JOURWEY TO SIRINAGUR. 315 



ratta government, and, at all other seasons, under 

 the rule and contronl of that state, is, on these oc- 

 casions, usurped, by that party of the Fakecn; who 

 prove themselves most powerful ; and though the col- 

 lections made upon pilgrims, cattle, and all species of 

 merchandize, amount to a very considerable sum; yet 

 no part is remitted to the treasury of the Alahratta 

 state. 



These Mehimts meet in council daily : hear and 

 tlecide upon all complaints brought before them, ei- 

 ther against individuals, or of a nature tending to dis- 

 turb the public tranquillity, and the well manage- 

 ment of this immense multitude. 



As one of these assemblies was on the high road 

 near our tents, we had frequent opportunities of no- 

 ticing their meetings; and one of our sepoys, having 

 occasion to appear before it, in a cause of some con- 

 sequence, it gave us an opportunity of learning some- ' 

 thing of the nature of their proceeding. 



The sepoy, it seems, on leaving the station, where 

 his battalion was doing duty, was entrusted, by one 

 of the native officers, with fifty rupees, and a com- 

 mission to purchase a camel. With the intention of 

 executing this trust, he mixed with a crowd, where 

 some camels were exposed for sale; and while endea- 

 vouring to cheapen one to the limits of his purse; 

 shewing the money, and tempting the camel mer- 

 chant to accept, for his beast, the fifty rupees, he 

 drew the attention of a party of Manvar men, who 

 were meditating a plan to get it from him. Five or 

 six of those men, separating from the crowd, got 

 round him, said, they (or one of them) had lost his 

 money, to the amount of fifty rupees; that he, the 

 sepoy, was the man who had it; and, with much cla- 

 mour and force, they got the money from him. For- 

 tunately, the sepoy's comrades were near; he ran to- 

 >yards them and communicated the alarm, and got 



assistance, 



