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miles north-west of Delhi, and nearly in the centre of his newly-acquired domains. The town standing upon a hill is peculiarly well adapted to a permanent refidence.

No water can be procured within feven cofs, but the garrison have an ample supply of that

names of the separate pergunnahs, the number of villages formerly inhabited, compared with its present state; the revenues, bearings, and distances of each pergunnah being taken from Hansi, the capital.

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neceffary article from feveral wells within the fort. This circumstance renders difficult an attack, except at the season of the periodical rains. 66 Here," fays Mr. Thomas, with that energy and fpirited animation which diftinguished him throughout the scenes of his extraordinary life, "I established my capital, "rebuilt the walls of the city, long since fallen "into decay, and repaired the fortifications. "As it had been long deferted, at first I found "difficulty in procuring inhabitants, but by

degrees and gentle treatment I felected "between five and fix thousand perfons, to "whom I allowed every lawful indulgence.

"I established a mint, and coined my own

rupees, which I made current in my army વડ "and country; as from the commencement "of my career at Jyjur, I had refolved to " establish an independency, I employed workmen and artificers of all kinds, and I now

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66

judged that nothing but force of arms could "maintain me in my authority. I therefore "increased their numbers, caft my own artil

66

lery, commenced making mufquets, match"locks, and powder; and, in short, made the

"best preparations for carrying on an offen"five and defenfive war; till at length having

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gained a capital and country bordering on "the Seik territories, I wished to put myself "in a capacity, when a favorable opportunity "should offer, of attempting the conqueft of "the Punjab, and afpired to the honour of "planting the British standard on the banks "of the Attock."*

*To carry his plans into effect, and for the support af his troops, Mr. Thomas appropriated a part of the revenue arising from the lands granted by the Mahrattas, and with much judgment and discernment, naturally inherent in liberal minds, endeavoured to conciliate the affections of his men by granting pensions to the widows and children or nearest relations of those soldiers who fell in his service. These pensions, amounting to 40,000 rupees per annum, were regularly paid to the respective claimants, a mode which reflects the highest credit on Mr. Thomas's character, but which had long since been anticipated by the wisdom of the British government in rewarding their veteran sepoys. The payments were made every six months, and the nearest relation of the deceased, whether officer or soldier, received the half pay of his rank. This and the expence of casting cannon, the fabrication of small arms, and purchase of warlike stores, consumed that part of Mr. Thomas's revenues which he derived from the districts granted him by the Mahrattas, as detailed in the fore going schedule.

CHAPTER VII.

Reflections.-Mr. Thomas refolves to invade the Jypoor territory.-Geographical and ftatistical account of that country.-Revenues, hiftory, manners and cuftoms of the inhabitants.

H

AVING accompanied Mr. Thomas through a series of fervices, as interesting in their nature as fingular in their refult; having beheld him from the fituation of a fugitive, a friendless and deserted object, now by the force of his own exertions, and an intrepi dity of spirit scarcely to be paralleled, obtain a fituation seldom equalled by the most fortunate; we must next proceed to trace the causes and describe the progress of those events which led to a decline of his authority, and in the end, as the only means of safety and escape from the perfecution of numerous and inveterate foes, compelled him to seek an asylum in the territories of his native fovereign.

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Not however to anticipate the order of events, it will now be neceffary to recur to Mr. Thomas's fituation when in poffeffion of his newly acquired country. His mind having been long intent on the reduction of the Punjab, he would now have fet out on this interefting expedition, but on a review of his troops made for the purpose, he found his force infufficient to the task, and was therefore induced to have recourfe to an excurfion into the Jypore dominions, which had hitherto afforded a never-failing fupply to his neceffities, and whofe ruler was in confe quence become his bitter enemy.

The fituation of the Jypore dominions, and their relative importance among the states of Rajpootana, will justify a detail of the strength and internal refources of this interefting country. The dominions of Jypore are nearly one hundred cofs from north to fouth, and fifty from east to weft; they are bounded on the north by the district of Hurrianah, on the north-east by Alvar, east by Karolee and Bhurtpoor, fouth by Kota, Boondee and Mewar, fouth-west by Kishenghur, weft by Ajmere and Joud-pore, and on the north-west by the country of Beykaneer.

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