d by a
people called Jats, who differed in many respects from the
communities round them. They were hardy, industrious, and brave;
and had, at one time, taken a prominent share in the wars of that
part of India, and had been masters of Agra. They had lost the
city, however, in 1774; and with it a considerable portion of their
territory. Under the present rajah, however, they had regained some
of their lost ground and, on his entering into an alliance with the
British, he had received a considerable increase of territory.

In these circumstances the defection was wholly unexpected. The
rajah had a standing army of six thousand men; and could, on an
emergency, place fifty thousand in the field. Nevertheless, seeing
how other very much more powerful native princes had been unable to
withstand the British arms, his conduct was not only ungrateful and
treacherous, but wholly unaccountable.

It was necessary for the army to move forward to Deeg with great
circumspection. Holkar's cavalry constantly hovered round them, and
they had to protect an enormous train conveying the siege
appliances and provisions for the force. In view of the
comparatively small equipage now deemed sufficient, in native wars
in India, the size of that which accompanied Lord Lake's army, on
this occasion, appears prodigious. The followers were estimated at
not less than sixty thousand. Besides elephants and camels, a
hundred thousand bullocks were employed on preparations for an
advance into the town.

But, during the night, Holkar and the garrison of Deeg retired, and
made for Bhurtpoor. On the morning of the 25th, therefore, the
British took unopposed possession of Deeg; capturing, there and in
the batteries outside, a hundred guns. A week later, General Lake
moved forward to Bhurtpoor. Holkar, as before, had not entered the
town; but had formed a camp a few miles distant. Here he was able
to maintain himself, for the Rajah of Bhurtpoor had called to his
assistance a great marauding leader, Ameer Khan, who was raiding in
Bundelcund; and also a leader named Bapeejee Scindia; and these,
with the rajah's cavalry and that of Holkar, formed so powerful a
force that the British cavalry were fully occupied in keeping them
at a distance from camp, and in protecting the convoy.

On the day of the arrival of the army before Bhurtpoor, Harry--who
had now been gazetted to the rank of major--was sent to Agra,
thirty-four miles distant, with orders respectin