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ENGLISH DETACHMENT.

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ambassador to Bombay, to request the assistance of the English Government in furnishing him with troops and a field train of artillery, to be paid by him, and for which he assigned a considerable territory on the continent, and the valuable acquisition of Salsette, with some smaller islands contiguous to Bombay. A treaty to this effect was concluded between Ragobah and the Bombay Government, on behalf of the English East India Company; and a considerable detachment of European infantry and sepoys, and a large train of artillery, were embarked from thence in March 1775, and sailed to Surat, in hopes of effecting a junction with Ragobah's forces in Guzerat; which, according to the latest intelligence, were then encamped on the banks of the river Myhi, not far from Cambay: the army of the confederate chieftains was reported to be on the opposite side of the river.

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ENGLISH TROOPS AT SURAT.

CHAPTER XVI.

Arrival of the English troops at Surat-Interview with the Nabob of Surat-Ragobah's Zenana-Voyage from Surat to Cambay— Gongwa-Gosaings, their peculiar Character-Tides in the Gulf of Cambay-Public Visit of the Nabob to RagobahRagobah removes from the City to a Summer Palace-Public Visit of the British Commander and his Staff-Ceremony of making presents in the East-English Detachment encamped at Narranseer, near Cambay-City of Cambay―MonkeysManufacture-Plants-Fertility of the Country-Wells-Cornelians, Agates, and Cambay Stones-Character of the Nabob, contrasted with that of Ragobah-Narrow Policy and Cruelty of Oriental Courts-Etiquette and Ceremonies-General Effects of Opium-Diversions of the Nabob and Nobles at Cambay-Literature-Pleasant Situation of the English Head-quarters at Narranseer-Wild Beasts and Reptiles-Nabob's GardensHeat in the English Camp-Roses and Rose Water-News of Ragobah's Army marching towards Cambay-The English Encampment at Narranseer struck; the Detachment proceed to Darah.

WHEN the English detachment sailed from Bombay, we were in expectation of forming a speedy junction with Ragobah's army in Guzerat; but on our arrival at Surat, we found he had experienced a sad reverse of fortune; the confederate generals had engaged him a few weeks before on the plains of Arras, near the banks of the Myhi, and gained a decisive victory. Ragobah's army was entirely dispersed, great part of his artillery, elephants, and camp-equipage

RAGOBAH'S TREASURE.

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taken; while he himself with some of his women, Emrut Row, an adopted son, and a few confidential friends, entrusted with some of his jewels, fled precipitately from the plains of Arras, on elephants and camels, escorted by a troop of cavalry.

Ragobah first halted at the gates of Cambay, in the hope that by means of Sir Charles Malet, the Company's resident at that durbar, he might be enabled to embark for Surat; but the Nabob, dreading the vengeance of the victorious army, refused to receive the fugitive prince. The Resident immediately procured guides to conduct him to Bownagur, and sent vessels thither which conveyed him in safety to Surat. At parting, Ragobah left with Sir Charles Malet all his remaining treasure and jewels; among the latter were some valuable strings of pearl, with diamonds and precious stones belonging to the peshwa family, amounting to six lacs of rupees: the whole value in money, bonds, and government securities, was said to exceed forty-three lacs, upwards of half a million sterling. This deposit shows the confidence placed by the unfortunate prince in an English individual, in preference to an independent oriental sovereign, surrounded by his army and fortifications.

The arrival of the English forces at Surat gave Ragobah consequence; he cherished hope, and soon after our landing had his first interview with the Nabob, who visited him at the house allotted for his residence, and from thence accompanied him in state to one of his summer-palaces, with the usual magnificence: to show Ragobah the greater honour, his body-guard consisted of a battalion of English sepoys. In the hall of audience he was placed on an elevated

310

VOYAGE TO CAMBAY

throne covered with cloth of gold, while the Nabob and his sons sat on the carpet. The Nabob on this occasion presented Ragobah with gold and silver coin. as a mark of respect; and afterwards with an elephant, an Arabian horse, and a profusion of shawls and keemcobs, in token of friendship.

We passed some time in suspense at Surat: at length Ragobah receiving intelligence that his generals in Guzerat had collected his scattered forces at Copperwanje, resolved to proceed to Cambay with the English detachment, and from thence endeavour to effect a junction with his army. We embarked at Surat, and proceeded in boats down the Taptce; but Ragobah deeming it necessary to perform some religious ceremonies at a Hindoo temple near Domus, a village not far from the entrance of the river, he landed there with his family. Several of us followed his example, from a wish to explore the country. No tents were pitched, nor any accommodation provided for the ladies of his zenana, who were obliged to pass some time under the humble roof of the English serjeant posted at Domus. There I first saw these females, seven in number, besides their attendants: one of them was handsome, all richly drest, and covered with jewels; they appeared distressed at their situation, and were much struck by the novelty of Europeans. While we gratified their curiosity, we enjoyed no common opportunity of indulging our own; but a jealous eunuch soon deprived us of this mutual satisfaction, and hurried them to the temple, whither Ragobah had retired.

The next morning some splendid tents were pitched for the reception of the chief and council at Surat, who

VISIT TO RAGOBAH.

311

came to pay a visit of ceremony to Ragobah at Domus: on taking leave the chief presented him, in the name of the English company, with three Arabian horses, some bales of the finest scarlet broad-cloth, and a valuable assortment of shawls, keemcobs, and muslin. The English gentlemen accompanied Ragobah from the tent of audience to the water-side; where, previous to his entering the boat, he stood for some time, without his turban, gazing stedfastly at the sun; he then prostrated himself on the ground, and continued a few minutes in silent prayer.

On reaching Surat-bar the weather was boisterous, and we encountered so rough a sea that it was impossible to reach our respective vessels. While attempting to gain the yacht appropriated to the colonel and his staff, we were obliged to take refuge in the vessel destined for Ragobah and his family, where we had another opportunity of seeing his concubines and female attendants, in a state of terror and distress to which the Hindoo women are seldom accustomed. We lamented the pride, vanity, and want of feeling in the Asiatics thus exposing the tender sex to the fatigues and dangers of war.

Many religious Brahmins and strict professors among the high castes of Hindoos, censured Ragobah for undertaking a voyage by sea, in which they alleged he not only deviated from the established laws and customs of his tribe, but thought he acted contrary to the divine injunction. He might have pleaded that "necessity has no law," for he certainly had no other alternative. The religious Hindoos, like the ancient Magi, and many of their followers among the modern Parsees, consider the sea as a sacred element.

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