Treaty of Segowlee – 1816

TREATY of PEACE between the HONOURABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY AND MAHARAJAH BIRKRAM SAH, Rajah of Nipal, settled between LIEUTENANT – COLONEL BRADSHAW on the part of the HONOURABLE COMPANY, in virtue of the full powers vested in him by HIS EXCELLENCY the RIGHT HONOURABLE FRANCIS, EARL of MOIRA, KNIGHT of the MOST NOBLE ORDER of the GARTER, on of HIS MAJESTY’s MOST HONOURABLE PRIVY COUNCIL, appointed by the Court of Directors of the said Honourable Company to direct and control all the affairs in the East Indies, and by SHREE GOOROO GUJRAJ MISSER and CHUNDER SEEKUR OPEDEEA on the party of MAHA RAJAH GIRMAUN JODE BIKRAM SAH BHAAUDER, SHUMESHEER JUNG, in virtue of the powers to that effect vested in them by the said Rajah of Nipal, – 2nd December 1815.

Whereas war has arisen between the Honourable East India Company and the Rajah of Nipal, and whereas the parties are mutually disposed to restore the relations of peace and amity which, previously to the occurrence of the late differences, had long subsisted between the two States, the following terms of peace have been agreed upon:

ARTICLE 1ST

There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the Honourable East India Company and the Rajah of Nipal.

ARTICLE 2ND

The Rajah of Nipal renounces all claim to the lands which were the subject of discussion between the two States before the war; and acknowledges the right of the Honourable Company to the sovereignty of those lands.

ARTICLE 3RD

The Rajah of Nipal hereby cedes to the Honourable the East India Company in perpetuity all the under mentioned territories, viz, –

First – The whole of the low lands between the Rivers Kali and Rapti

Secondly – The whole of the low lands (with exception of Bootwul Khass between the Rapti and the Gunduck.

Thirdly – The whole of the low lands between the Gunduck and Coosah, in which the authority of the British Government has been introduced, or is in actual course of introduction.

Fourthly – All the low lands between the River Mitchee and the Teestah.

Fifthly – All the territories within the hills eastward of the River Mitchee including the fort and lands of Nagree and the Pass of Nagarcote leading from Morung into the hills, together with the territory lying between that Pass and Nagree. The aforesaid territory shall be evacuated by the Gurkha troops within forty days from this date.

ARTICLE 4TH

With a view to indemnify the Chiefs and Barahdars of the State of Nipal, whose interests will suffer by the alienation of the lands ceded by the foregoing Article, the British Government agrees to settle pensions to the aggregate amount of two lakhs of rupees per annum on such Chiefs as may be selected by the Rajah of Nipal, and in the proportions which the Rajah may fix. As soon as the selection is made, Sunnuds shall be granted under the seal and signature of the Governor-General for the pensions respectively.

ARTICLE 5TH

The Rajah of Nipal renounces for himself, his heirs and successors, all claim to or connexion with the countries lying to the west of the River Kali and engages never to have any concern with those countries or the inhabitants thereof.

ARTICLE 6th

The Rajah of Nipal engages never to molest or disturb the Rajah of Sikkim in the possession of his territories; but agrees, if any difference shall arise between the State of Nipal and the Rajah of Sikkim, or the subjects of either, that such differences shall be referred to the arbitration of the British Government by which award the Rajah of Nipal engages to abide.

ARTICLE 7TH

The Rajah of Nipal hereby engages never to take to retain in his service any British subject, nor the subject of any European or American State, without the consent of the British Government.

ARTICLE 8TH

In order to secure and improve the relations of amity and peace here by established between the two States, it is agreed that accredited Ministers from each shall reside at the Court of the other.

ARTICLE 9TH

This treaty, consisting of nine Articles, shall be ratified by the Rajah of Nipal within fifteen days from this date, and the ratification shall be delivered to Lieutenant Colonel Bradshaw, who engages to obtain and deliver the ratification to the Governor-General within twenty days, or sooner, if practicable.

Done at Segowlee, on the 2nd day of December 1815

PARIS BRADSHAW, Lt. Col. P.A.

Received this treaty from Chunder Seekur Opedeea, Agent on the part of the Rajah of Nipal, in the valley of Muckwaunpoor, at half past two o’clock p.m. on the 4th of March 1816, and delivered to him the Counterparty Treaty on behalf of the British Government.

DD. OCHTERLONY
Agent, Governor General