255 
the usual introductory compliments, he 
epened the cause of his visit, aud expa- 
tiated’in a forcible manner onthe ad- 
vantages the mountaineers would derive 
frem the friendship and protection of the 
English. The Rajah. listened to him 
with attention, the language and manners ~ 
of. Mr. Cleveland: the confidence he re- 
pdsed in trusting himself alone and un 
aimed amongst them, and above all, an 
ancient tradiuon which had been handed 
down from father to son, that they were 
to: derive some great benefit from the 
visit and consequent friendship of a 
Stranger, carried conviction to the mind 
of the Rajah, and induced him to enter 
into Mr. Cleveland's s views, without fur- 
ther hesitation, ‘Vhat gentleman, taking 
advantage of the iliplawies ideas the 
tradition had inspired them with, pro. 
posed immediately to cement their triend~ 
ship by the solemn ties of religion. ‘The 
Rajah, with all the ardour and joy semi- 
barbarism feels in the expectation of pos- 
sessing some new, and as yet unappre- 
ciated gilt, sunimoned the priests to his 
presence, and without further delay ra- 
tified the treaty with all the solemnity 
and awe the most sacred rites of religion 
ave capable of inspiring, Mr. Cleveland 
returned to Baugilpore, attended by se- 
veral of the mountaineers, who became 
so attached to his person, that. he formed 
them: into a corps, which was soon aug- 
mented by fresh recruits from the hilis. 
Their fidelity and activity in protecting the 
villagers frum the depredations of their 
countrymen, became so conspicuous, 
that 1 was thought prudent by govern- 
ment to entrust them with firelocks, and 
discipline them in the European manner. 
The experiment succeeded admirably ; 
applications for admittance into the corps 
became so numerous,, that a battalion of 
ene thousand men was soon formed, un- 
der the appellation of Hill Rangers; the 
evnstant intercourse between these peo- 
ple and their bethren in the -hills, 
brought about general habits of civiliza- 
tion and friendly intercourse; and at this 
day, scarcely thirty years from the first 
formation of the corps, the British go- 
vernmentin India does not possess more 
peaceable and loyal subjects than the 
mountaineers of Baugilpore. 
Statesmen and warriors, who — study 
how to enslave and slaughter mankind, 
have their names handed down to poste- 
rity by the pens of Instorians, while the 
modest virtues and more essential ser- 
vices of such a man as Cieveland, un- 
emblazoned. with titles, and undecorated 
Narrative of a recent Tour in India. - 
[April tr, 
with trophies, will sink into oblivion, 
amids: the civilized world, save in the 
memory of the huinane philanthropist, 
who can duly appreciate the value of his 
labours in converting a lawless race of 
Savages into useful and peaceable citi- 
zens, without the effusion of blood, by 
the mild but certain method of réciprocal 
benefit. 
Raaje Mahul is in Bengal, but Bau- 
gilpore is in the province of Bahar; the 
distance of one from the other, 1s about 
fitty niles by laud, aud seventy miles by 
water. About sixteen miles from the for- 
mer place, is the celebrated pass of 
Sickry Gully, which, with Tima Gully, 
twelve miles further, form the western 
boundary of Bengal. The road from the 
upper provinces to Calcutta, leads through 
these passes, which were formerlystrongly 
fortified, and deemed by the natives to 
be impregnable; but since the British 
government has been so firmly established 
in India, they have been dismantled and 
- suffered to decay ; some of the-arches of 
the gateways are yet standing, and an 
old cannon, formed of iron bars, hooped 
round, still remains, ‘but buried under a 
heap of rubbish. The situation of these 
passes, in the sequestered bosom of a 
range of hills, covered with forest trees 
and underwood, which extends to tlie 
edge of the river, is extremely romantic ; 
the ancient and dilapidated state of the 
building, the solemn stillness that pre- 
vails, and the rude and rugged appear- 
ance of the: scene, inspire an awe not 
untinctured with fear and apprehension. 
Murders were formerly very frequent 
here; and it became proverbial in the 
rieiyhbouring districts, that the life of a 
man who was ublised to travel through 
the Sickry Gully pass, was not worth a 
day’s purchase, There certainly never 
was a situation better calculated for 
‘scenes of villainy, than the road between 
‘the two passes ; 
for the space of ten or 
twelve miles, not a vestige of a human 
beiug was to be seen; the voice of dis- 
tress would have been lost in the hollow 
murmurs of the forest, and the sanguinary 
Thug* might have destroyed and plun- 
dered his ' victiin, without anv ‘apprehen- 
sion of being interrupted, But Ai dan- 
ger is now comparatively trifling; the 
active benevolence of Mr. Cigyetuba, 
caused avillave to be erected } in the very 
bosom of the pass, which. he peopled 
with an industrious set of Bunneahs and 
* A robber who first assassinates un then 
ia his victim, 
Gwaleahs ; 
~ 
