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CHAPTER IX.

Irruptions of the Gracias and Bheels-Account of the BhautsAstrologers and Soothsayers in Hindostan-Astrology and Geomancy taught in the Hindoo Seminaries-Wise Women of the East-Anecdote of Zeida-Stanzas from the Yusef Zelakha of Jami-Virtues of Ointments and Love-potions.

THE emigrations from the Brodera purgunna, occasioned by Futty Sihng's oppressive government, added so much to the prosperity of the Dhuboy districts, that at the commencement of the fair season, after the most seasonable rains in 1782, I found their population, and consequently the cultivation and revenue, much increased. They would have been still more flourishing, had not the cruel depredations of the Bheels and Gracias prevented the distant villages from sharing the tranquillity enjoyed by those situated nearer the protection of the capital. I have occasionally mentioned both these banditti; the former were wild mountaineers, under no regular government, and almost in a savage state; the latter, in considerable numbers, were arranged according to their religion and caste, under a variety of petty sovereigns, Hindoos and Mahomedans, who were dignified by the titles of rajah, ranah, and other royal appellations; and had their viziers, officers of state, and usual appointments in an oriental durbar, blended with a

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meanness and rapacity difficult to conceive. In this instance I allude to the rajahs and ranahs of Mandwa, Vazeria, and Veloria, contiguous to the Dhuboy purgunnas. There were Gracia chieftains at Ahmood and other places in Guzerat of a more respectable character.

These Gracias style themselves the aborigines of the country; alleging that many ages ago the ancestors of the modern Hindoos possessed themselves of their property, and drove them to the eastern hills; under this plea, they rush down, armed, in large bodies of horse and foot, upon the defenceless villages, and make heavy demands upon the inhabitants; which, if not complied with, subjects them to the most atrocious cruelty and depredation. The marauders leave a written menace, or deliver a threat to the patell of the village, and probably on the following night come down with considerable force to burn the houses, drive off the cattle, and destroy the harvest. They sometimes murder men, women, and children, without the least provocation.

During the Hindoo and Mogul governments at Dhuboy, detachments of armed cavalry patrolled the country, and protected the inhabitants; if the cruel Bheels and merciless Gracias did not retire on their approach, they cut them down, or destroyed them as so many wild beasts. On my appointment to Dhuboy, willing to give the Gracias a better opinion of British administration, and to impress their minds with a sense of our justice and moderation, I wrote letters to the different chieftains, desiring them to send proper persons to state their claims, in the cutcheree (or revenue-court) at Dhuboy; assuring them, that at

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the time of settling the jumma-bundee, or harvest agreements, and appropriating the revenue to the respective claimants, their reasonable demands should be satisfied provided they remained within their own districts, and did not molest the Company's subjects. I threatened them at the same time with the punishment due to such atrocity, if they continued their depredations.

The Gracias from the first, made light of these proceedings, and afterwards treated them with contempt. My small detachment of cavalry, patrolling the districts, could effect but little against much larger bodies of Gracias well accoutred. The vertunnees, or armed-men, kept for the defence of each village, were generally driven within their mud walls. They sometimes sent me the head of a Bheel, as already mentioned, but met with no encouragement for so doing. Year after year of remonstrances, and mistaken clemency on my part, only added insolence to their cruelty and treachery. Anonymous letters, filled with abusive menaces to the inhabitants of Dhuboy, and threatening destruction to the villages, were tied up by night to the outward gates of the city. When apprehensive of any effective measures being taken against them, the Gracia chieftains thought proper to disavow any knowledge of these papers, which were often addressed to myself; but always without a signature. These letters were sometimes more' openly delivered, accompanied by the most wanton cruelties.

The Gate of Diamonds, or eastern portal at Dhuboy, has been particularly described; as also the custom of the inhabitants, to repair thither to enjoy the fresh and verdant shades without the walls. There they

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met their friends every morning, and talked over the news of the day, a subject the Indians of all denominations are fond of. A few peaceful Hindoos were one morning assembled on a verdant slope without the Gate of Diamonds, when two armed Gracias on horseback rode up, and asked them if I was at the durbar ; being answered in the affirmative, one of these cruel wretches threw a letter to a Brahmin, saying, " Deliver this to your sirdar; but that you may not forget it, take this also, by way of remembrance;" at the same instant thrusting a spear into his side. The other delivered a letter intended for me to a Banian; and, by way of enforcing a similar message, cut him across the breast with a scimitar. The wounds did not prove mortal, but they were both a considerable time under the care of a surgeon.

A frequent repetition of these outrages compelled me to urge the governments of Baroche aud Bombay to send a military force against these banditti. Many villages were entirely depopulated, and the inhabitants, on emigrating into other countries, declared that notwithstanding the justice and clemency of the English laws, and the enviable blessings they enjoyed under their benign influence, they would rather become the subjects of an Asiatic despot who would protect them from the Gracias. In consequence of these represen tations, the garrison of Dhuboy was reinforced by a strong detachment of infantry and artillery from Baroche; which enabled me to send a sufficient force against Mandwa, the capital of Gomanny Sihng, the chief Gracia rajah. This fortress, the strongest in their country, was deemed impregnable, from its situation; and had always bade defiance to the Indian armies

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sent against it. My instructions to the commanding officer on this occasion, (consistent with rules then established in the Company's service) will evince the moderation and clemency, constantly enjoined and practised by the British armies in India, on campaigns of more importance.

SIR,

On your detachment being joined by the troops from Baroche, you will march with the united force under your command to Mandwa, the capital of the Gracias, and there endeavour to secure the person of Gomanny Sihng, the Gracia chieftain, together with his vizier, and principal officers; as his subjects have lately committed the most insolent outrage and cruelty in the Honourable Company's districts intrusted to my care.

If you succeed in securing the Gracia rajah, or any of his family, you will please to send them under an escort to Dhuboy; there to give security for their future good behaviour, and to settle such other terms as may be necessary, to establish a permanent peace, previous to their enlargement. You will in the mean time, continue at Mandwa, with your detachment, until you receive further directions from me, or from the chief and council at Baroche.

Should you not be able to secure the person of Gomanny Sihng, you are to make yourself master of the town, and remain there until further orders. Notwithstanding the cruelty, insolence, and treachery of the Gracias towards our subjects, you will please to issue the strictest orders, that the inhabitants of Mandwa and its dependencies, are not, under any