divisible in equal portions between the latter chief, Holkar, and Sindhia. As tbe two Maratha princes kept agents there to watch over their shares, there was an obvious chance of quarrels; and we wished to secure the Búndi chief, who had been taken under our protection, against any vexatious pretension on the part of his neighbours. It was therefore proposed that Sindhia should cede his title to any income from the district in question, and should receive from us certain villages producing a rent considerably beyond what we wished him to give up. A strong disinclination to close with this proposal was manifested. When it was urged that Sindhia would not only be a pecuniary gainer by the exchange, but that he would acquire a tract which actually connected itself with his old possessions, and would be exclusively his, the Maráthá negotiator denied that the circumstance of sole occupancy could be an advantage to his master equal to what the Mahárájá enjoyed by his co-partnership in the Búndi district. On surprise being expressed at this assertion, he explained it by saying, "We Maráthás have a maxim that it is well to have a finger in every man's dish." His meaning was, that there was solid value in pretexts for interference which would afford opportunities of pillage or extortion[1].'
Finally, it was hoped, by the creation or development of states not likely to co-operate with the Maráthás, that the intrigues of the latter would be paralysed and their ambition kept in check. With this object some of the Muhammadan princes were strengthened and their dominions enlarged.
To sum up the general principles which were adopted in effecting the reconstruction of native India, conquered by Lord Hastings in the third and
- ↑ Private Journal, ii. 330. Summary, &c, p. 24.
