﻿158 NARRATIVE OF A ROUTE 



having, in defiance of the Rajah's orders, intended to 

 force my way to the Company's frontier. That he, 

 being much incenfed at the difrefpecl flievvn to his 

 authority, had fent this detachment to bring ray party 

 to Paloon/Jtah ; and in the event of our rehRing, had 

 given orders to plunder and harafs us; which would 

 delay our progrefs, until a man fliould arrive at the 

 poll of Soondpilly Gundy, with inftruttions to fell the 

 trees in the road, and ftockade the pafs. 



The man in command of the troops having dif- 

 mounted, came with Mortizally into my tent; when 

 we commenced a converfation upon the meafures 

 which were to be purfued. They at firft infifted upon 

 my inflantly complying with the orders they had re- 

 ceived to carry me to PaloonfJiah. This I pohtively 

 refufcd, alledging, that We had come a long march that 

 day, and were not in a condition to undertake a fecond, 

 I told them, that I had no obje6lion to go to Paloon- 

 fiah .the next day; but that, if the Rajah thought I 

 would fubmit to be treated in the fmalleft degree be- 

 neath that dignity and refpcft which he might think due 

 to his own perfon, he would find himfelf miilaken; for 

 I would fooner burn the whole of my baggage, to pre- 

 vent its falling into his poffeffion ; and would contend 

 with him to the utmofl; of my ability in forcing a paf- 

 lage to the Company's frontier. I added, that the 

 Rajah" s country being contiguous to our own, he muft 

 be well aware of our military reputation. To thefe 

 obfervations they feemed in fomc degree to affent ; but 

 replied, that fuch meafures had been taken to prevent 

 our efcape, that it would be impoffible for us to 

 elfeft it; and that I fliould do well to go to Paloon- 

 /hah, where, they did not doubt, the Rajah would 

 iliew me every attention. Finding, however, that I 

 was determined not to move any more that day^ they 

 ao-rced that we fliould commence our march to Paloon- 

 Jhah early the enfuing morning. 



Thi 



