intrepid and enterprizing, who, amid the tranfactions of later times, and the various revolutions of Mahratta politics in Hindoostan, had borne an active and distinguished part.

The death of Appa was on feveral accounts unfavourable to Mr. Thomas's interests. Vavon Row, his nephew and fucceffor, was a youth vain and inexperienced, and better adapted to the life of an accomptant than that of a general.

Inftigated by the fuggeftions of perfons who furrounded him, the incautious youth was perfuaded to demand reftitution from Mr. Thomas of the districts which had been given him by his uncle, as an honorable reward for the fervices he had performed. Agreeably to this refolution, he had the weaknefs to order his troops to take poffeffion of the districts in queftion.

Mr. Thomas, indignant at a conduct he fo little merited, peremptorily refused compliance with the order. He reprefented to that chief, by letter, the impropriety of his present proceeding; declared his firm resolution to main

tain poffeffion of the diftricts; pointed out to him the fatal effects that muft neceffarily arife to both parties if the quarrel was pursued further; and, finally, for the fake of peace, and to prevent future difagreements, acquainted Vavan Row that he was willing to pay a fum money if left in quiet poffeffion,

of

These remonstrances, however founded on reafon or justice, were of no avail: Vavon Row would listen to no terms but the implicit ceffion of the whole. The matter could there fore only be decided by an appeal to the fword.

On Mr. Thomas's arrival at Hoffellee, a large village forming part of his poffeffions, he perceived it in the hands of the enemy; and Vavon Row, prepared to defend it, encamped under the walls of the fort.

Unwilling to push matters to an extremity, if by any means it could be avoided, Mr. Thomas drew off his force to a small distance, and gave particular orders to his own people to forbear all acts of hoftility on their part. This mode of conduct was of no avail; for the

G

troops of Vavon Row coming daily from their own camp, infulted and fired upon Mr. Thomas's men, by which feveral of them were feverely wounded.

The enemy, reinforced by a large body of the peasantry, and headed by the zemindars of their respective villages, were now become fo formidable, that Mr. Thomas refolved to bring the business to an iffue. He accordingly attacked them. The affair was quickly decided; the enemy fled in all directions; and the greater part, having taken fhelter in the fort of Kuffollee, were followed by Mr. Thomas, who immediately commenced the fiege of that place. Having erected batteries, he ordered the grates for heating shot to be got in readiness; which being done, he fired fo fuccefsfully with red-hot shot, that he quickly compelled them to furrender at discretion.

It was now agreed that an interview betwixt Mr. Thomas and Vavon Row should take place at Kanond, whither the former had marched for that purpose. On his arrival, however, Vavon Row, pretending to be fearful

of treachery, refufed to come out of the fort; and Mr. Thomas, for fimilar reafons, was unwilling to enter it. The negotiations were therefore broken off; and Mr. Thomas, continuing to confider this Mahratta chief as an enemy, led his troops toward the frontiers.

This measure was rendered more neceffary, and his attention called to the defence of his northern purgunnahs, which had recently been invaded by the feiks.

But the mention of this remarkable people, leading us afide for a while from the ordinary course of our narrative, invites a detail of the present state of the Punjaub, or country fituated between the Indus and the Sutledge.

CHAPTER V.

Geographical defcription of the Punjab,—of the feiks, their manners, customs, forces, and refources.

HE extenfive and fertile country described

THE

by Arrian and other antient historians, as comprehended within the five great rivers, the Hydafpes, the Hydraötes, the Acefines, the Hyphafis, and the Sutledge, is, by modern geographers, denominated Punjab.

On the north it is bounded by the mountains. inhabited by the tribe called Yoofuf Zey; on the caft by the mountains of Naun, Serinnaghur and Jumbo; on the weft by the river Sind or Attock ;* and on the fouth by the diftricts of Panniput, and the province of Harrianah. It is two hundred and fifty coffes from

This river above the city of Attock is called by the natives Aba Seen.