Whilst that Commander was in cantonments, Umed-el-mulk alias Mir-sheáb-eddin, the same who had sown so many troubles in Hindostan by his endless infidelities, and eternal intrigues; Mir-Sheab-eddin alias Umed-el-mulk, suddenly appears in Decan. and had brought on the ruin of the Empire and even of these very kingdoms, by the revolutions he had caused; at once made his appearance in that city. That wretched, who had projected to ruin the sons of his own uncle, that is, the posterity of Nizam-el-mulk*, and to complete the downfall of the remainder of that family (which to this day enjoys great power and great dominions in Decan), was gone into those southern parts with sinister intentions. But the Grandees and Commanders of those countries, who luckily had still in their hearts some respect for their master’s welfare, as subjects, and some regard for their own reputation and characters, as soldiers, refused to pay any attention to his intrigues and suggestions; and the man now reduced to straits, as well as unable to find throughout all the cities of Hindostan, or even in all those of Decan, a single spot, whereon he might tread in safety, repaired to Surat, under pretence of a pilgrinage to the glorious Mecca; and he kept himself concealed for a length of time, nor was he discovered but by some jewels of value which he got out for sale. Colonel Godard was obliged to write to the Governor and Council to know their pleasure with respect to this man; and he was at first forbidden to have any connections with him; but in the sequel, they conlcuded that an intriguing man is always a shrewd man; and that being acquainted with all the chief men of Decan, as well as allied to the family of Nizam-el-mulk, he might be of great use. Accordingly, they ordered the Colonel to have con­nections The English acquire in Gudjrat a potent ally. with him, in hopes that at some future emergencies, his abilities and knowledge might answer some purpose in their cause. The General upon this letter, admitted him to his friendship, and gave him a pension for his subsistence.

Whilst the Bengalarmy was yet in Surat, the English interest had been recruited by a new ally. This was Ráo Fateh-sing-cáicvar, one of the principal feudatories of the Marhatta Empire. He had been invited over by Ragonat-ráo, who had engaged him to conclude a written engagement with that nation, in which he was promised to have the whole Gudjrat* for himself, under condition of his joining the troops to his English, and of his being assisting in their expedition. The Colonel, after that junction, conceived the scheme of taking the city of Azim-abad-Gudjrat; A. D. 1780. and about the end of the year 1190 of the Hedjra, he marched out of Surat, and presenting himself before that city, he at first offered the Marhatta Commanders terms of capitulation for sur­rendering the place; but this being rejected, he in a little time Ahmed-abad-Gudjrat taken by assault, and sacked and plundered. ruined the walls, and took the place by mere force and by assault; and although it is not customary with the English troops to plunder or to kill after a victory, nevertheless at the capture of this place, there was some plunder made, and some blood shed, whether because the Cáicvar, with his Marhattas, was in their company, or for some other reason that has not transpired. This much is certain that some plunder was committed, and possibly some blood was shed. The Colonel having delivered the city and fortress to Fateh-sing-cáicvar, and established that Prince’s government over it, came out and marched forward, resolved to The English acquire a new ally, the Radja of Gohud. fight another Marhatta army that had come to the assistance of the garrison. But such brilliant successes having spread the renown of the English far and near, did not fail to suscite in their favour a new ally; and this was a Prince called the Rana of Gohud. In a few days his agents arrived at Calcutta, and offered to join the English, but requested at present a small number of troops. The reason of this negotiation was, that the Rana of Gohud, who had this longwhile disputes with the Marhattas, and was always at variance with them, hoped that as the English were now waging war against that nation, he might avail himself of that new power to snatch from his enemies some districts and fortresses of his which they detained this longwhile; after which, he would be ready to shew his gratitude to his new allies, by proving his zeal for their cause. The Governor had too much wisdom and knowledge, not to preceive the utility of an alliance with a great Prince who had money, troops, and dominions; who could afford so much local knowledge of the countries and affairs of the Marhattas upon whom his dominions bordered; and who offered himself to the English as a guide; for his country became of course a new conquest, that cost him nothing. So that the Governor looking upon such an event as a favour from above, sent to his assistance Captain Palmer, with three regiments of Talingas. This officer was accompanied by Tefez-zul-hosséin-qhan, who had once been tutor to Mirza-saadet-aaly, second son to Shudjah-ed-döwlah*, and was now sent in quality of an agent from the Governor, to gain the Rana’s heart. The two The English take posses­sion of Gohud. envoys being arrived at Gohud, took possession of the castle, under pretence of lodging themselves; and under the mask of friendship and a visit, they kept him prisoner and surrounded by their forces.

But before we continue the history of that expedition, we must take a view of some other parts of Decan. In conse­quence of the necessity of some affairs of my own, and of the tyranny exercised by destiny, I was obliged to make an appli­cation to Calcutta, and of course to take a journey to Bengal; A.D.1780-81. and it was in the year 1194. On my arrival at Moorshood-abad and at Calcutta, I learned with a little more detail what concerned the Decan, from the principal men of those cities; and as I was actually writing the rough draft of this book in that journey, I used to insert occasionally in it, whatever I heard worth notice and credit. It amounts to this: That the Grandees of the Court of Poona and Satara, who now govern the dominions of the Sahu Radja and of Ram Rajah*, finding the English bent on the destruction of their Empire, had united together, and had invited over, on one hand, Fateh-sing-cáicvar, who had already joined the English; and on the other, the sons of Rago-bhosselah, who from Aaly-verdy-qhan’s time, had ever been at peace with The Marhat­tas join together, to make an effort against the English. the rulers of Bengal, and had now by the means of Mr. Elliot’s and Mr. Anderson’s embassy and negotiation, renewed that peace and entered into a new treaty of friendship and amity with Governor Hushtin. These were now called upon by dint of threats to unite with the others; and they agreed to an union of concerns at last. It was about the middle of the year 1194, at which time Colonel Godard had already discovered Fateh-sing-cáicvar’s defecion; and as he found, on the other hand, that the rainy season was coming, he became tired of a kind of warfare that had no end, and served only to render the difficulties and necessities of his army greater and greater. With this view he returned to Surat. That city was only a few days journey. But the enemy eternally hanging on his rear, it cost him full forty or fifty days fighting, to cut his way through an hostile country; and this he did with a deal of steadiness and activity. At last he arrived in that city, where he put his troops into quarters of refreshment. But whilst he was pre­paring all the necessaries for commencing early another cam­paign, Fateh-sing-cáicvar, who had got so easily and so cheaply possession of the G8djrat, but had now become envious of Colonel Godard’s prosperity, put himself at the head of his own forces, and took his station in the districts which originally had been in his possession. Whilst such a change was taking place in G8djrat, Chimnadji, another Marhatta General, who was nephew to Rago-dji-bhosselah, having listened to the instiga­tions and menaces of the Ministers of Poona*, set out with a good army from the Great-Náigpoor, his capital, and marched towards Djagennat and Cateck. There he took up his winter quarters, whilst his agents were now repairing to Calcutta, and professing amity and friendship to the English cause. The Governor, who did not trust altogether to their professions, opposed an army of English to the Marhatta army in Cateck; and stationed troops besides at all the passes in the mountains, where those enemies had used to pour into the provinces of Bengal and Bahar. These troops had orders to oppose force by force, should they make any motion that way*.