THE STATION 147 



that by this means the differences between the Raja 

 and our Government might be amicably arranged. 

 This expectation was not realized. The Raja remained 

 unyielding, and Warren Hastings then decided to exert 

 authority. He issued an order to the commander of 

 his escort to march a force into the city, to arrest the 

 Raja and bring him back a prisoner to the camp. 



It would appear that no resistance was anticipated 

 on the part of the Raja, and certainly no arrangements 

 were made to meet resistance should any be offered. 

 Only a small party of Sepoys were despatched, and, 

 what seems extraordinary, they were sent off with 

 unloaded muskets and, moreover, without any ammu- 

 nition to load them should the necessity for doing 

 so arise. Thus equipped, the party reached the palace. 

 They found the gates closed. The summons to open 

 them was answered by a fire of matchlocks from the 

 roof and the narrow windows. This fire the Sepoys, 

 with their unloaded muskets and without ammunition, 

 were, of course, unable to return. They had no course 

 but to retreat. 



As the news spread the city rose, and then the 

 adjacent country. Matters appeared so serious that 

 Warren Hastings thought it prudent to hurriedly strike 

 his camp and to march away further to the west. He 

 proceeded for some distance along the banks of the 

 Ganges ; then he crossed the river and, with his escort 

 and attendants, took refuge in the old native fortress 

 of Chundalghurrie, or, as it is termed by us Europeans, 

 Chunar. 



This fortress, since modernized, crowns the level 



