214 
BENARES. 
it as a military depot. A sepoy came off to meet us in a boat, with 
a book, in which we entered our names, and number of boats : 
every passenger is obliged to do so, as the batteries completely 
command the navigation of the river, and allow no boat to go up 
or down without this ceremony. 
September 12. — We set off at eight, and a little below, on the 
left bank, came to some lines and bungelows, which they say are 
called Little Calcutta. By one o'clock we were in sight of Ramna- 
ghur and Benares, having passed through a country by no means 
interesting. The current did not carry us above three miles an 
hour, for the river was nearly as low as in the dry season, and the 
rains seemed to be completely over. At five I got to Rajegaut, 
a distance of eleven coss, where I landed, and after dressing myself, 
went to Mr. Neave's. Mr. Paul went to Mr. Barton's, but found he 
had departed the preceding night for Mirzapore, in consequence of 
General Deare not being able to procure provisions ; the appear- 
ance of scarcity from the total failure of the first crop, and the 
probable failure of the second, inducing the people to keep back 
their grain ; he therefore accompanied us to dine at Sir Frederick 
Hamilton's, the Paymaster, where I had the pleasure to hear of 
General Lake's success before AUighur, and the consequent capture 
of that place by an exertion of valour, which gives the best hopes 
of ultimate success. The rapidity of the Commander in Chief's 
movements was such as to have baffled all Perron's plans. Had a 
regular seige of AUighur been undertaken, the delay would have 
enabled the whole of the Mahratta predatory troops to come up, and 
make their rapid incursions into the Vizier's territory, where there 
now are but few troops to oppose them. The mischief that might 
