73 



them so gallantly as to be publicly thanked by (he commander hi 

 chief: Ragobah presented the former with a diamond ring, the latter 

 was promoted to the rank of captain of pioneers. 



At noon the enemy retreated; they amounted to sixty thousand, 

 chiefly cavalry: their artillery, consisting of fourteen field-pieces 

 of different caliber, kept up a brisk fire for some time, but from 

 being too much elevated, did little execution: they were served 

 by Europeans, mostly French. The confederates lost two sirdars, 

 or principal officers, several of inferior rank, and about four hun- 

 dred men, besides three elephants, and a number of horses and 

 camels; in the English line three Europeans and five sepoys were 

 wounded, none killed; Ragobah's army seemed to be mere spec- 

 tators. 



The river dividing the armies, our fatigued troops were inca- 

 pable of pursuing flying cavalry ; we therefore marched a mile 

 further, and encamped near Hossamlee, on ground lately occupied 

 by the enemy; who in that expectation had cut down the trees, de- 

 stroyed the village, and burnt all the corn and provender they 

 could not carry off; the surrounding plain, deprived of its verdant 

 ornaments, was covered with putrid carcases and burning ashes: the 

 hot wind wafting from these, fetid odours, and dispersing the ashes 

 among the tents, rendered our encampment extremely disagreeable. 

 During the night hyaenas, jackals, and wild beasts of various kinds, 

 allured by the scent, prowled over the field with a horrid noise; and 

 the next morning a multitude of vultures, kites, and birds of prey 

 were seen asserting their claim to a share of the dead. It was to me 

 a scene replete with horrid novelty, realizing the prophet's denun- 

 ciation: "I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord; 



VOL. II. L 



