mas's utter aftonishment, thought proper to decamp, and leave him, to conduct the operations against Luckwa with his own troops.

This circumstance infpired Luckwa with confidence; and he, who from the untoward fituation of his affairs, had before been humble, now became haughty in proportion to their alteration. He fent letters to the different chiefs in the neighbourhood, commanding them to join his standard. Three days after Mr. Sutherland's retreat, Mr. Thomas, leaving Ambajee with his troops to protect the baggage, advanced against Luck wa in order of battle; but the action was at that time prevented by the coming on of a most tremendous ftorm of rain, thunder, and lightning, which induced Luckwa to halt. Mr. Thomas's pofition being favourable for cavalry to act, of which the enemy's force chiefly confifted, and far fuperior in number, he was defirous of changing it; and accordingly, moving more to the left, he took poft on a rifing ground from whence he could have nothing to apprehend from an attack of horfe. When the ftorm was over, Luckwa again advanced towards Mr.

Thomas; but feeing his advantageous pofiition, and having loft a number of men in his approach from the fire of Mr. Thomas's artillery, he thought proper to draw off the field. Mr. Thomas, after a fevere and fatiguing fervice during the day-time, returned in the evening to his own camp.

At midnight, vakeels from Luckwa arriving in the camp, produced letters from Scindiah, in which that chief repeated his commands for hoftilities to ceafe on both fides, he having nominated Luckwa to the government of all his poffeffions north of the Nerbuddah. In the morning a council of war being held, the different firdars each delivered his own opinion. Mr. Thomas, on his part, observed, that being employed by Ambajee for the express purpose of reducing the province of Mewar to his authority, he could confent to no terms in which the evacuation of that country Luckwa was not a leading article.

After much negotiation, a proposal was made for both armies to march to the northern frontier, and there wait for fresh inftructions from

Scindiah on the subject. Mr. Thomas, well apprifed of the infincerity of Luckwa, knew that he only wished to gain time, in order to form a junction with a body of troops now on their march to join him from Ajemere, and to get that country in his rear, which, as the fort and city of Ajemere belonged to him, would enable him to receive a conftant fupply of provifions; for these reasons, therefore, he was averfe to the propofal. He knew alfo, that their present situation near Oudipore would be much benefited when the periodical rains, which were now daily expected, should set in, as he would then be able to procure a fupply of forage, of which they were in great want.

These points he fubmitted to Ambajee's confideration, but in vain, for that chief's principal officers having been gained over by bribes, declined acting against Luckwa, until answers to the propofitions referred to Scindia fhould be received.

In thofe refolutions Mr. Thomas unwillingly acquiefced. The armies commenced their march, and although only at a diftance of fifty

cofs (the rains having overtaken them in their route) fifteen days had elapfed before they reached the northern frontier. Luckwa having by this time been reinforced by the troops which he expected, as alfo by fome from Oudipoor, peremptorily refufed to evacuate the country. He accordingly recommenced hoftilities, and marched againft Mr. Thomas, Ambajees's troops, who were encamped on an extenfive plain, were in confequence open to attacks of cavalry; Mr. Thomas with his usual prudence had taken post on the spot of ground furrounded on all fides by nullahs and ravines. In a council of war held on the occafion, it was determined that Ambajee's force should encamp in Mr. Thomas's rear, by which means they would be fecure from any attempt of the enemy's horfe. Prior to this determination of the council being known, a battalion who had began to dress their victuals, could not be perfuaded to move off until they had finished their meal; the confequence of this delay proved fatal; Luckwa, too late fenfible of his error in not poffeffing himself of the ground occupied by Mr. Thomas, nevertheless attempt ed to take a redoubt that lay in his front; for

this purpose he advanced with refolution, but being foon compelled to retreat, he directed his infantry to remain on the defenfive; and eager to revenge his ill fuccefs, at the head of a strong detachment of cavalry, he fell fuddenly upon the battalion before mentioned, who in their defencelefs ftate were almost cut to pieces. Mr. Thomas, leaving two battalions to cover Ambajee, now proceeded with the remainder to the attack of Luckwa's main body, but a heavy fhower of rain falling, and the fudden fwelling of the nullahs, prevented further hoftilities on that day. The rain continued without intermiffion for eight days, during which time no opportunity occurred of renewing the conteft; frequent fkirmishes however took place. It was customary for Luckwa and some of his principal Sirdars, attended by a select body of horse, to pay daily vifits to Mr. Thomas: they usually posted themselves between the camp and the town of Shahpoora, from whence he received supplies of grain.

To deceive the enemy on this occafion, Mr. Thomas was accustomed to change the