ement, and has given his cordial consent for the
cession of the island to us.

"It seems that he, himself, is an usurper. The rightful heir is a
boy of seven or eight years old, and I think it is possible that,
either at the present man's death, or possibly even before that, he
may ascend the throne. At present, he and his mother are in the
hands of the reigning rajah; but I have promised her that, if we
take possession of Singapore, she and her son can find an asylum
there, and a small pension for her maintenance; and she, on her
part, has promised that she will bring up her son to regard us as
his best friends; and that he, if he ascends the throne, shall also
ratify the treaty, and will become our warm ally.

"As to the Dutch, the reply of their Governor is with the report,
but certainly it is an unfavourable one; and no cooperation, in the
work of repressing piracy, can be expected from them."

"I did not expect it, Captain Lindsay; and indeed, as I told you at
the time, only sent you to Batavia in order to account for the
presence of one of our ships of war in those waters.

"Well, sir, your mission has been, in all respects, most
satisfactory. I shall read your report, and give it full
consideration, at my leisure. For the present you will remain here,
available for any office, military or civil; but at present, at any
rate, you will retain your civil employment.

"I will not ask you to dine with me, today, as it is hardly likely
that I shall have time to read your report, this afternoon; but I
shall be glad if you will do so, tomorrow, and you can then answer
any questions that may suggest themselves to me."

Chapter 15: Assaye.

While the Deccan had been torn by civil war, the Government of
Bombay had extended their territory. The Nabob of Surat, who had
been under their protection, had died; and they had taken the
government of the province into their own hands. A civil war having
broken out, at Baroda, they had supported one of the rival princes;
and had, after a good deal of fighting, placed their candidate on
the throne--various districts being assigned to them, in return for
their assistance.

Holkar, on hearing of Bajee's arrival at Bassein, placed his
brother Amrud on the musnud, and commenced a series of atrocities,
in Poona, equal to that which it had suffered at the hands of
Ghatgay; respectable inhabitants being robbed and ill treated, many
tortured, and some killed, in order to wring