the foot or steps of the temple, when I heard the
tinkling of a small bell. I ascended the steps and reached the door,
when I heard some person murmuring out his midnight prayers. I at last
peeped in, and discerned an aged priest prostrating himself on the
ground before one of his gods. A small lamp was suspended from the
ceiling. I entered and gave him the customary salute of the evening, but
he had not the politeness to return my salute, but blew out the light
and ran out precipitately, and I followed him, having first minutely
surveyed the temple. What the priest took me for I know not, but
probably for a ghost, for he was out of the temple in a moment. I
returned by the same streets I came down, but a little faster. When
about half-way, I heard voices; then horses' feet; and, at last, I could
see several men on horseback approaching, and soon found, by their
conversation, that they were some men from our camp, belonging to our
ally, Scindia, who had got in for the purpose of plundering. I slunk
behind a hut till they had passed, as I knew well that these marauders
would have cut my throat for the sake of the buttons on my coat; so I
permitted them to pass on, and I had hardly emerged from my
hiding-place, when a huge Pariah dog set up a tremendous howling. He was
sitting down close by a dead man, no doubt his master, for on the
following morning he was still there, and howled piteously when any one
approached the body. The poor animal was shot, and thus put out of his
misery.

I at last reached the general, and made my report; after which I had the
honour of escorting two companies to the temple; but the old priest had
not returned. I then had to return alone; and, having established the
troops, the general and suite, myself among the number, returned to
camp, and, after a good dinner, retired to bed and slept soundly.

We recommenced our work on the following morning. On our arrival in the
town, we were informed that a Captain B. and about fifty men had been in
the fort the greater part of the night. On receiving this information,
the general could hardly credit the assertion; but, on approaching the
fort, he found it was true. The gate of the fort was thrown open, and we
entered; and, never did human eye look on more accumulated woe and
misery than the scene before us presented. The carnage far exceeded that
of Hattrass, or of any of the other storms I have had the unpleasant
task to narrate. I shall not attempt