162 



As Mirza had intrusted Mr. Cruso with those papers, not 

 officially, but for the private satisfaction of captain Torriano and 

 the Onore garrison, until the duplicates arrived, Mr. Cruso re- 

 turned them the next morning, when Mirza invited him to ride in 

 the evening, and afterwards to a nautch (of dancing girls) and 

 a supper. This entertainment was confined to a few of Mirza's 

 select friends; when all was hilarity and good-humour he led his 

 guest into an inner apartment, and there shewed him colonel 

 Gordon's answer to the letter sent him by major Torriano on the 

 7th of February. Taking advantage of this festive season, Mr. 

 Cruso reminded Mirza of a former promise to communicate the 

 contents of general M'Leod's answer to captain Torriano's letter 

 written when the general was last off the port; this also he pro- 

 duced, but positively refusing to part with it, Mr. Cruso read it 

 with so great attention as to be able on his return to the fort to 

 commit it to paper, and next morning delivered it to the command- 

 ing officer, the contents, at the lime peculiarly interesting, are now 

 unnecessary to be inserted. 



On the 18th two vessels, with several boats, anchored in the 

 offing; the largest making a signal for a boat, an open letter was, 

 as usual, sent to Maw Mirza, who dispatched it by a special mes- 

 senger. In the evening he returned with a letter from captain 

 Scott, of the Hawke Indiaman; mentioning his arrival from Man- 

 gulore, with orders from the commissioners to evacuate Onore, 

 and embark the garrison on the vessels then under his convoy for 

 that purpose. 



