Scindia the power of grasping the supreme authority in
the Deccan during their absence.

In 1779 General Goddard, who was now in command at Bombay, entered
into negotiations with Nana Furnuwees. These were carried on for
some months; but were brought to a conclusion by Nana declaring
that the surrender of Salsette, and the person of Rugoba, who was
again a fugitive in Bombay, were preliminaries to any treaty.
Bombay received a reinforcement of a European regiment, a battalion
of Sepoys, and a hundred artillerymen, from Madras; but before they
arrived Goddard's force had captured Dubhoy, and a treaty had been
effected.

The town of Ahmedabad was to be handed over to our ally, Futteh
Sing; but it declined to surrender, and was taken by assault, the
storming party being commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Hartley.

Scindia had as usual changed sides, and was now operating in
conjunction with Nana; and he and Holkar, with twenty thousand
horse, marched to Baroda. Goddard advanced to give battle; but
Scindia, to gain time, opened negotiations.

Goddard, however, was not to be duped. The negotiations were broken
off, and he advanced against the Mahrattas. Their horse, as usual,
charged; but were driven back by the artillery fire, and routed by
a regiment of Bengal cavalry. Scindia, however, encamped a short
distance off but, when Goddard again advanced to the attack,
retired.

Goddard, however, was not to be drawn into pursuit. He captured
some small forts, and sent Colonel Hartley to relieve Kallan, which
was being besieged by the Mahrattas. Hartley surprised their camp,
pursued them for some miles, and killed a great number; while
Lieutenant Welsh, who had been sent forward to relieve Surat--which
was threatened by a large Mahratta force--defeated these, killed
upwards of a hundred, and captured their guns; while one of
Scindia's detachments, on the banks of the Nerbuddah, was routed by
a detachment of Bengal Sepoys under Major Forbes.

On the other side of India, great successes had been gained by a
Bengal force under the command of Captain Popham; who attacked and
routed a body of plundering Mahrattas, captured by assault the
strong fort of Lahar, and not only carried by surprise the fortress
of Gwalior, regarded by the natives as impregnable, but took it
without the loss of a single man.

In December, General Goddard laid siege to Bassein. He and Hartley,
whose force was covering the siege, were attacked on the 11t