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in addition to it, he fometimes increases his gain by fecreting part of the public plunder.

The nature of the feik government is fingular, and probably had its origin in the unfettled ftate of the tribe when first established in their poffeffions. Within his own domains. each chief is lord paramount. He exerts an exclusive authority over his vaffals, even to the power of life and death; and to increase the population of his diftricts, he proffers a ready and hospitable asylum to fugitives from all parts of India. Hence, in the feik territories, though the government be arbitrary, there exifts much less cause for oppreffion than in many of the neighbouring states; and hence likewise, the cultivator of the foil being liable to frequent change of masters, by the numerous revolutions that are perpetually occurring, may be confidered as one of the caufes of the fluctuation of the national force.*

* In the above sketch of the situation and resources of the seik nation, Mr. Thomas does not include the territories of Zemaun Shah lying east of the Attock; part of which were, during the reigns of the emperors, included in the Punjab, and may therefore be considered as belonging to it.

CHAPTER VI.

Mr. Thomas defeats the Seiks-concludes an advantageous treaty-difagreement with Bappoo Scindia-Mr. Thomas forms the defign of establishing himself as an independant chief-for that purpofe felects the province of Hurrianah -his eftablishment at Hanfi.

UCH was the tribe against which Mr. Tho

SUCH

mas now prepared to march. Leaving a force competent to the defence of Jyjur, which he expected would be attacked by Vavon Row, he marched to Karnal, near which the Seiks lay.

Four fucceffive actions took place, attended with confiderable lofs on both fides; Mr. Thomas having loft five hundred men, and the Seiks double that number. Both parties inclining to peace, a treaty was concluded, by which the Seiks agreed to evacuate the province, which was accordingly done.

As Mr. Thomas had forefeen, he now received intelligence of Vayon Row having laid fiege to Jyjur, to defend which he immediately marched back. On his approach, Vavon Row thought proper to retire. Mr. Thomas next determined to punish Cashmiree Bolee, who, as before stated, had been the author and fomenter of all the differences which had occurred betwixt him and Vavon Row. Mr. Thomas, therefore, fell fuddenly on the pergunnah of Daderee, which belonged to Cafhmiree Bolee, and laid it under contribution.

From hence he was called away to affist Bapoo Scindia against a body of Rohillas, who, inftigated by Nevil Sing, a feik chief,, had croffed the Ganges, and invaded his poffeffions near the head of the Dooab. But previous to Mr. Thomas's arrival, the Mahratta chief had not only defeated the invaders, but followed up his blow by laying fiege to the enemy's capital.

A body of Seiks had affembled to affist him; but, on the approach of Mr. Thomas's force, thought proper to feparate; and Bapoo Scin

dia, not deeming the capture of this fort worth the trouble it would take to gain poffeffion, of his own accord foon after raised the siege, and returned to Seharunpore. Mr. Thomas remained with his force at Soneput, a city twenty-fix miles fouth of Panniput, the neighbouring country, barren and defolate.

North of this city is a maufóleum erected by Khizzer Khan, a Patan nobleman, descended from the royal family of Sheer Shah. This building is an octagon, furmounted by a spacious dome, and ornamented at the top with a cullis of copper gilt. The interior of the mausoleum is of grey ftone, the cornices are embellished with sculpture ornaments of red freeftone, and around the lower part of the dome runs a stone border, on which are engraved verses from the Koran in Arabic characters. The front of the building is decorated with rofes cut in freeftone, of a brown colour; the whole uncommonly delicate, and has been finished with more than usual attention.

The pergunnah of Soneput composes part of the Jaghire of Defmouk, fon-in-law of Scin

1

dia, and yields an income of feventy-five thou fand rupees. But in the reign of the emperor Mahomed Shah, this pergunnah, in confequence of the benefit it derived from its vicinity to the noble canal of Ali Merdan Khan, is faid to have yielded a revenue of nine lacks of rupees.

In the environs of Soneput, a traveller first meets with the cofs minar, or Indian mile-stone. It is a round pillar of brick, ten feet in height, and placed on each fide of the road, at the distance of about three English miles from ' each other. They were erected by order of the emperor Jehan Gheer, and formerly extended from Lahor to Agra. Adjoining to each of these pillars is a well, lined with brick, near which are stone benches exprefsly for the accommodation of travellers.

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Mr. Thomas had not long remained at Soneput, when rumours of the arrival of Zemaun Shah, king of Cabul, at Lahore, induced Bappoo to meet and confult with him on the prefent emergency.

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