provide accommodations, before the inhabitants should retire to 
rest. 
On approaching the town at that unseasonable hour, we were 
met by an officer and a troop of Mahratta cavalry, preceded by 
mussulcliees , or torch-bearers, who announced the approach of the 
duan , or minister of Ragojee Angria, the Mahratta chieftain, to 
whom that territory belonged: he soon made his appearance, with 
a splendid retinue, and attended us to the durbar; where we were 
>3 
treated with the most polite and kind attentions, seated on em- 
broidered cushions, strewed with flowers, and refreshed by servants 
fanning us with punkas of coos grass, cooled with rose water. Our 
beds and equipage not being arrived, we were abundantly supplied 
by our host: while kids, poultry, rice, butter, milk, and vegetables 
were consigned to the kitchen for our supper; pine-apples, mangos, 
custard-apples, and pomegranates, were spread before us in the 
durbar, with wreaths of mogrees, and nosegays of roses and jessa- 
mine. When supper was served, the duan and his attendants re- 
tired, that we might eat it without restraint, and enjoy the repose 
we so much wanted. This hospitality extended to our servants 
and cattle; all were amply provided for, according to their respec- 
tive castes, and professions. 
On expressing our grateful acknowledgments for these friendly 
attentions, the minister informed us, that his chieftain, Ragojee 
Angria, was in the strictest friendship with the English, and had 
the greatest respect for our nation : having heard we were passing 
through his country, he ordered every thing necessary to be pre- 
pared against our arrival at Aila-Bhaug, and intended to pay us a 
visit on the following morning, if we could postpone our journey. 
