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"" it. But the day before the blow was to be given, a discovery

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was made of the defign, which altogether ruined the affairs of "Sultan Shujah, and involved in it the destruction of his family. For, after this failure, having no further hope of retrieving his fortune, he endeavoured to escape into Pegu; a purpose, in a

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manner impoffible to be effected, by reafon of the vast moun"tains and forests that lay in the way; befides, they pursued him "fo closely, that he was overtaken, the fame day on which he "fled. It may be well imagined, that Sultan Shujah defended "himself, with the most obftinate courage. The number of Bar"barians that fell under his sword will scarcely be credited; but at length, overpowered by the multitude of his enemies, he was forced to quit the combat. Sultan Banque, who had not "advanced as far as his father, fought like a lion, until covered " with the blood of the wounds he received from the ftones, that "had been fhowered upon him from all fides, he was feized on, "and carried away, with his mother, two young brothers, and "his fifters. All that could be learned of the fate of Sultan Shujah, himself, was, that, accompanied by one woman, an eunuch, " and two other perfons, he afcended the top of a mountain; "that he was wounded on the head with a stone, which struck "him down; but that the eunuch having bound up the wound, "with his own turban, he arose again, and escaped into the midst "of the woods. This relation I have heard recounted in many "different ways, by thofe even that were on the spot, which gave

"rife to a variety of reports of this Prince, and spread frequent "alarms at the court of Dehli."

THIS writer, after giving a detail of the many conjectures, that were formed of the fate of Sultan Shujah, mentions, that he travelled from Bengal to Mafulipatam, with an eunuch of that Prince, and his former commandant of artillery, who told him that Sultan Shujah was dead, but observed a strict reserve in communicating any farther information. Mr. Bernier fupposes, that if Sultan Shujah was not flain, on the place of action, he must have died, foon after; falling either into the hands of robbers, or a prey to the wild beasts, with which the forests of that country abound.

SUBSEQUENTLY to this event, the remaining branches of the family were thrown into prison, where they were treated with much rudeness; but after some time, Bernier fays, they received a milder treatment, which was chiefly caused by the marriage of the eldest daughter of Sultan Shujah, with the King of Racan. The fequel of this event sets forth, that the fervants of the Sultan Banque were discovered in forming another confpiracy, with those Mahometans, who have been already noticed, and that the King being now violently exasperated against this unfortunate family, ordered it to be extirpated; nor did any branch remain, excepting the Princefs, whom he had espoused.*

CASSUM

* I have been the more iuduced to infert this relation of the fate of Sultan Shujah, as it places the conclufion of a curious hiftorical paffage, in a point of view, different from

CASSUM Ali Khan, in the last years of his government, retired to the fort of Mongheer, and actuated by a keen refentment against the English, for their extenfive encroachments on his authority, and the commerce of his country, he formed the plan of throwing off their yoke, and annihilating their influence in Bengal. In addition to these motives, he was urgently incited to the attempt by the officers of his court and army, who were neceffarily alarmed at the diminution of their power and lucrative appointments. Amongst, the foremost of these, we find the Armenian Khojah Gregore, who, contrary to the ufage of his country-men, had afsumed the profeffion of arms, and had risen to high rank and confidence, in the fervice of Caffum Ali. He feems, with Sumroo, to have borne a principal part in the war against the English, which ultimately involved, as is well known, the ruin of Caffum, and the destruction of the Mahometan dominion in Bengal. Gregore alfo loft his life, for on a fufpicion of intriguing with the Armenians of Calcutta he was cut off, previously to the expulfion of his mafter. With Caffum Ali* ended, virtually, the power of the fubahdars

from that defcribed by a late writer (Col. Dow) on the Empire of Hindooftan; who, however well-founded his claims to accuracy, could not have attained the poffeffion of more authentic documents, than a perfon, who was himfelf brought forward into the action of the day, and whofe writings for the space of more than 100 years, have borne the test of truth.

* Caffum Ali Khan, after wandering about the upper provinces, and foliciting the aid of various chiefs against the English, fought protection at the Court of Dehli. He evinced the fame intriguing and fanguinary difpofition in domeftic life, as had marked

his

fubahdars of Bengal. Meer Jaffier, in his laft administration, made a feeble attempt to refume his authority, but it foon terminated in his death, and in leaving the English the fupreme rulers of an extenfive and valuable territory.

I should be ill intitled to a place, even amongst the most trite obfervers, did I not, before I quitted this part of the country, throw my mite into the fund of general applause which has been bestowed on Mr. Cleveland. This gentleman, whom I never faw, but whose works loudly proclaim his merit, and diffuse his praise, has by an equitable and judicious management of the Rajah Mhal and Bauglepour districts, confiderably increased the number of inhabitants, and improved, as well as facilitated, the collection of the revenue. The increase of population is conspicuously seen in the dependency of Mongheer, and in the extenfive mercats of that place, which are resorted to by a concourfe of various traders. He hath alfo made ftrenuous exertions, in drawing the adjacent, Mountaineers, from their faftneffes to the plains. Nor have his labours failed of fuccefs. Twelve hundred of these men have entered into our service, and are embodied in a corps, which bears the appearance of becoming useful to the state. The indulgent

his public character. He endeavoured, it is faid, to supplant the Minister at Dehli, by an offer of a large donation to the King; and he is accused of murdering, at different times, the women he carried with him from Bengal. At his death, which happened at the village of Kutwall, in 1777, the Court feized on his eftate, the value of which was computed at one thousand pounds;-a small refidue of the plunder of Bengal and Bahar !

treatment

treatment fhewn them with the fuperior advantages, which they derive, muft operate as powerful inducements to their brethren, in following fo profitable an example. The depredations of these people had, at former periods, rendered the paffage of the roads in that quarter fo unfafe, that escorts were stationed at certain pofts, for the protection of travellers; and detachments of two and three battalions, have occafionally been fent against the savage inhabitants of the Bauglepour hills; who are now become the guardians of a country, which they had long wafted, by rapine and bloodshed.

Mr. Cleveland has established fmall buildings, at most of the halting places within his districts, for the accommodation of travellers; and the natives of those parts, who seem to have profited by the conduct of their chief, are peculiarly attentive to strangers. Such have been the advantages, which the state, and a body of people have derived, from the public spirit, and the benevolent efforts of one man! But his reward hath been bounteous and complete. He hath enjoyed the honour of exalting, in a distant land, the character of his nation, and felt fenfations which transport the mind beyond the reach of fortune.

On the 3d of July, I left Mongheer; and arrived, on the 5th, at Patna, by water. This city is fpacious and populous, though much fallen from the importance it held, during the refidence of the Subahdar of Bahar. The great quantity of poppies cultivated in the contiguous districts, from which opium of an excellent

quality

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