6 



precious stones belonging lo the peshwa family, amounting to six 

 lacs of rupees: the whole value in money, bonds, and government 

 securities, was said to exceed forty-three lacs, upwards of half a 

 million sterling. Perhaps some of the latter might be of imaginary 

 worth; but the deposit shews the confidence placed by the unfor- 

 tunate prince in an English individual, in preference to an inde- 

 pendent oriental sovereign, surrounded by his army and fortifica- 

 tions. 



The arrival of the English forces at Surat gave Ragobah con- 

 sequence; he cherished hope, and soon after our landing had his 

 first interview with the nabob, who visited him at the house al- 

 lotted for his residence, and from thence accompanied him in state 

 to one of his summer-palaces, with the usual magnificence: to shew 

 Ragobah the greater honour, his body-guard consisted of a bat- 

 talion of English sepoys. In the hall of audience he was placed 

 on an elevated throne covered with cloth of gold, while the nabob 

 and his sons sat on the carpet. The nabob on this occasion pre- 

 sented Ragobah with gold and silver coin as a mark of respect; 

 and afterwards with an elephant, an Arabian horse, and a profu- 

 sion of shawls and keemcobs, in token of friendship. 



We passed some time in suspense at Surat: at length Ra- 

 gobah receiving intelligence that his generals in Guzerat had col- 

 lected his scattered forces at Copperwanje, resolved to pro- 

 ceed to Cambay with the English detachment, and from thence 

 endeavour to effect a junction with his army. We embarked at 

 Surat, and proceeded in boats down the Taptee; but Ragobah 

 deeming it necessary to perform some religious ceremonies at a 

 Hindoo temple near Domus, a village not far from the entrance 



