22' NARRATIVE OF A JOURNEY 



This town is in the province of Bundelcund : the 

 inhabitants are a robiift and handfome race of men? 

 and wear the appearance of opulence and content. 

 Like the other Bimdclahs^ they have the reputation of 

 a warlike people ; and about two years after our viht, 

 they gave a iignal proof, how well they merit that cha- 

 radter. Gopal Row Bhovv, Scindiah's commander 

 in chief in Ilindujian, having marched with all his army 

 againlt D'ltieah, tocompel paymentofthetribute, andex- 

 acl a fine, was oppofed by the Rnjah's forces. An engage- 

 ment enfued, in which the troops of Ditteah charged, 

 fwordin hand, the veteran battalions of De Boigne, 

 .which were commanded by Major Frimont, an officer 

 of ability and experience. The Bundelalis fhewed no fear 

 of tlie muflvet and bayonet, and there were feveral in- 

 ftances of grenadiers cut down while their bayonets 

 were buried in the breaftof the affailant's horfe. The 

 brigade loft 300 men, in this attack, and Major pRi- 

 MoxT himfelf affured me, that nothing but a con- 

 tinual difcharge of grape-fhot, from the guns, prefervcd 

 it from utter deftruction. 



The diftricl yields a revenue of nine or teu lacks of 

 rupees annually, fubjedl: to the payment of a tribute to 

 the Mahraitas; the amount of which varies with their 

 power to exa6l it. 



This evening, the reiident received a vifit from the 

 Rajfth, whofe name is SuTTERjET, a man about forty 

 years of age, above lix feet high, of an athletic form, 

 and graceful deportment ; with a countenance not un- 

 plea^ing, except that the extenfive ufe of opium has 

 given him an air of ftupidity. Notwithftanding his ha- 

 bits of intoxication, and inordinate indulgence in fen- 

 fual pleafures, he is fond of athletic amufements, par- 

 ticularly the chace. His a6livity and courage, in the 

 attack of the boai, the neel-gaw (antilope pdJa of 

 Pallas, or white footed antilope of Penxant) here 

 called roz, and of the tyger, with all of which the 

 neighbouring foreft abound^ are greatly extolled. 



The 



