ABSTRACT
General Wellesley ordered Colonel Murray to conquer Jeswunt Rao Holkar's possessions in Gujarat, while General Lake detached Colonel Monson to drive him south. Holkar fell back rapidly, crossed the Chambal, and was soon out of contact. Monson presently found himself in unknown mountainous country in Central India, and heard that Murray had suddenly grown afraid of Holkar and fallen back. Monson made a stand at the Mokandara pass, where Holkar demanded his surrender, which was refused. Holkar mutilated and defaced captured sepoys who refused to serve him, and those who in their extremity gave way were put to death by the British at a later stage, when they tried to return. Holkar showed a cruelty to prisoners that had formerly been absent from the contests of British and Marathas, and this steadied many wavering chieftains. 'The people in all parts have assisted Holkar' 'and have been perfectly ready to rise had he not been so closely pressed'.
