204 PlXDAREE WAR. 



uncertainty, though at length it resulted in the hazardous 

 determination to follow his example. On the 24th Novem- 

 ber, 1817, Mr. Jenkins, the British resident, was invited to- 

 see' his highness invested with a dress of honour ; having 

 assumed the juree putka or golden streamer, an emblem of 

 high command, both of which had been transmitted by the 

 pelshwa. Our countryman declined attendance, not without 

 expressing indignation at the rajah's acceptance of these 

 honours at such a moment ; and indeed it seems to have 

 been an imprudent and premature insult, by which the tng- 

 lish were put on their guard. 



The subsidiary force now stationed at ISagpoTe was very 

 small. It consisted only of two battalions of native in- 

 fantry, with detachments of cavalry and artillery ; and the 

 whole, bein<r much reduced by sickness, did not amount to 

 1400 men. The rajah's army, on the contrary- comprised 

 10,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, including 3000 or 4000 

 very brave Arab troops. The residency was situated out- 

 side the town, and separated from it by a ridge rising at 

 each extremity into low hills, which were hastily occupied 

 as defensive posts. At sunset the pickets were fired upon 

 by the Arab infantry, and soon after a general discharge ol 

 artillery was opened upon all the positions, particularly 

 those on the smaller hill. This was continued till two ir* 

 the mornino- with considerable effect, the first officer m 

 command on that station being killed, and the second 

 wounded. The English, during the remainder of the night, 

 made the best preparations in their power against the more 

 serious attack which was anticipated in the morning. Ac- 

 cordingly at daybreak the charge was renewed with in- 

 creased fury. At ten a tumbril burst on the smaller hill, 

 which threw the troops into some confusion ; the Arabs 

 rushed on with loud cries, the sepoys were seized with panic 

 and fled, abandoning the guns and the wounded, who were 

 immediately put to the sword. The enemy then opened a 

 heavy fire on the larger hill, when several officers fell, and 

 anion:* them Mr. Sothebv, the resident's assistant, a young 

 man of distinguished merit, while he was endeavouring to 

 rally and restore the courage of his men. The dismay of 

 the troops, the cries of the women and children, the vast 

 numbers and increasing confidence of the enemy, seemed 

 to portend the most fatal result. Yet even then resources 



