it formerly extended as far as the Sutledge, which it joined in the vicinity of Feroze Batnier, the capital of the district, and residence of the Rajah, is two hundred miles west of Delhi, and about forty fouth of Batinda. The towns of Arroah, Futtahbad, Sirfah, and Ranyah, conftitute the other places of note in the Battie country; thefe towns, together with the numerous villages, afford a population sufficient to bring into the field an army of twenty thousand men, without detriment to the cultivation of the lands. Of late years, however, mány of the Batties, migrating from their native country, have fixed their refidence in the western parts of the dominions of Oude, and at the present day several families of this fingu lar tribe are to be met with in the vicinity of Chandowfy, in Rohilcund. As peculiarity in manners more distinctly ferves to discriminate the genius and character of a people, a few of the fingularities obferv * Consult the map, able among the Batties may perhaps not be deemed unworthy of our notice. A defert feparates them from any communication with the countries to the weftward; parties are often formed for croffing this desert, in order to invade the nearest district. They fet out numerous and well equipped; intelligent perfons amongst them are felected by the reft as guides to the party, to whofe orders, during the journey, they pay the most implicit obedience, and on arrival at the frontier of the enemy's country their authority is at an end. For the performance of thefe journeys, they have camels, which are loaded with bread, water, and other neceffary articles of provisions. This ftock being previoufly fent off, is depofited at different parts of the defert, which extends from fixty to feventy cofs. These places are confidered as points of rendezvous to meet with their fupplies; not a drop of water, or provifions of any kind, being otherwife procurable; and fhould thefe fupplies fail by any accident, inevitable death awaits them all. The guides, whom we have before men tioned, become skilful by long experience and constant practice. Without the aid of a tree, or land mark of any defcription, to direct them in their march over this dreary defert, they feldom fail not only to afcertain the place where the provisions are depofited, but likewife to conduct the intrepid adventurers to the destined spot. It frequently happens, moreover, that individuals of the party, who, from heedlefsness and inattention, ftray from the caravan, oppreffed by the multiplied evils of thirst, hunger, and fatigue, perish miserably in the defert. "So where our wide Numidian wastes extend, "Sees the dry desert all around him rise, " And, smother'd in the dusty whirlwind, dies !”* In their progress during this fingular march, the guides are directed by the Sun by day, and the North Star by night; and with these unerring marks they are enabled to perform journeys which appear almoft incredible. *See Addison's Cato. These journeys are moreover performed with accuracy and exactnefs. Departing at night from a fixed or given point, and often steering different courfes, by the aid of the signs abovementioned, they will, after a march of thirty, forty, and even fifty cofs, return to the spot from whence they fat out, and, with the exception of rain or cloudy weather, scarce ever deviate from their point of deftination. Should they be preffed for provisions on their journey, or have confumed their ordinary stock, a bullock or calf, belonging to the party, is killed, roasted, divided, and eaten on the spot ; and at the conclufion of this primitive meal, the company resume the journey with their accustomed alacrity.* We have hitherto feen the faireft fide of the character of this extraordinary people. Candour requires us to ftate that they are cruel in their nature, favage and ferocious in the higheft degree; that they have an utter abhorrence * Are not these traits the Scythian characteristics? and do we not in the foregoing description recognise the pastoral lives of the Nomades of antiquity? pre of all the usages of civilized life, are thieves from their birth, and scruple not, in their datory incurfions into the neighbouring diftricts, though unrefifted, to add murder to robbery. This thievifh fpirit may be faid to have reached even the throne itself, as the Rajah has not been ashamed to declare, in Mr. Thomas's hearing, that he willingly participated in the fpoils thus collected by his own fubjects. This fact was ascertained by Mr. Thomas from the Rajah himself, during a refidence of two months in his camp: in other refpects, a good and humane character. The Rajah fpoke without the least appearance of shame of the depredations committed by his fubjects. When it was remarked that the foil and climate of his country were fufficiently fertile to fupply the wants of the inhabitants by the honeft labours of the plough, he replied, that the small number of Rajpoots in his fervice, compared with the mass of the country people, did not allow him to reftrain the latter in thofe unlawful acts, as any interference with fo old and established a |