tars. Such a pursuit could not have redounded to the
credit of the service, and it might probably have frightened and
dispersed them, which was not our object. We rather encouraged their
combining in large parties, that we might surprise and cut them up. With
this view we remained here some time, watching their movements. Here,
again, the munificence of the government of the East India Company was
evinced. Proclamations were published through every village, calling on
these marauders to become good subjects, offering to purchase their
horses and arms at a fair valuation, and to give them land and a free
pardon for all their former transgressions. Not one of these kind and
liberal proposals had they a right to expect; but their obdurate hearts
would not accept the proffered mercy, nor their indolent habits permit
them to think of cultivating the earth. It is supposed that during the
more inactive seasons of their lives, they will sleep from twelve to
fifteen hours out of the twenty-four; and the few hours that they are
awake are spent in rapine and sensual pleasures. There is no race of
people on God's earth more depraved and debauched than a Mussulman
Pindaree.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XIX.

During our long stay at Bersiah, we frequently went out on parties of
pleasure; and, as I had at this place nothing to do in my official
situation, I generally accompanied these little excursions. About
Bersiah the country was more fertile and beautiful than any part we had
passed through, and we had excellent shooting, from the royal tiger to
the royal snipe, without going a mile from camp. Thus we passed our
time, living pleasantly enough. At length we found that the Pindarees
had ascended another range of ghauts, and concentrated their forces at a
place called Beechy Taull. Towards this place we bent our course, the
extent of our daily marches being entirely regulated by the information
brought in by our spies. Our wild enemy were, for a time, stationary;
our marches were more regular; and they actually permitted us to
approach them, without moving their quarters; taking care, however, to
keep a wide and deep river between them and us, and an almost
inaccessible ghaut, from whence they could see such a distance round,
that our approach could be observed ten or fifteen miles off. When we
were within forty miles of this place, we made a forced march in the
morning, some twenty-two miles, through a thick