Before we proceed to narrate the particulars of those wars which took place between 1784 and the present time, we shall, as shortly as possible, give an account of the di visions of Hindostan, as they existed in that year, when the British were at peace with all the Indian princes.
In 1784, the British possessed, in full sovereignty, the whole soubhah of Bengal, and the greatest part of Bahar. In Orissa they possessed the districts of Midnapore: the district of Benares also belonged to them. Of the five northern circars, four were in their possession, and these occupied the sea coast from the lake of Chilka to the northern banks of the Krishna river. Their territories in the Carnatic were confined chiefly to the tract called the Jaghirc, which extends along the coast about 108 miles, and stretches inland 47 miles in the widest part. They also were masters of Bombay and Salsette. The domi nions of the nabob of Oude lay on both sides of the Ganges, occupying nearly all the flat country between that river and the northern mountains, as well as the principal part of the Dooab, or the tract of land formed by the ap proximation of the Ganges and Jumnah, to within 40 miles of the city ol Delhi. The district of Rampoor, at the foot of the northern mountains, was held by a Rohilla chief. The Seiks occupied the most western pit of Hin dostan, viz. the whole province of Lahore, the principal part of Mohan, and the western part of Delhi. There were besides several petty princes in this part of IIindostaro The Nlahrattas formed two distinct states ; that of Poonah, or the western ; and that of Berar, or the eastern.
These states occupied all the southern parts of libidos tan proper, together with a large portion of the Decan, from the confines of Agra northward, to the Krishna southward, and from sea to sea across the widest part of the peninsula ; comprehending Malwah, Orissa, Khan deish, and Bejapour; the principal parts of Berar, Guze rat, and Ajmeer ; and a small part of Dowlatabad, Agra, and Allahabad. The western state was divided among a number of chiefs, who professed obedience to the Paishwah, or head. The Paishwah resided at Poonah, and there were three principal chieftains on the north of this city, and two on the south. Those on the north were Scindiah,
Holkar, and Futtv Sing. The first was indeed a sovereign prince. After the Mahratta peace he extended his fron tier from Malway towards the Jumnah ; carried his arms northward to Delhi, and obtained possession of the person of the Great Mogul. The principal part of Berar was held by the Nagpoor Rajah, and the remainder by the Nizam of the Decan. There were several states tribu tary to the Mahrattas ; among others, the Rajpoot princi palities of the soubhah of Ajmecr.
The possessions of the Nizam comprised the province of Golconda; the principal part of Dowlatabad ; the western part of Bcrar ; and Guntoor, one of the five northern cir cars. The dominions of Mahomed Ali, nabob of thc Car natic, commenced on the south of the Guntoor circar, and extended along the whole coast of Coromandel to Cape Comorin. The dominions of Tippoo'Sultan comprehended generally the provinces of Mysore, Bednorc, Coimbettore, Canara, and Dindigul, besides his father's conquests to the north ; stretching as far as Travancore and Madura on the south; Soonda and Bejapour to the north ; Guntoor and Ongole on the north-east ; and the sea on the west. Tippoo was without doubt the most powerful of all the princes of Hmdostan. His dominions were equal in ex tent to Great Britain ; his revenue was computed at four millions sterling; and his military establishment consisted of 72,830 regulars; 49,000 in garrison ; 7000 irregulars, and 26,300 auxiliaries; in all, 155.130 men. Of the re gular troops, 27,400 were cavalry ; 36,000 sepoy infantry, Hindoos and Mahomedans; 7300 topasses or batmen, that is, the descendants of the Portuguese and other Europeans, infantry ; 200 European cavalry; and 540 European foot. The artillery corps, consisting of European topasses, &c. amounted to 1390. There were 110 guns attached to the battalions; the horse garrisons on the frontiers amounted to and the foot garrisons to 28,000. The auxilia ries were supplied from the rajahs of Rydtoog, Darwar, &c. and consisted of 13,300 horse, and 13,000 peons, or irregular troops.