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Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 13, p. 336.

336 INDORE STATW a time. Thus Malhâr Rao, from being the son of a small peasant, had become at sixty-seven the holder of vast territories stretching from the Deccan to the Ganges. After the flight from Pânipat, he proceeded to establish and consolidate his power in his possessions. Death, however, overtook him suddenly at ALAMPUR on May z, r766. Malhâr Rao was primarily a soldier, and in no way the equal of his contemporary Mahâdji Sindhia as a politician ; but his courage was unsurpassed, and his disregard of money proverbial. He had one son, Khande Rao, who was killed in 1754. Khande Rao's son, Male Rao, was a boy of weak intellect. He was allowed to succeed, but soon showed by his excesses that he was unfit to rule, and died a raving madman in 1767. His mother, Ahalyâ Bai, refused to adopt an heir and personally assumed charge of the administration of the State. The Peshwâ's uncle, Raghuba, who was then in Central India, wished to compel her to adopt ; but Mahâdji Sindhia supported Ahalyâ Bai, and her position was at length recognized. She selected Tukoji Rao Holkar, a member of the same clan but not related to the ruling family, to bear titular honours and command her armies. He was a simple soldier, and served Ahalyâ Bai with unswerving; loyalty until her death. The administration of Ahalya Bai is still looked upon in Central India as that of a model ruler. Her toleration, justice, and careful management of all the departments of the State were soon shown in the increased prosperity of her dominions, and the peace which ruled throughout her days. Her charities, which extended all over India, and include buildings at Badrinath, Gaya, and Râmeswaram, are pro- verbial. It was during her rule that the Holkar Darbar first employed regular battalions under Chevalier Dudrenec, 'Boyd, and others. On the death of Ahalyâ Bai in 1795, Tukoji Rao succeeded. Mahadji Sindhia had died in 1794, and Tukoji, now seventy years of age, was looked up to as the leading Maratha chief. He followed in the steps of Ahalyâ Bai, and during his life the prosperity of the State continued. Politically, he acted as a check on the youthful and warlike Daulat Rao Sindhia, which went far to secure general tranquil- lity; but he died in 1797, and confusion at once followed. Tukoji Rao left two legitimate sons, Kdshi Rao and Malhar Rao ; and two illegitimate sons, Jaswant Rao and Vithoji. Kashi .Rao was of weak intellect, and Malhar Rao had attempted to be recognized by Tukoji as successor. Failing to attain his desire, Malhar Rao threw himself on the protection of Nâna Farnavis. Kashi Rao then appealed to Daulat Rao Sindhia, who at once seized this opportunity of becoming practically the manager of the Holkar estates, and Malhar Rao was attacked and killed. From this disaster, Jaswant Rao and Vithoji escaped. The former, after a fugitive life spent partly as a prisoner at Nagpur and partly at Dhâr, managed at length to raise a force