﻿82 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



taken refage in a recefs among the hills, in order, as 

 we were tcid, to avoid being molefted by the Mah- 

 rattas. The whole party might have confiRed of 

 about fifty men, women, and children, who no (oon- 

 er perceived us, than they ran off, howling and fliriek- 

 ing, into the woods. Their flight was fo precipitate, 

 that they left ail their property behind them, which 

 confifting only of dry grain, packed in leaves, and 

 which being flung upon bamboos, they could eafily 

 have carried off. I was careful, that none of their 

 bundles fhould be touched, in hopes that, when they 

 fliould recover from their panic, they might be in- 

 duced to bring iome of the grain to Purryhud for 

 fale; but in this expetlation 1 was difappointed. 



The rain, on our arrival, came on fo heavy, ac- 

 companied by a high wind, that it was with difficulty 

 we could get a fire kindled, and a fcanty meal pre- 

 pared, to relieve the preffure of hunger. As any in- 

 formation regarding the fituation of the contending 

 parties at Sonelmt, now only five miles diftant, be- 

 came of much confequence for me to attain, I fent a 

 Hirkarrah^ accompanied by one of our Chohan guides, 

 with a letter to the Mahratta officer in command, and 

 likewife one to the Rajah. Before night, I received 

 an anfwer from each party ; that from the Mahraitas 

 very civil ; and the Rajah, who had juft concluded a 

 ceffation of holtilities, fent guides to condutl me to 

 S one hut. 



Feb. 24th. The rain did not abate till about noon, 

 at which time, being anxious to reach So'nehut, I m.ov- 

 ed on. But we had fcarcely marched two miles, 

 when it began to pour fo heavily, that it was with dif- 

 ficulty we could proceed any further. Finding fome 

 defcrted huts within a mile of Sonehut, we all crept 

 into them, to avoid the inclemency of the weather ; 

 for the ground was fo wet, that it was impoffible to pitch 



a tent. 



