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DEAR SIR,

LETTER X.

Nourpour, 1783.

N the 22d of last month, I had the pleafure of defcribing to you my journey from Lall Dong to Bellafpour, and I can now with pleasure fay, that unhurt by the Sicques, tygers, or thieves, I am fafely lodged in Nourpour, the principal town of a district of the same name. From the western bank of the Setloud, we proceeded on the 24th of March to the village of Comour Hattee, eight coffes. An Hattee, which in the language of this country fignifies retail fhop, affords the best accommodation for a traveller, and I always endeavoured to make one my halting place. There I procured wheat, wheat-meal, pease, and ghee,* of which my common fare is compofed, and by the applying in civil terms, the shop keeper commonly indulged me with the use of the front part of his fhop.

On the 25th, in the Bellafpour army-ten coffes. It will not demand the pen of Homer to defcribe the different powers which

* Butter boiled, in which state it is always used for culinary purposes in India.

formed

formed this camp; their ftrength, the names and characters of their leaders, or the fituation of the ground which they occupied : fuffice it to fay, that about 300 horses, and 8000 foot-men, armed with match-locks, fwords, fpears, and clubs, were huddled together on two fides of a hill, in a deep state of confusion and filth. Having refided for the fpace of four months in this spot under small sheds made of the boughs of trees, you will naturally fuppofe, that the effects resulting from the fituation could neither have been pleafant or falutary. In all, were four very ordinary tents, one of which was occupied by the generaliffimo, a brother, and I believe an elder one, of the late chief of Bellafpour; for the order of fucceffion in the line of primogeniture, is not at this day strictly adhered to in India, either amongst the Hindoos, or Mahometans. This perfonage, from age, being incapable of performing any active duty, had appointed a younger brother to the executive.command. The Ranee, with her fon, a youth of about ten years of age, and a favourite Sunnassee, had retired during the war to an adjacent fort, where The directed the general operation of the war. Having entered thus far into the history of Bellafpour, I will proceed to explain fome parts of the story of this lady, which as they tend to place female conduct in a distinguished point of view, I embrace the occafion with pleasure. And here permit me to declare with a fervent sincerity, and an honourable sense of the dignity of character to which I afpire, that I am a zealous friend of women, and that as far as the offering of my mite will contribute to their aid, or to

a display

a difplay of their various merit, it fhall be held forth with a willing hand.

QUITTING these encomiums on myself rather than on the sex, I am to inform you that the Bellafpour Rance, on the death of the late chief, which happened about three or four year ago, declared herfelf the guardian of her fon, and regent of the country. She was opposed in this purpose by her husband's brother, the perfon who now commands the army; and fhe had also to combat the many difficulties incident in this country to her fex, the most embarraffing of which was a preclufion from public appearance; yet baffling every attempt made to fubvert her authority, fhe firmly established herself in the government. * The event of the Ranee's fuccefs, brought on the confinement of her competitor; but after a fhort time, during which he experienced a lenient treatment, he was released. This dame of spirit, who hath evinced strong traits of a difpofition fitted for conducting either military or civil schemes and who hath hitherto been fortunate in them, is at this day enthralled by the force of love. Whether this paffion is to be claffed amongst the alloys of our virtues, according to the doctrine of the most rigid moralifts, or whether it heightens the luftre of those

It has already been obferved in the letter on Hindoo my thology, that amongst the Hindoos a woman on the demife of the hufband becomes an inefficient member in the family, but in the prefent day this ordinance is often over-ruled by the intervention of power, wealth, or intrigue. In this note it may not be improper to mention, that the Hindoos ufe the epithet, "widowed," as defcriptive of futility, or of any contemptible and nugatory act.

VOL. I.

E e

already

already poffeffed, and even creates good qualities in us, as the elegant Yorick has advanced, are questions fubmitted, with a due deference to the intricacy of the subject, to those who are skilled in the extenfive paffion of love. The object of this lady's favour I faw, and the choice fhe has made is a proof of good taste. He is a young handsome Hindoo, of a religious tribe, who, contrary to the ufage of his fect, which is founded on rules almost as fevere as those of the Carthufians, dreffes gayly, and in the Mahometan fashion. From a certain levity, though politeness of manners, fet off by the delicate fancy of his apparel, you at the first glance pronounce him a favourite of the women. Such are the changes which love can produce, even amongst a people who observe their religious ordinances with a fcrupulousness irreconcileable to common sense, and which in fome instances border on grofs abfurdity.* Thus much for the Ranee of Bellafpour, to whom be all success ! I Now learned that my progrefs towards the Kangrah army, would without the protection of an efcort, be attended with much risk. In order to procure fo effential an accommodation I waited on the commander in chief, then fitting under a banian tree, and attended by his principal officers, the greater part of them clad in native buff. Some new levies were paffing in review before him, that had come in from the country, or rather the woods,

* In the neighbourhood of Benares is a fet of religious Hindoos, who it is faid forbear making any ufe of their hands, even on the most neceifary occafions; but are fed. and afted by others.

for

for they bore a strong resemblance to the defcription given in heathen ftory of the fatyrs, fawns, and other branches of the fylvan race; nor do I think that all the powers of a Pruffian drill ferjeant, extenfive as they are, could have impreffed on them a competent knowledge of military difcipline. On approaching the chief, I made him an offering of a rupee, laid on the corner of my veft. You will be pleafed to notice, that the piece of money is, not to be placed on the naked hand, but on a handkerchief, or fome part of the garment held out for that purpose; and though the fuperior shall be difpofed to favour the client, yet from motives of generofity, or an attention to his condition, it often happens, that he does not take the offering, but touches it with his finger. The honour is then supposed to be conferred, and the hope of obtaining protection or affiftance, if fought for, is entertained. The chief received me with civility, and complied with the requeft, that our party might be permitted to accompany the first messenger who should be dispatched into the Kangrah camp; and he also intimated, that some letters which were preparing, would foon be forwarded. He looked obliquely at my offering, which he touched, but would not receive. A day or two afterwards, I discovered this mountaineer to be compofed of the fame materials, which with few deviations form the common difpofition of the natives of India. On visiting him a fecond time, attended only by the cotewaul,*

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