uniforms and colours of his own people; and having by feints got within fhot of the enemy, he frequently opened a smart cannonade; one in particular, the enemy approaching so near, that Luckwa himself could be easily distinguifhed. Mr. Thomas, by a brifk and welldirected fire, compelled them to a speedy retreat, after a confiderable lofs in men and horfes. These fkirmishes, though haraffing to the troops, did not occafion much lofs to ei ther party, who were now in daily expectation of receiving orders from Scindiah to defift from hoftilities. Intelligence now arrived that Perron, taking advantage of Mr. Thomas's abfence, had invaded the purgunnah of Jyjur, and was moreover committing depredations on other parts of his poffeffions. This intelligence he wifhed to keep fecret, but Luckwa, who had previously received fimilar intimation, now made Mr. Thomas very handfome offers to induce him to join his standard, but these were refolutely rejected. Mr. Thomas moreover acquainted Luckwa, that though he might poffibly leave the service of Ambajee at the termination of the prefent campaign, he could never become his enemy, nor connect himself

with those who were. This answer displeased Luckwa; he complained much in his durbar of Mr. Thomas, who he faid was a man of a most unaccountable character; that although repeated orders had been received from Scindiah to ceafe hoftilities, he could not be prevailed on to obey them; and finally charged him with nothing less than aiming at the expiration of Scindiah's authority, and the cftablifhment of his own.

Not content with the falfenefs of thefe accufations, Luckwa privately fent emiffaries into Mr. Thomas's camp to fow diffenfions among his troops, but they being difcovered by his hircarrahs, were seized, put into confinement, and there detained during the remainder of the campaign.

*

The arts ufed by Luck wa on this occafion having failed, Mr. Thomas conciliated the good opinion of his foldiers, by an affurance of speedily reconducting them to their own country. The force of Luckwa at this period

* Meffengers.

1

amounted to nine thousand cavalry, fix thoufand regular infantry, two thousand Rohillas, and about five or fix thousand mercenaries, together with ninety pieces of artillery.

Mr. Thomas had only fix battalions, by defertion much reduced, one hundred and fifty cavalry, three hundred Rohillas and twentytwo pieces of artillery.

With this force comparatively fo small, he was compelled not only to provide for the fafety of Ambajee, but the fecurity of the camp, to efcort provifions, and procure fupplies of forage for the whole.

Several actions took place, in which Mr. Thomas was ufually fuccefsful, having frequently driven his antagonist back to his camp. On one occafion Luckwa narrowly escaped a total defeat: he drew out his whole army, and advanced upon Mr. Thomas, who, at the time having only two battalions, was compelled to retire; Luckwa followed in his rear to the fkirts of his encampment, when, being fuddenly joined by three additional battalions and a fup

ply of ammunition, unexpectedly turning on his purfuers, gave them a most severe check.

Luckwa returned in confufion with the lofs of a great many men; and fo great was the confternation, that the darkness of the night alone faved him from a total defeat. Between the camps there ran a nullah, the north fide of which was occupied by the army of Luckwa; and the troops of Ambajee and Mr. Thomas were stationed on the fouth. Ambajee, in order to prevent the advance of Luckwa's artillery, who endeavoured to open upon him, fortified an advanced redoubt on the north fide of the nullah, but too far detached from his main body to receive fuccour in cafe of an attack. For its defence, were ftationed three battalions of fepoys, fix pieces of cannon, and one thousand Ghoffeins. To fupport these, three battalions were pofted at a short distance in the rear. A heavy rain had fell for twenty four hours, which caufed two large refervoirs to overflow their banks, by which means the nullah rifing to a great height, became impaffable, and thereby intercepted the communication between the camps. Luckwa availed

himself of this opportunity, and attacked the poft before-mentioned with great vigour and resolution; his men in advancing to the as fault were up to their necks in water, which refolute conduct infufed fuch terror into the men in the redoubt, that being panick struck, they furrendered without firing a shot. The Ghoffeins alone refused to submit; and, after a brave though fruitless resistance, were cut to pieces. Ambajee's troops, who before this difafter refused to fight, now deserted in great numbers. Luck wa alfo had by his intrigues induced the Shahpoora Rajah to join in hoftilities against Mr. Thomas, whose supplies by this means were entirely cut off. Although he had provisions fufficient for the confumption of twenty days for his own troops, thofe of Ambajee had not more than three. Should they be compelled to retreat unfupported by him, they would moft likely be cut off by their active and vigilant enemy. Mr. Thomas was diftreffed for ammunition; his fuperfluous ftores having been left at Singanah, a place. twenty cofs diftant from their prefent encampment: the distance did not permit his fending a fmall force to escort the ftores, and from prc