CHAPTER II. Mr. Thomas marches towards his new Pergunnahs.-Military operations.—Intrigues of Begum Somroo. She is depofed.-Death of Levaffo. Altercation betwixt Mr. Thomas and Appakandarow.-Occurrences. AVING remained fome time at Delhi, HAV it afforded Mr. Thomas the opportunity of recruiting his forces to 700 men; with this reinforcement, he prepared for his departure to the districts which had been affigned to him by Appakandarow. To the accomplishment of that purpose a new obstacle arofe ;-unable to pay his troops, they became mutinous, and plundered the adjacent country. This conduct disgusting Appakandarow, produced high words between him and Mr. Thomas. The difpute, after much altercation, ended in a compromife, by C which Mr. Thomas received the fum of 14,000 rupees, and an affignment for the rest of his claims. The latter, however, was never fulfilled. In the march towards his districts, Mr. Thomas retaliated upon the Begum Sumroo, whom he now confidered his bitter enemy, laying under contribution that part of her country which came within his route. Arriving at Goorath, a large and populous village, he impofed heavy contributions. These amounted to a confiderable fum. He found here also an ample fupply of bullocks and forage. Continuing his march, after a long and tedious day's journey, he encamped near the town of Tejara, a place in the centre of the Mewattee district. The night was dark and rainy this and the extreme fatigue of the foldiers confpired to render fuccessful an attempt which the Mewattys made, and they carried off a horfe from the very centre of the camp. In the morning, a party was detached to dif cover the village to which the horse had been conveyed. The party had not proceeded far when they were attacked, and obliged to retreat. Orders were then given for the cavalry to advance, and cover the detachment. And Mr. Thomas himself leading the infantry, .haftily marched, and with his collected force, attacked the enemy at the village, to which, it appears, the horse had been carried. By this time they had affembled and became formidable. The centre divifion of Mr. Thomas's troops, in a fhort time fet fire to the village, and there seemed no doubt of a complete victory, when the divifions on the right and left giving way, fled with precipitation. The wounded left on the field were, even at this crifis of the action, cut to pieces by the enemy. The centre divifion, under the special command of Mr. Thomas, now following the example of their brethren, left him, of his troops, only a dozen infantry and a few cavalry. Thus.difcomfited and vexed by the unsteadinefs of his troops, Mr. Thomas, as a last resort, |