miles north-weft of Delhi, and nearly in the centre of his newly-acquired domains. The town ftanding upon a hill is peculiarly well adapted to a permanent refidence.

No water can be procured within seven cofs, but the garrifon have an ample fsupply of that

names of the separate pergunnahs, the number of villages formerly inhabited, compared with its present state; the revenues, bearings, and distances of each pergunnah being taken from Hansi, the capital.

neceffary article from feveral wells within the fort. This circumstance renders difficult an attack, except at the feafon of the periodical

rains.

Here," fays Mr. Thomas, with that energy and fpirited animation which diftinguished him throughout the scenes of his extraordinary life, "I established my capital, "rebuilt the walls of the city, long fince fallen "into decay, and repaired the fortifications. "As it had been long deserted, at first I found difficulty in procuring inhabitants, but by degrees and gentle treatment I felected "between five and fix thousand perfons, to "whom I allowed every lawful indulgence.

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“I established a mint, and coined my own "rupees, which I made current in my army "and country; as from the commencement "of my career at Jyjur, I had resolved to "establish an independency, I employed workmen and artificers of all kinds, and I now

66

66

judged that nothing but force of arms could "maintain me in my authority. I therefore "increased their numbers, caft my own artil

86

lery, commenced making mufquets, match"locks, and powder; and, in short, made the

" beft preparations for carrying on an offen"five and defenfive war; till at length having

gained a capital and country bordering on "the Seik territories, I wished to put myself "in a capacity, when a favorable opportunity "should offer, of attempting the conqueft of "the Punjab, and afpired to the honour of "planting the British standard on the banks "of the Attock."*

* To carry his plans into effect, and for the support of his troops, Mr. Thomas appropriated a part of the revenue arising from the lands granted by the Mahrattas, and with much judgment and discernment, naturally inherent in liberal minds, endeavoured to conciliate the affections of his men by granting pensions to the widows and children or nearest relations of those soldiers who fell in his service. These pensions, amounting to 40,000 rupees per annum, were regularly paid to the respective claimants, a mode which reflects the highest credit on Mr. Thomas's character, but which had long since been anticipated by the wisdom of the British government in rewarding their ve teran sepoys. The payments were made every six months, and the nearest relation of the deceased, whether officer or soldier, received the half pay of his rank. This and the expence of casting cannon, the fabrication of small arms, and purchase of warlike stores, consumed that part of Mr. Thomas's revenues which he derived from the dise tricts granted him by the Mahrattas, as detailed in the fore going schedule.

CHAPTER VII.

Reflections.-Mr. Thomas refolves to invade the Jypoor territory-Geographical and ftatistical account of that country.-Revenues, hiftory, manners and cuftoms of the inhabitants.

H

AVING accompanied Mr. Thomas through a series of fervices, as intéresting in their nature as fingular in their refult; having beheld him from the fituation of a fugitive, a friendless and deserted object, now by the force of his own exertions, and an intrepidity of fpirit fcarcely to be paralleled, obtain a fituation feldom equalled by the most fortunate; we must next proceed to trace the causes and defcribe the progrefs of thofe events which led to a decline of his authority, and in the end, as the only means of safety and efcape from the perfecution of numerous and inveterate foes, compelled him to feek an asylum in the territories of his native fovereign.

[A. D. 1798. Not however to anticipate the order of events, it will now be necessary to recur to Mr. Thomas's fituation when in poffeffion of his newly acquired country, His mind having been long intent on the reduction of the Punjab, he would now have fet out on this interefting expedition, but on a review of his troops made for the purpofe, he found his force infufficient to the task, and was therefore induced to have recourse to an excursion into the Jypore dominions, which had hitherto afforded a never-failing supply to his neceffities, and whose ruler was in confequence become his bitter, enemy,:

The fituation of the Jypore dominions, and their relative importance among the states of Rajpootana, will juftify a detail of the ftrength and internal refources of this interefting country. The dominions of Jypore are nearly one hundred cofs from north to fouth, and fifty from east to weft; they are bounded on the north by the 'diftrict of Hurrianah, on the north-east by Alvar, eaft by Karolee and Bhurtpoor, fouth by Kota, Boondee and Mewar, fouth-west by Kishenghur, weft by Ajmere and Joud-pore, and on the north-west by the country of Beykaneer.