ith. They moved gradually
and slowly out, taking with them their little property unmolested. They
were pictures of the most abject misery and want. They had not received
any pay from their master, the rajah of Nagpore, for the long period of
two years, during which they had lived upon the produce of their
exactions from the villagers of the surrounding country. I would venture
to say that, out of fifteen hundred people, they had not a hundred
rupees amongst them; but, had they millions, it was guaranteed to them
by the word of faith which Britons had never broken in India. They
quietly grounded their arms as they came out one by one, accompanied by
their families. Some of them cast a last fond look at their sabres,
probably some family relic, and heaved a parting sigh. The surrounding
country being in a state of commotion, created by small parties of the
Pindarees flying towards their long-forsaken homes, and purloining
everything they came near on the road, our humane general permitted
every tenth man to keep his matchlock and sword, for self-preservation.
Under the dusk of the evening they moved towards their homes, and we
took possession of the fort, having lost but very few men during the
whole siege.

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

CHAPTER XX.

The property in the fort of Dhamoony was literally nothing. The whole
consisted of some five or six small guns, principally iron, and a
considerable quantity of grain; the produce of which, as well as what
was found in other forts taken during the campaign, was thrown into the
general fund. Here, for a time, a small detachment was left; but they
soon became so sickly, and died so fast, that we were obliged to
dismantle the place, and leave it to the ravages of time.

The poor keeledar was alone detained and held responsible for the
rebellion of his garrison. He was punished in a most exemplary manner by
our government, by being placed on eight rupees per diem, as a prisoner;
quite as much, I should imagine, as he got in a whole month as keeledar
of the fort of Dhamoony. The unbounded liberality of the East India
Company is quite unknown in England, and, indeed, in the more remote
parts even of Hindostan. Their munificence is proverbial among the whole
of the native powers with whom they have ever been concerned. Their
extreme liberality, and their good faith in all treaties, which has
never been tarnished, establish them in India on a rock which no power
can