the forest, and, on a search being made, his head was discovered and his face recognised, and, near by, some traces of his mangled remains left no doubt that the miserable man had been devoured by a tiger.

Affairs in the northern part of Central India being now nearly settled, new military dispositions were made (2nd February) by Lord Hastings, to suit the altered circumstances of the war. Donkin's force (the Central Division), and the two corps of observation in the East were broken up and marched back to their peace quarters; but troops were still kept between Bundelkhand and Etáwah to hold Sindhia in check until the final settlement should be made in that state. Sir D. Ochterlony was left in Rájputána. Marshall's division was reinforced and ordered to take possession of the territories ceded by Apá Sáhib near the Narbadá; this General, moreover, annexed the principality of Ságar, where the Rájá, on account of his persistent hostility and defiant disregard of treaties, had been condemned by the Governor-General to lose his fief; operations in this quarter lasted until the end of April. The Maráthá princes were by this time isolated, and no further reunion on a formidable scale was possible among them; the moment had therefore arrived when those that still remained in arms could be more easily pacified by the local civil and military authorities, under control and directions from Calcutta; and the necessity for unity