﻿116 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



Deo would pay much attention to my Mahratta Pur^ 

 wannah; and he was convinced, that if he did not 

 attack me openly, he would do it underhand, by 

 means of the Jaepour Rajah. He concluded by tel- 

 ling me, that he had been induced to give me this in- 

 formation, to diffuade me from proceeding to Vizia- 

 NAGRUM, by Buftar and Jaepour, to the end that 

 no reproach might come upon him ; for in cafe any 

 misfortune fliould befal me, the Malirattas would un- 

 doubtedly tax him with duplicity, in not having given 

 me information of the danger before me; and that as 

 I was recommended to his care by his adopted mo- 

 ther, the Ranny of the late Bembajee, he felt himfelf 

 doubly inclined to prevent any harm happening to 

 me ; but, if I was determined upon taking that route, 

 I muft take the confequences upon myfelf ; for, after 

 the reprefentation he had made of the difficulty and dan- 

 ger of attempting it, he fliould confider himfelf as rid 

 of all refponfibility, and would make the fame known 

 to the Mahratta government. 



The information of the Goand chief was delivered 

 with fo much candour, and fo very explicitly, that 

 I could not harbour a doubt as to its veracity ; and 

 I found it afterwards fully verihed on my arrival in 



the Circars. 



I was next led to inquire, that, fuppofing the 

 country was fettled, and the Buftar and Jaepour 

 Rajahs not unfriendly to travellers, if the track 

 'through it would be of a convenient nature for loaded 

 cattle. Saum Sing replied, that the road through 

 thefe countries confilted of one continual afcent and 

 defcent, through the thickeft forefls and mountainous 

 paths; and in Tome places over the fides of the m oft 

 craggv precipices; that the whole of the Bujlar coun- 

 try was almoft a wildcrnefs ; being, in a few places 

 only, thinly inhabited by the wild Goands, who are in 

 a Hate of nature; and that in fome parts I fliould find 



no 



