VARSINGIIPUR. 219 number of people into the more secure and prosperous District of Narsinghpur. In the years 1807 to 1910, similar accessions were received from Bhopal, which had been ravaged by Amir Khan and his l'indárís. Thus recruited, Narsinghpur attained a degree of prosperity which it had never known before. Unfortunately, this happy period proved transient. In 1807, Narsinghpur and Hoshiangábád Districts were er to Nawab Sadik Ali Khan, for the partial support of the frontier force. Soon afterwards, the remittances promised him from Nágpur began to fail ; while the campaigns he waged against Amír Klán involved him in further financial difficulties, which gave rise to increased taxation, speedily followed by all kinds of irregular extortion. When main force failed, pátels or village head-men were tempted by titles and dresses of honour to bid against each other; while, to meet the case of merchants and others unconnected with land, courts of justice were created, whose whole staff consisted of a guard of soldiers and a few ready witnesses. The only crime of which they took cognizance was adultery, and they threw on the wealthy defendant the burden of establishing his innocence. British rule in Narsinghpur dates from 1818. In November of the preceding year, on the first intelligence of the treachery of Apå Sahib, Brigadier-General Hardyman was directed by Lord Hastings to advance his force from the frontier of Rewá in the direction of Nagpur. On hearing of the success at Sítábaldí on the 16th December, he resolved to take up a position near Gádarwárá, to cut off the fugitives from Nágpur. Reinforcements were accordingly sent to a detachment already stationed at Gádarwará under Lieutenant-Colonel Macmorine, who was thus enabled to attack and defeat the Srinagar garrison, consisting of 3000 foot and 4000 horse. Chaurágarh, however, still held out, and was only evacuated on the approach of the left division of the army under Brigadier-General Watson. The country was then in an exhausted condition; and the recent disorders had nearly ruined all except the predatory castes. Of the three principal Pindári leaders of the Sindhia Shahi,' two—Chitú, a chief who led 5000 horsemen, and Karín Khán, who commanded more than 1000—formerly held possessions in the District. Even in Captain Sleeman's time a gang of Thags or professional stranglers lived within 400 yards of his courthouse; and the groves of Mandesar, 12 miles from Narsinghpur, formed one of the greatest bels or places of slaughter in India. These facts, however, only came to light in 1831. In dealing with the District, Sleenan was strengthened by the wise liberality of Mr. Molony, the chief civil authority of the Province; and each successive settlement of the land revenue lightened the burdens of the agricultural class, till in 1835 they were in a position to reap the full benefits of the first long term settlement, which was made on terms of great liberality. Secure at once
