2^8 GANGETIC HINDOOSTAN. 



the baggage of armies ; and for greater expedition, to convey 

 expreffes, when the nature of the country will permit. 

 Elephants. I HAVE fpoken little of elephants, the celebrated quadruped 



of Indiay whether its ufes be confidered in war, or as contri- 

 buting to the oftentatious magnificence of oriental pride in 

 time of peace. The ufes in the campaigns of Hindooftan have 

 continually lefiened, fince the European method of fighting 

 has gained ground ; the Moguls difcover their inefficacy againft 

 artillery and mufquetry. Their ufe has been of great antiquity, 

 Porus brought two hundred into the field againft Alexander the 

 great, and his fuccelTor Seleucus Nicator, received five hundred 

 from Sandracotta as the price of his retreat. FeriJJjta, vol. i. 

 p. 153, informs us, that Pitu Rai, Rajah of Ajmere^ in 11 92, 

 brought to battle three thoufand elephants ; five hundred was 

 no uncommon number in later times. How tremendous muil 

 have been the concurfus I the commanders in chief have fre- 

 quently feledted each other for a fingle combat in the fury of 

 an engagement, both mounted on their elephant. In our me- 

 mory, there is a fmgular inftance in which both the heroes loft 

 their lives, both of the high rank of Nabob. One of them 

 Soubah of the Deccan, or ISHzam, named Murzafa Jing, or the 

 Invincible, had put the army of his rival to flight, he purfued 

 with ardour, and came within fight of the enemy. A conquered 

 chieftain, Nabob of Canoul, indignant at his inglorious fit nation, 

 directed the governor of his elephants to turn back, and meet 

 the infvilting foe. They foon brought the beafts fide by fide, 

 when the victor v/ith uplifted fcymeter, in the a6l of cutting 

 down the late fugitive, was by him transfixed through the 



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