222 



letter; consider that peace and war arc before you, and make a 

 wise choice! I conclude in the words of your own epistle " what 

 can I say more ?" 



L. S. 



Dhuboy, or Soohiabad, 

 8th of the month Sheval, Hejira 119-4. 

 J. D. loth October 1782. 



During the campaign in Guzerat I particularly mentioned the 

 Bhauts at Neriad, and the value of a security executed by one 

 of that extraordinary tribe; the failure of an agreement Avhich 

 thejr guarantee can only be expiated by the shedding of human 

 blood. This was my reason for insisting upon this sacred cere- 

 mony, in all my engagements and treaties with the Gracias. A 

 note on these lines in Pope's Homer is very illustrative of this 

 custom among the Bhauts. 



" Yet him, my guest, thy venom'd rage hath stung j 

 " Thy head shall pay the forfeit of thy tongue." 



" From two remarkable expressions in Homer and Sophocles, 

 it appears that the blood which was found upon the sword, was 

 wiped upon the head of the slain; an intimation that his own blood 

 was fallen upon the head of the deceased, and the living were 

 free from it. His blood shall be upon his head, is a common ex- 

 pression in scripture, as also in other ancient writers. It was cus- 

 tomary among the Romans to wash their hands, in token of inno- 

 cence, and purity from blood. Pilate, the Roman governor, at the 

 condemnation of our Saviour, washed his hands, and said, " I am 

 innocent of the blood of this just person : see ye to it!" A speech, 



