rinjarree," meaning a small cattle
that carry commissariat stores; but the lady understood him Pindaree,
and the name was quite sufficient. She jumped out of her palanquin and
ran towards home, screaming, "Pindarees, Pindarees!" and all she could
answer to the questions put to her was, that the Pindarees were come,
and were already in the cantonment. Servants were dispatched, who,
seeing everybody running, vociferating "Pindarees," the alarm, as may
well be supposed, spread like wildfire. Some took to their boats; some
got under their beds; others into their cellars and go-downs; and the
consternation was unbounded. My wife, fortunately, had a small guard of
sepoys at her house, there being some commissariat stores there. On the
news reaching her, her doors were locked and bolted, and a confidential
servant was dispatched to ascertain the nature and the extent of the
truth of the report. He returned, saying, that they were then plundering
the great bazaar. The screaming of ladies and children which ensued, and
the alarm of servants, beggars description; and it was not before
evening that confidence and peace were restored, by the kindness and
judicious interference of Captain Sissmore, the acting paymaster of the
station.

We pushed on towards Bersiah, where we found Major Logie, of the Bengal
Infantry, who had thought it advisable to stockade himself, for he had
with him a considerable quantity of treasure for Colonel Adam's
division. As the Pindarees were hovering about in large numbers, and a
large body of Scindia's horse seemed to eye the treasure with delight,
the major having only a few men, we found him on a small hill, well and
securely fortified. The day before our arrival, this enormous body of
Scindia's horse encamped close to the stockade, and in their manners
were extremely insolent to Major Logie; so much so, that he told them in
plain terms, if they did not move their quarters, he would fire on them;
and I do not know any man in the Company's army more likely to put his
threat in execution. It is true they were the troops of an ally, but
they were not to be trusted; and nothing but fear prevented them from
seizing the treasure under Major Logie's care. At this place we received
hourly information that the Pindarees were in the neighbourhood; but as
they were in tens and twenties, it would have been folly for us to have
gone in pursuit of them. Indeed, we might as well have attempted to
catch the falling s