1 Apmron.} BATTLE OF PANNTPUT. 553
2 Indian tSBett prarented any discontent or disaflbction in his camp} iHiileflit
3 fuflferincrs of'fTic Mahrattas were home with impatience, aB tluj Wtn'VBim^
4 lally imputed to the errors ot' their commander. •
5 At last a large convoy, which was comiug from the south of the Dooab,
6 to the MahrattM, tmder an eaoort of ten thomend bone, conunanded by
7 Govind Flinditi wm raipciMd end dispened between Delly and Meeiut^
8 AstKBtimmVofKhp^l ndenotber party, iriiicliiifweacoitingtreaaniefn^
9 IMBjy iMving fallen into the hands of the Dooraunees, the Mahrattas woold
10 no longer »ubadt to« protnctkn of the war, which waa indeed now beoome
11 impossible, t
12 They accordingly marched mit of their camp to attack tlie Dooraunees,
13 on the 7th of January 1761. The Dooraunees got under arms, and the
14 battle hegm * little before dayl. The details of thia action need not be
15 • " From the day of their arrival in thrtr prrtcnt camp, Ahmed Shauh Doorraoee cauwd a small
16 *< red tent to be pitched for bim, a com (about a mik and a half) in firaat of hit camp, and he came
17 ' tnit fffi)^ morning befeic flUMfitB t it wUdi tunc, sftcppcffcfiids|f UtiMmiinp prayer, htOKMnitol
18 his horse and visited every post of the army, accompanied hy hit tan Timr^nr Shnch, and forty or
19 ** fifty horsemen. He alto rc««moitrcii the camp of the enemy, and in a word, saw every tfait^
20 « with hia omcyM, riding uaually forty or fifty cota everf diy* After noon he retaned to iht
21 «• imal! tent, and somcdoiM dincd llwre, aontiaict «t hk own tents in the Bimi ndtUi ww Ui
22 " daily practice.
23 *• At nigftitiwre was* body of five thousand horae advanced atlMr as-mmaientlf n^jlrt bc^
24 « ward* the enemy's camp, where they remained aU night under arm* j other bodies went the rounds
25 " of the whole encampment ( and Ahmed Sliaiih xuei to tay to the Hindostaunee chiefs, " Do you
26 " slrcp, I will take care that no harm befals you :" and to lay the truth, his orien were obcyid
27 *' like destiny, no man daring to hcaitf or delay one aooKBt in cxeeoli^ tlmi.
28 ' «* Every day the troops aad CUMW «a Wtfc aJtiimt drawn ottt, and sdiltMit tluimiMJe^ with
29 " rnatiy slurmishes of horse took place : towards the evening both parties drew off to their camps.
30 This continned for near three months : duriog this time there were three very severe though par*
31 4* tU actions. And thus every day were the two annin employed, from mommg to nine or tea tl
32 ** night, till iif lrn;;*h rhr ITinf^n^tanee chiefs were otit of all patience, and entreated thr SJianh To
33 *< put an end to their fatigues, by coming at once to a (kcisivc action ; but his constant answer was,
34 « This is a matter of war, wiA wUokyM MS aot acquainted. In other aflbirs do at you please,
35 ** but ksic tins to as. Military operationa mutt not be predfitatsdi yon ibsll aae how I «il
36 « ■WWr ilsir t and at a proper opportunity will bring it to 1 auceaafU conchunn."
37 ^ M Iq liut Ust extremity, the Bhow wrote me a short note with his own hand, which he sent ^y
38 •at af lis SHMt confidential terrants. The wocds of the note were these.
39 *• Tbt cap is now full to the brim, and cannot bold anotber drop. If any thing can be done, do
40 k, "or else answer me plainly «t once : hereafter there wfll be no time ft» writing or speaking^.''
41 X ** The Navab's barearrabs brought word, that the Mahrattas were coming out of ihew itoes,
42 tin aitiiwy in tot. sirfiteMd^ Mbwiavclaas Wind.
43 4 ■
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