518 NARRATIVE OF A 



days of bathing ; but on the morning of the lOtli 

 oY Jpri/, (which clay concluded the Mela) a scene of 

 much confusion and bloodshed ensued. About eight 

 o'clock on that nioming, the Sech (having previously 

 (leposited their women, children, and property, in a 

 village, at some distance from Huvdicar) assembled 

 in force, and proceeded to the different "watering- 

 places, where they attacked, with swords, spears, and 

 lire-arms, every tribe of Fakcers that came in their 

 way. These people made some resistance, but being- 

 all on foot, and ftw, if an}', having hre-arms, the 

 contest ^vas unequal: and the Seeks; who were all 

 moui]t(?d, {h-o\e the poor Smimimsecs, Byraagees, 

 Goo^aei/fiSy Naagecs, &c. before them, with irresis- 

 tible fury. Having discharged their pieces within a 

 few paces, they rushed upon those unfortunate pil- 

 grims with their swords, and having slaughtered a 

 great number, pursued the remainder, until, by 

 flight to the hills, or by swinnning the river, they 

 escaped the revenge of their pu.rsuers. 



The confusion, spread among other descriptions of 

 people, was inconceivable ; and every one, thinking 

 himself equally an object of their resentment, sought 

 eveiy means of safety that offered : niany took to 

 the river, and in the attempt to swim across, several 

 wci e drowned : of those who endeavoured to escape 

 to the heights, numbers were plundered, but none 

 wlio had not the habit of a /'Vfcer was in the least 

 hurt: many parties of straggling horsemen now rang- 

 ed the island, between Ilm'dicar and Ihij'uniee gaut ; 

 plundering the j)eople to the very water's-edge, im- 

 mediately opposite to us; fortunately for thousands, 

 who crowded to this gaut, the greatest part of one 

 of the vizier's battalions, with two six-pounders 

 were stationed here; two companies of which, with 

 an addition Of a few of our own sepoys, a^ a 

 native officer, whom Captain IMuruay very judi- 

 ciously sent across the river, kept the approach of the 

 Iiorse in check. Finding they could not attack the 

 crowd on the watcr's-cdge, without rccciA'ing a smart 



fire 



