the Battle of Paniput* 115 



«* young and inexperienced, and the Mahrattas are a crafty race, on whofe 

 «' pretended penitence no reliance is to be placed, I from the beginning 

 *' made you the manager of this affair: act as feemsbeft to yourfelf : in my 

 4t fituation I muft hear every one, but I will not do any thing againft your 

 41 advice.*' 



Next day Nujeib-ul-Dowlah came to Shujah-ul-Dowlah's tent, 

 where they confulted till late at night, but without coming to any 

 conclufiom 



By this time the diftrefTes in the BhOw's camp were fo great, that the 

 troops plundered the town of Paniput for grain ; but fuch a fcanty fupply 

 gave no relief to the wants of fuch multitudes. At length the chiefs and 

 foldiers, in a body, furrounded the Bhow's tent, and faid to him : "it is 

 ** now two days that we have not had any thing to eat 5 do not let us perifh 

 41 in this mifery; let us make one fpirited effort againft the enemy, and 

 " whatever is our deftiny that will happen." The Bhow replied, that he 

 was of the fame mind, and was ready to abide by whatever they mould re- 

 folve upon. At length it was determined to march out of the lines an hour 

 before day break, and placing the artillery in front to proceed to the attack 

 of the enemy. They all fwore to fight to the laft extremity, and each 

 pcrfon took a^/<?/-leaf in the prefence of his fellows, in confirmation of this 

 engagement, as is the cuflom among the Hindoos. 



In this laft extremity, the Bhow wrote me a mort note with his own 

 hand, which he fent by one of his molt confidential fervants : the words of 

 the note were thefe : 



P 2 



