MOHAUN. 181 
tent and another very disagreeable. The night was very stormy; 
the rain fell in torrents ; and the thunder and lightning prevented 
sleep for some time. The double tents kept us perfectly dry. The 
other half of our tents went on at night to Hossein Gunge, six coss 
and a half farther, that every thing might be ready for us in the 
morning. We had determined to set off at day-light, if the weather 
should permit ; the sun being insupportable when unobscured. 
July 27. — At half after five we were on our elephants, and in 
three hours got to Hossein Gunge. Our bearers, palanquins, escort, 
kc. arrived soon afterwards. Gopinath here joined us, and the 
promised tents, with two of Almas's sepoys, useful people, as he is 
Aumil of the country through which we go till we pass the Ganges. 
The extensive power of this eunuch, as Aumil of nearly half the 
province of Oude, was certainly a strong collateral justification of 
the demand of territory from the Nawaub Vizier, as the British forces 
employed in protecting Oude were, when in the field, dependent 
on his caprice for provisions. If he was inimical, he had it fully in 
his power to prevent any supplies from reaching them. The country 
was ill cultivated, flat, and sandy as usual. The villages were small 
and wretched, till we passed Mohaun, where there is a stone bridge 
over the nullah, and the appearance of its having anciently been of 
more consequence, the soil being filled, for a considerable distance, 
with a mixture of brick and lime. The village supplied our large 
party with everything they wanted. We ourselves depended on 
no such contingency, having brought with us sheep, poultry, and 
every article we could want, except milk, which we were certain 
of obtaining every where. 
The morning was fine, and we took advantage of it to perform 
