"From my experience of the Indian princes, there is very little trust to be placed in any agreement made with them.

They keep it just as long as it suits them, and then break it; without the slightest sense of having done anything dishonourable.

It seems to me that the position here is very much like that in the Deccan.

Scindia, Holkar, and the Rajahs of Berar and Kolapoore are practically independent of the Peishwa, who maintains only a semblance of authority.

From what the interpreter tells me, there seems to be only a puppet rajah who, today, possesses no authority whatever; but who, tomorrow, may excite a quarrel among the other chiefs, and again become their master.
"I think that, in the first place, I shall have to see this semi-independent chief, whose possessions Singapore forms part of; and afterwards the Rajah of Johore, his nominal master.
"The latter may view the matter in one of two ways.