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of treachery, refused to come out of the fort; and Mr. Thomas, for fimilar reafons, was unwilling to enter it. The negotiations were therefore broken off; and Mr. Thomas, continuing to confider this Mahratta chief as an enemy, led his troops toward the frontiers.

This measure was rendered more necessary, and his attention called to the defence of his northern purgunnahs, which had recently been invaded by the feiks.

But the mention of this remarkable people, leading us afide for a while from the ordinary course of our narrative, invites a detail of the prefent state of the Punjaub, or country fituated between the Indus and the Sutledge.

CHAPTER V.

Geographical defcription of the Punjab,-of the feiks, their manners, customs, forces, and refources.

HE extenfive and fertile country described

TH

by Arrian and other antient historians, as comprehended within the five great rivers, the Hydafpes, the Hydraötes, the Acefines, the Hyphafis, and the Sutledge, is, by modern geographers, denominated Punjab.

On the north it is bounded by the mountains inhabited by the tribe called Yoofuf Zey; on the east by the mountains of Naun, Serinnaghur and Jumbo; on the weft by the river Sind or Attock ;* and on the fouth by the diftricts of Panniput, and the province of Harrianah. It is two hundred and fifty coffes from

*This river above the city of Attock is called by the natives Aba Seen.

north to fouth, and nearly one hundred from east to west. Notwithstanding the state of warfare in which the chiefs of Punjab are conftantly involved, the country is in a state of high cultivation; and though the population be great, grain is cheaper than in any other part of India. This advantage in a great meafure is derived from the numerous rivers by which it is watered. Advancing from the fouth, a traveller meets in rapid fucceffion the Serfooty,, the Cugger, the Chowah, and the Sutledge.

The Serfooty, after paffing the towns of Mooftufabad, Shahabad, and Tehnaffer, and overflowing the country on each of its banks, joins itself to the Cugger to the north-west of Kaythul.

The Cugger, on the contrary, after paffing the towns of Bunnoor, Seyfabad, Puttialah, Jowhana, and Jomalpore, enters the country of the Batties at the town of Arwah, formerly the capital of the district. The Chowah, in like manner, after paffing through an extensive tract of country which it fertilizes and en-riches, is finally loft in the fands of Sonáum.

The Punjab yields to no part of India in fertility of foil; it produces in the greatest abunđance, fugar-cane, wheat, barley, rice, pulse of all forts, tobacco, and various fruits; and it is also well fupplied with cattle. The principal manufactures of this country are fwords, match-locks, cotton cloths, and filks both coarfe and fine. :

This nation, if united, could bring into the field from fifty to fixty thousand cavalry, but it is Mr. Thomas's opinion that they will never unite or be fo formidable to their neighbours as they have heretofore been. Internal commotions and civil ftrife have of late years generated a fpirit of revenge and difunion among the chiefs, which it will take a long time to

overcome.

The number of cavalry which it is supposed this nation was able to affemble has been confiderably over-rated, in confequence of a custom which formerly obtained among the Sciks, of forming an affociation of their forces under a particular chief. From this affociation of their forces they had the general interests of the community in view. To thofe who were ig

norant of the fecret caufes of the affociation, this junction of forces was frequently mistaken for the army of an individual; and this error was perhaps increased by the natural partiality of the Seiks themselves to magnify the force and enhance the character of their own nation.

It has been remarked, that the Seiks are able to collect from fifty to fixty thousand horfe; but, to render this number effective, thofe who do not take the field, or who remain at home to guard their poffeffions, must be included.

Eftimating the force of the different diftricts, the aggregate will be feen in the fubjoined. fchedule.*

*The districts south of the Sutledge,

The Dooab, or country between the Sutledge

and Beyah,

Between the Beyah and Rowee,

Force of Bugheel Sing, chief of Pattialah,

The countries above Lahore, the inhabitants of which are chiefly under the influence of Runjeet Sing,

To which may be added the force of Nizamud

deen Khan,

Roy Elias,

Other Patan chiefs, in pay of the Seiks,

Cavalry.

15,000

8,000 I 1,000 12,000

11,000

5,000

1,300

800

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