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monstrance on such shameful conduct. That gentleman enter- 

 taining no doubt of his personal security, proceeded to the enemy's 

 trenches, where he was informed the caun had rode out: he went 

 again the next morning, and after waiting some time was received 

 in the durbar. Mr. Gruso, in the name of his commanding officer, 

 informed Mirza he could not sufficiently express his astonishment 

 at the sultaun's open violation of public faith, in having assaulted 

 and taken Fortified Island ; that the present visit to his durbar 

 was not so much to know whether the fort of Onore was to be 

 next attacked, as to give him notice, that as he fully expected such 

 a treacherous attempt, so was he resolutely prepared to resist it. 

 Extraordinary as it may appear to those unacquainted with the 

 duplicity and chicanery of the Indian character, Mirza positively 

 denied having attacked the island; and gravely replied, that the 

 English officer commanding there had for some time given great 

 disgust to his sepoys, by refusing them proper provisions, whilst 

 he luxuriously feasted upon poultry and liquors sent from time to 

 time for the use of the gentlemen at Onore. At the time his 

 people were thus disaffected, this imprudent officer endeavoured 

 to seduce the wife of a Naique, who was by caste a brahmin, and 

 at length had recourse to violence. On this outrage the husband 

 flew to his comrades, interested them and their jemautdar in his 

 cause, and then went in a body to the officer's quarters; where 

 remonstrating with a freedom which he construed into insolence, 

 they were threatened with death. The aggrieved party had im- 

 mediate recourse to arms, and attacked the officer, who was sup- 

 ported by half his garrison. This occasioned the irregular fire 

 heard at Onore. While these mutual hostilities were pending, 



