sant acquaintances;
but, when we part from objects bound to us by the dearest ties of love
or consanguinity, an indescribable weight oppresses the heart. I felt
this in parting from the most affectionate of women, to enter on a new
series of wars, perhaps never to behold her again. These thoughts will
intrude, in spite of all one's efforts to repress them, where the heart
feels assured of reciprocal love. If I do not deceive myself, or my
recollection fail me not, I was weak enough to weep on this occasion;
for who could see the wife of his bosom writhing with anguish and
clinging round his neck, whispering sweet words of love and constancy,
and refrain from tears? She had two little sisters, too, who hung about
my knees, crying, "Dear brother, do not go; see how sister cries. Pray
do not go; sister will be ill." I tore myself from the endearing
embraces which restrained me, and rushed out of the house.

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[15] Travelling by dawk is a very speedy mode of conveyance, well known
in India. The traveller is carried in a palanquin by eight bearers, who
are relieved every ten miles; and by this arrangement a hundred miles
are so certainly performed in twenty-four hours, that from Cawnpore to
Calcutta, a distance of eight hundred miles, is reckoned an eight days'
journey.

CHAPTER XVII.

The whole combined powers of the three Presidencies of India were now in
motion, to effect the dispersion or annihilation of the Pindarees, a set
of despotic marauders and savage barbarians, who were prowling about the
country in immense hordes. Their numbers might be estimated at two
hundred thousand, all horsemen, the remains of the old Mahratta sect of
warriors, who had been driven from their homes by the civil wars of the
several native powers of Hindostan. These marauders levied their
exactions from the poor peasantry of the more remote districts of
Hindostan, whom they robbed and plundered year after year; and murder is
a common incident of the day. The horses on which they ride, and also
their equipments, whether stolen or not, are the rider's own property,
and respected by the rest as such. The craftiest and most daring among
them are the greatest men, and call themselves, according to their
several degrees of superiority, names of high office, such as those of
our native officers of cavalry. Their weapons generally consist of a
long spear, a sabre, a shield, and a matchlock; but many of them hav