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country. In this fort, exclufive of the garrifon, he stationed a large body of cavalry, who fo annoyed the Batties by frequent fallies, in which they took fuch numbers of cattle, that the inhabitants entertained thoughts of emigrating from their own country altogether.

When Mr. Thomas reached the frontiers of Beykaneer, the chiefs of the Batties, hearing of his arrival, were defirous of entering into a treaty with him; and, in order to fecure him in their interefts, offered the fum of 40,000 rupees, if he would reduce the fort abovementioned, and liberate them from their unpleafant fituation.

The offer being accepted, after a march of ten days, Mr. Thomas reached the city of Batnier, the most western habitation in that part of India.*

This city, occupied by the troops of Bey

* In this sense at least it is understood at present, there being no habitation west of it until you pass the Sutledge, from whence commences the country of the Balooches, who are at present tributaries to Zemaun Shah, king of Cabul.-Consult the map.

kaneer, was, from its natural position, almost inacceffible to an enemy, there being no water to be procured nearer than twelve miles. The garrifon being numerous, Mr. Thomas thought it most eligible to batter in breach, which he did, and was making the neceffary preparations for ftorming, when the enemy capitulated. He allowed them to march out with the honours of war, and immediately put the Battie chiefs in poffeffion of the place.

Several other places were then taken poffeffion of, and various actions took place, by which, and the unhealthinefs of the climate, Mr. Thomas's troops were reduced to one third only of their original ftrength. This was the more unpleasant, as the brother of one of the chiefs abovementioned, who was at variance with him, commenced hoftilities against Mr. Thomas, who, on account of the deficiency of his force, from the caufes above ftated, being scarcely equal to the encounter, was compelled to fortify his camp.

By night the enemy made frequent attacks; but, unsuccessful in all attempts, at length gave up the point, and withdrew their army.

Mr. Thomas then marched and took poffeffion of the town of Futtahbad, which with feveral others he burnt, and would now, in all probability, have got poffeffion of the whole country, had not the enemy at this time received affiftance from their neighbour, the Seik chief of Puttialah. That chief, having fent one thousand cavalry to their aid, and concluded a treaty of alliance, Mr. Thomas did not deem the present moment favourable for a prosecution of hostilities. He therefore returned to Jyjur, in order to afford fome relief to his people from the diftempers they had contracted in the courfe of the campaign.

About this time, Luckwa, through the intrigues of Mr. Perron at Scindiah's durbar, had been again fuperfeded in his command. To haften his downfall, and if poffible take him prisoner, Perron marched against him with his whole force.

But Luckwa, leaving his camp and baggage a prey to the enemy (who on their arrival were too much taken up in plundering to follow in the purfuit), and having previously sent

off his family to seek an asylum in the dominions of Joudpore, thus effected his own escape.

Among the Rajpoot ftates, the fituation of Joudpore is deferving of particular attention; and we shall therefore, as on fimilar occafions, turning afide from the detail of military tranfactions, embrace the opportunity thus afforded of taking a retrospective sketch of the refources of the country, as well as prefent our readers with an account of fome of the manners and customs peculiar to this fingular people.

CHAPTER XII.

Geographical defcription of Joudpoor or Marwar -Manners and cuftoms of the inhabitants— -Hiftory-Mr. Thomas's military operations -Capture of Bhaut-Tranfactions in the territories of Roy Kellaun.

JOUDPOOR

or Marwar is bounded on the north by Beykaneer, north-weft by Jeffelmere, and weft by the defert; on the fouthweft by the country of the Sindys, fouth by the province of Guzurat, fouth-eaft by Mewar, and east by the dominions of Jypoor.

It is in length two hundred and twenty coss, and in breadth one hundred and eighty, at the computation of two British miles to the cofs.

This extent of country is supposed formerly to have contained from eight to ten thousand villages, including the capital towns within its range. The population was then great, but at prefent it poffeffes not more than five thou

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