fent against him by Mr. Perron; but his troop having been corrupted by means of a large fum of money, which Perron found means to diftribute, Simbonauth was at length neceffitated to fubmit; and give up part of his districts, to fecure the remainder from the grasp of the Mahrattas.

Mr. Thomas having thus raised the fum required, returned to Hanfi. About this time. Mr. Perron, who had in vain exerted himself to obtain poffeffion of the person of Luckwa, or his family, returned from the army. Well aware that little was to be gained by open hoftilities with the Rajepoots, he marched back to Delhi," in order," fays Mr. Thomas, "to gather easier laurels from the grain merchant, "Simbonauth who was by this time once "more ready to attempt the recovery of the "diftricts which he had been fo recently compelled to refign."

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Soon after his arrival at Delhi, Mr. Perron with a confiderable body of men, having croffed the Jumna, paffed into the Dooab, to act against Simbonauth; at the fame time he difpatched

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letters to Mr. Thomas, which he pretended to have received from the Paishwa, containing orders enjoining him to affift Luck wa, who was declared to be the protector of the family of the deceafed Scindiah, and directed to remain in the fervice of his widow. Thefe letters Mr. Thomas knew to be forged, and was moreover well aware that Luckwa was at this time, as he had ever been, his declared and inveterate enemy; and on feveral occafions had endeavoured to overthrow his authority, by promifing grants of his country in the Paishwa's name to other people. This behaviour induced Mr. Thomas to regret not having afforded aid to Simbonauth; as he might at this juncture not only have faved him, but crushed those who not long after effected his downfall.

Simbonauth had requested Mr. Thomas to come to his affiftance, but without fuccefs.

Mr. Thomas however offered him an asylum within his own diftricts. He advised him not to think of refifting Mr. Perron with his prefent confused and diforderly force. This advice, though falutary, was of no avail; for

Simbonauth, confiding in the proteftations of his followers, refolved to remain in the Dooab, and wait the approach of the enemy. The event manifefted the truth of Mr. Thomas's prediction; as on the actual appearance of the enemy, the troops of Simbonauth not only deferted, but actually endeavoured by treacherous means to feize his person, and deliver him up a prisoner. Difappointed in their treacherous defigns, they went over to the enemy; but not before Simbonauth had fortunately effected his escape.

Repairing to the Punjab, he there fought and obtained an asylum in the districts of Baug Sing, chief of Booreah.

At this time Mr. Thomas received, intelligence that feveral of his diftricts, particularly those in the vicinity of Hanfi, were in a state of actual rebellion, and had plundered the merchants reforting to that place of a very confiderable fum of money, and other valuable effects. Among others concerned in this revolt, were the zemindars of Bulhalli, Sorani, Jumalpore, and Bhuwaul.

This laft mentioned town is computed to contain ten thousand inhabitants, who retain a character fo remarkable for bravery, that several armies have been defeated in attempting the reduction of that place. Among others, the late Ifmaeel Beg, with fixteen thousand men, and one hundred pieces of cannon, befieged it for a long time in vain. The inhabitants are Rahtore Rajepoots, and poffefs the accustomed valour of that tribe; although this character has in some instances been fullied by a cruelty not ufual among the rest of their brethren.

It being the rainy feafon when this rebellion broke out, and Mr. Thomas apprehending the most serious confequences if the cultivation of the lands was prevented, marched with all poffible expedition towards the rebels, and first appeared before the town of Bulhalli.

In that place were three thousand men, who, although well armed, were badly fupplied with provifions. He might, according to his ufual custom, have stormed, but thinking from the number and bravery of the garrison the event might prove doubtful, had recourse to the furer means of reducing it by a blockade.

Having erected a chain of redoubts, well fortified and supplied with artillery, he completely encircled the place, encompaffing the whole by a ditch twelve feet in depth. As no provi fions could enter the town, the garrifon after fome days experienced diftrefs; they made repeated fallies, but having to cross the ditch before they could reach the redoubts on the plain, they became exposed to the whole fire of the trenches, and were in confequence defeated in every fucceffive attack. To increase their annoyance, Mr. Thomas began to draw off the water from a neighbouring reservoir, which reduced them to the neceffity of drinking the water from the wells within the fort; this being bitter in its quality rendered it unwholesome, and caufed fickness within the gar rifon. Provifions now became so fearce that nothing remained but damaged grain.

During the fiege of this place the inha bitants of Bhowanee, a neighbouring town, had made feveral attempts to throw in fuccours, but in vain. To retaliate upon them, Mr. Thomas ordered his cavalry to make excurfions in the neighbourhood of Bhowance,