92 
THE ORIENTAL ANNUAL. 
forty persons ; they were inhumanly crammed into 
a small dungeon, a miniature of the Calcutta black- 
hole, where they all perished in a few hours. 
Gawilghur continued for many years the seat of 
government for Berar, although the princes fre- 
quently resided at Elichpoor, and at a palace, about 
four miles distant from the fort, prettily called 
Kahnsamankanuggur. 
A few words concerning the last assault which 
Gawilghur sustained, will possibly prove more 
acceptable to English readers than all the tales of 
its vicissitudes, from the time of the very first Mo- 
hummed ; for undoubtedly an especial interest will 
be attached to information which is in any measure 
illustrative of the Despatches of his Grace the Duke 
of Wellington, lately published. I have refrained 
from attempting any particular description of the 
plan and disposition of the fortress, in order that I 
might avail myself of the words of the illustrious 
personage who conducted the operations alluded 
to. The Duke of Wellington (then Major-Gene- 
ral the Honourable Arthur Wellesley) invested 
Gawilghur on the 13th of December 1803, thirteen 
days after his glorious victory of Argaum ; and in 
his despatch to the Governor- General, he gives 
the following account of the place 
“ The fort of Gawilghur is situated in a range 
of mountains between the sources of the rivers 
Poorna and Taptee. It stands on a lofty moun- 
