Page:The Marquess of Hastings, K.G..djvu/162

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154
LORD HASTINGS

magazine having blown up, — that the garrison capitulated; but on the fall of that fort, the whole province surrendered, and by the middle of June it may be said that all the ex-Peshwá's armies were defeated, his dominions, forts, and military depots occupied, and the conquered country transferred by force of arms to the authority of the British Government.

Of all the numerous enemies banded against the British power in November, 1817, there remained in little more than six months, only one who was still at large, and Lord Hastings was not long in deciding his fate. The hostility evinced by Apá Sáhib in the spring of 1818, after what had already taken place at Nágpur, could not again be pardoned, and it was resolved to depose him; but, unlike the Peshwá, his office was not to be abolished, and a successor was found in the person of a child, Bájí Ráo Bhonsla, nephew of Pursají and son of the latter's sister. It was further ascertained about this time, that Apá Sáhib had been deeply concerned in the murder of the unfortunate Pursají, and in order to place the culprit in safe custody while the war lasted, it was arranged to send him to the fort of Allahábád. He left for this destination on the 3rd of May; but some of the native soldiers of his escort were bribed, and the ex-Rájá, having dressed himself up as an ordinary sepoy, contrived by their assistance to escape, and marched out of the camp in safety. It was usual for the Indian princes to have their limbs rubbed at night; upon this occasion a cushion had been prepared,