36 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
palm ; these the holy man clutched as if they had 
been drops from the Amreeta cup.* 
In due time the party of plunderers had taken 
post in the Kemaoon hills, which bound Rohilcund 
on the north, whence they made their incursions into 
the plains with signal success. The soldier amassed 
considerable treasure in a short time, and this recon- 
ciled him to the lawless course of life into which de- 
sertion had plunged him. He was, indeed, conti- 
nually exposed to peril ; but the meed sweetened both 
the toil and the danger of acquisition. For upwards 
of two years he continued with the Rohillahs, and 
was a great favourite with the chief, having abjured 
his own religious creed, and embraced that of the 
robbers. This was no doubt an act of interested 
policy. The day, however, of retribution came. He 
was cut off in a foray by a strong party of the Com- 
pany’s troops, the chief, and most of his band, being 
killed. Shortly after this, the rest were assailed in 
the hills, where they had entrenched themselves, and 
cut off to a man. 
* The cup of which confers immortality when quaffed by the 
Hindoo elect. 
