last Maráthá war, we may quote a short paragraph taken from a work which appeared in 1825[1]: —
'The system which prevails throughout is pretty uniform. There is, first, a native family vested with the nominal sovereignty ; then there is a military force essentially British, having British officers, or there is a British cantonment at no great distance, and sometimes both, to assure the submission of the population to whatever may be ordained. For the application of this force, and to watch over the conduct of those who originate the administrative measures, there is everywhere a British Political Agent or Resident, reporting only to his government, and receiving his orders thence, but exercising a large personal discretion as to interference or non-interference with the native local authority.'
It has been already mentioned that British protection was accepted in 1817 by Nasír Muhammad, Nawáb of Bhopál, and that he faithfully maintained his engagements; moreover, he co-operated usefully with Colonel Adams in arranging for the submission of many of the Pindárís, and the measures he adopted tamed those brigands and colonised some of his waste lands. His good will was rewarded by increase of territory, so that the little state rose to political importance in Málwá, and acquired a revenue sufficient to maintain a high position and to exercise a considerable influence in Central India. Nasír Muhammad, the enlightened Nawáb, was accidentally killed in November, 1819, and the Supreme Government having to intervene, settled the succession. It will
- ↑ Prinsep, ii. 407.
