﻿70 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



•who was the Zemindar of that part of Singrowla 

 through which my route would lie. Ajeet Sing then 

 informed me, that he had given him orders to accom- 

 pany us to the frontier of Corair ; and being upon 

 good terms with the Rajah of that country, he had 

 -written to him, recommending me ftrongly to his care 

 and attention. He added, that I need be under no 

 apprehenfion about taking grain and guides from Shaw- 

 pour^ as Shalikram would lee that I fhould be abunr 

 dantly fupplied on the way, and would procure guides 

 from the villages. This matter being adjufted, I was 

 next made acquainted with all the little jealoufies and 

 difputes that fubfilted beteen Ajeet Sing and all the 

 neighbouring Rajahs^ but which I declined having any 

 concern with. The next fubje6l of difcourfe was the 

 nature of the country before us, and the difficulty of 

 the road was reprefented to me as infurmountable; 

 added to which, the Mahrattas being at variance with 

 the Rajah of Corair., and the country confequently in 

 confuhon, I {hould be diftrcffed both for guides and 

 provifions. To this information I replied, that what 

 he reprefented to me might be ftri£tly true; but that 

 the nature of my bufinefs was fuch, that I could not 

 relinquilh it before I had made e;yery attempt to ac- 

 complifii it; and finally, that it was my determination 

 to depart from Shawpour the next day. Here the in- 

 terviev/ ended, and the Rajah took his leave. 



Feb. 14th. In the morning I departed, accom- 

 panied by Shalikram, and we proceeded about fix 

 cofs to the village of Cuttoly^ near which we encamped, 

 on the banks of the Myar river. The clear frofty 

 weather had now left us, and the fky was overcafl:, 

 and feemed to threaten rain. Towards the evening, 

 ^HALiKRAM, who had gone into the village, fent us 

 about teny^^rs of grain, which were tendered for fale 

 at an enormous price. Upon inquiring of him the 

 reafon of our not being better lupplied, he made many 

 frivolous excufes; but I then difcovered that the real 



caufe 



