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were obliged to track the boat. These two last days we proceeded only about thirty miles. An evident danger is incurred by approaching the banks of the Ganges during the latter fason of the rain, from their frequently falling, being of great height in many places, and chiefly compofed of loofe foil, the weight of earth defcending on a boat, would undoubtedly deftroy it.

29th.—At noon, arrived at Jungherah, a small rocky island, on which stands a feminary of Hindoo mendicants, and on one of the fides are seen some figures of very ancient fculpture. A long line of hills, running from the south-east to the north-weft, forms here a beautiful termination of a broad range of the river. It has been faid, that Seraje-ud-Dowlah was affaffinated at Jungherah, whither he had fled for shelter from the pursuit of Meer Jaffier; but it should seem more probable, that he was apprehended near this place, and carried to Moorefhedabad.

THIS day, observed the frame of a well, built of bricks, that stood in the middle of the stream, with its wall in perfect condition, full fifteen feet above the furface of the water. It must have pertained to fome village, bordering on the Ganges; now destroyed by the encroachment of it's flood.

PROCEEDED this day, about 35 miles, and in the evening, faw Mongheer, where I arrived the next day. The fort is in a decayed condition, as well as the private buildings, which are uninhabited. The fituation, which occupies a flat of great extent towards the weftward, and has the Ganges on the north, is equally well chofen

for

før defence, and conveniency. One of the angle baftions commands a beautifully winding view of the river, which is clofed by a range of diftant hills. It appears that the prefent fort of Mongheer was built by Sultan Shujah, the fecond fon of Shah Jehan,* who governed the provinces of Bahar and Bengal, and was held in high; eftimation by the natives, for his liberality and equitable admini-stration. As fome relation of Sultan Shujah, (especially of the latter period of his life, which was involved in a feries calamity) may excite your attention, and enable me to offer up a tribute of pity to the memory of an unfortunate, but gallant, prince, I will lay it before you, agreeably to the memoirs of M. Bernier, one of the moft: accurate and ingenious writers, on the history of Hindostan.

AFTER the battle of Alhabad, in which he had been worsted, Sultan Shujah retired into the interior parts of Bengal, with his army, where he made a vigorous ftand against the arms of the Emperor.+ Bernier fays, "There remained, now, no other thorn in "the fide of Aurungzebe, than Sultan Shujah, who ftill main"tained himself in Bengal; but he was at length forced to yield "to the power and fortune of his brother.

"AMIR Kumla,‡ by the numerous bodies of troops that had

*This Prince caufed a broad and deep trench to be cut from the river to the hills, very (perceptible traces of which are now to be feen) for the more effectually defending this post against the attack of Aurungzebe's army, which had purfued him from the upper parts of the country.

+ Aurungzebe.

The Officer commanding the expedition against Sultan Shujah.

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joined him, was enabled to hem in the army of Sultan Shujah, on both fides of the Ganges, and to compel that prince to seek

refuge at Dacca, a town fituate on the extremity of Bengal, to"wards the fea fide; and here, enfues the conclufion of the tragedy. "The Sultan Shujah, being destitute of ships to put to fea, and "not knowing whither to fly, fent his eldest son, Sultan Banque, "to the King of Racan,* or Mug, who was of Heathen religion, "to know, whether he might be permitted to take shelter in his "country, for a certain time, and when the monsoon, or periodi"cal winds fhould fet in, whether he could be furnished with a "veffel, to carry him to Mecca, from whence he intended passing "into fome part of Turkey, or Perfia. Sultan Banque returned to "Dacca, with fome galleaffes, manned, with Feringhis, I mean, those

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fugitive Portuguese christians, who had entered into the service of "the King of Racan, and were employed in no other business " than ravaging the lower parts of Bengal. The young man reporting to his father, that he had been kindly received, and had "full affurances of protection, and assistance given him; Sultan

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Shujah, with his family, confifting of three fons, daughters, and "their, mother, embarked at Dacca. On their arrival at Racan, they were treated with much civility, and provided with such neceffaries, requifite for their fubfiftence, as the country afford"ed; in the name of the King. Some months pafs away, the

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* More commonly known by the name of Aracan,

VOL. I.

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"feafon

"feafon of the favorable winds also approach, but no mention is "made of the veffel, though the Sultan required it, on no other "terms than the payment of the hire, for he, yet, wanted not rupees of gold and filver, or gems. He had, indeed, too great a

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plenty of them, his wealth being, in all appearance, the cause of "his ruin, or at least, contributing much to it. This prince might long enough have folicited for a fhip; all was in vain ; he "effected nothing.-On the contrary, the King began to fhew great coldness, and to complain of his not coming to fee him. "I know not whether Sultan Shujah thought it unworthy of himself, and too great a condefcenfion to vifit this King; or

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rather, whether, he feared, that being in the power of their "chief, his perfon might be seized on, for the purpose of plundering his treasure, and that he himself might be delivered into the "hands of Amir Kumla, who had offered, in the name of Aurungzebe, large fums of money, with other confiderable advanfor obtaining the poffeffion of this unfortunate family. "WHATEVER might have been the caufe, Sultan Shujah did "not go thither, but fent his eldest fon; who, on approaching "the dwelling of the King, began to difplay his liberality to the people, by throwing amongst them a confiderable quantity of

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tages,

rupees of gold and filver, and when he came before the King, he

prefented him with rich embroideries, and rare pieces of gold"fmith's work, fet with precious ftones of great value; excusing

at the fame time, on account of fome illness, his father, in

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"whofe name he had now to entreat, that the ship, which had "been promifed, might be held in readiness. But, all that the "Prince had done, had not advanced his business; on the con

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trary, this King, in the course of five or fix days after, made a "demand of one of the daughters of Sultan Shujah, in marriage, "in which the father refolving never to acquiefce, the King becamc highly offended.

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"Sultan Shujah feeing the feafon for failing had passed away, " and perceiving the fituation in which he was then placed was a "defperate one, determined on pursuing equally desperate mea"fures, and undertook the performance of an action, which may "afford a great example of the efforts of despair. Although this

King of Racan, in his religion, is a Pagan, there are many "Mahometans, mixed with the people, who have either chosen to "retire amongst them, or have been enflaved by the Portuguese "before mentioned, in their expeditions to the neighbouring "coafts. Sultan Shujah fecretly gained these men, whom he

joined with two or three hundred of his own own people, the "remainder of those who followed him from Bengal; and with "this force he resolved to furprize the house of the King, put his

family to the fword, and make himself fovereign of the country. "This bold attempt, which resembled more the enterprize of a "defperado, than that of a prudent man, yet, had, from the in"telligence I collected from many Muffulmen, Portuguese, and "Hollanders, who were then on the fpot, a certain feasibility in

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