WESTERN HINDOOSTAN. 93 



with certainty. All the repairs are efFedted by native carpen- 

 ters, and all tlie Hiips, even the largeft, are built by them, and 

 in a finiplicity of manner which would aftonifli an European 

 workman. M. Sonnerat^ i. tab. 18, reprelents the Indian with all 

 the powers of his art. The neighboring mountains fupply them 

 with teek-wood, Bengal with iron and hemp, and the adjacent 

 forefts with pines for marts. 



Bombay is alfo the great dep6t of artillery, arms, and am- 

 munition, and all the means of furnifhing an army. Here is 

 alfo a conliderable military eflablilhment, at prefent under the 

 command of Sir Robert Abercromby^ K. B. Prefident of Bombay, 

 Governor and Commander in Chief. From hence marched the 

 force deilined to affift in the reduction of the tyrant Tippoo Sultan, 

 and to give peace to the fouthern part of this vafb continent. 



A MOST unfortunate expedition took its departure from this Expeditions 

 place in 1779 ; at which period it had not the happinefs of be- ^^'^^ 

 ing under the rule of a Hastings. A little time before, Ro- 

 ganaut Row, a Mahratta chieftain, fled from his country, and 

 put hirafelf under the protedtion of this prefidency. He had 

 been guardian to the young PaiJJjwa., Naron Rozu, his own 

 nephew. In the numbers of intrigues that infefted the Hate 

 of Poonah, a confpiracy was formed againft the youth. A band 

 of aflaflins were employed to murder him. Roganaut^ better 

 known by the name of Ragobab, was at the time confined in 

 prifon. The nephew flew to feek fafety in his arms. In that cafe 

 he would have been fafe, but he could only fling himfelf at 

 his feet. The youth was murdered. The uncle exchanged his 

 prifon for the Paijhwa-Jbip. Frelli confpiracies arofe, and Ro- 



ganaut 



