NEPAL 285 know, however, that Nepál was the scene of important revolutions, though it was never subjugated by the Delhi Emperors, or by any of the other great Asiatic conquerors. It is said to have been completely subdued in 1323 A.1)., by Hari Singh, one of the princes of Oudh, who had been driven out of his own possessions by the Pathans. But from that period there exists no accurate information respecting the dynasties which ruled during the interval, or the race of princes who governed Nepal at the time of the Gurkhalí conquest. Ranjit Mall, king of Bhatgaon, was the last of the Surya-bansi race, or Children of the Sun, that reigned in Nepal. In order to strengthen himself against his rival at Khatmandu, he formed an alliance with Prithwi Narayan, which ended in the loss of his dominions, of which he was stript by his ally in the Newar year SSS, corresponding to 1768 A.D. The conquest of Patan, in the following year, made the Gurkhas masters of the whole valley. It was during this struggle that Captain Kinloch, with a British force, endeavoured to penetrate into Nepál. But from the sickness of the troops, and the difficult nature of the country, the enterprise was abandoned. Prithwi Náráyan died about three years after the final conquest of Nepil, in the year 1771. He left two sons, Singh Pratáp and Bahadur Shah. The former of these succeeded to the throne, and conceiving a jealousy of his brother, threw him into prison, whence he was with difficulty released by the interference of one of the spiritual guides of the Gurkha royal family, on condition that he should live in exile. Singh Pratáp, after having extended his father's conquests, died in 1775, lcavii gone son, Ran Bahadur Shah, who was an infant. Bahadur Shah, on the death of his brother, returned from his exile to Khatmandu ; and having placed his nephew on the throne, assumed the office of regent. But the mother of the infant frince, Rajendra Lakshmi, contrived to supplant Bahadur Shah in the regency, and to secure the person of her rival. Through the mediation, however, of one of the priests, matters were arranged, and Bahadur Shah was enabled to seize and confine the Rání in his turn. Neglecting, however, to conciliate the chief men of the State, he was again driven in banishment, from which he did not return till the death of the princess, when he reassumed the regency without opposition. In the course of his administration, the dominions of Nepál were extended to the Nechi river on the east, and Garhwal District on the west, and from the border of Tibet to the border of Hindustan Towards the close of the administration of Warren Hastings, the Gúrkhalí sovereigns were involved in difficulties with Tibet, which were followed by a reference to China. The Teshu Láma of Tibet proceeded to Pekin, and died soon after his arrival in that city. His brother, Sumhur Láma, taking advantage of his absence, fled from
